Sonny Burnett
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2007
- Messages
- 1,341
- Car
- W208 CLK55 AMG
that is crazy.. still them youtube videos showing a drag race shows the 55 is better. id doesent seem much but if your in front ..your in front!
that is crazy.. still them youtube videos showing a drag race shows the 55 is better. id doesent seem much but if your in front ..your in front!
Stock C32/C55/CLK of same age would in a straight line. The 0-60 times on these cars from MB say 5.2 seconds and are modest. Autocar reports 4.6 seconds and they are several examples on youtube showing this. However on the track an M3 would produce the better lap time. Its how the cars are setup. Its true today with the current models.
gkerr4
Active Member
i love the e46 M3 - it's just a stunning car - the power the noise the pace the handling the build quality the interior - love it!
I'd certainly much rather have it than a C55 - I Sooooo wanted one when I had my 325 sport coupe but just never quite managed it and now I have to do loads of miles so not an option :-(
Love em tho - and IMO its a waste of time trying to compare one - they are aimed at comlpetely different markets - the M3 is distinctly 'younger' in its appeal while the auto-only C55 was a bit of an old mans car really (no disrespect intended there..)
I'd certainly much rather have it than a C55 - I Sooooo wanted one when I had my 325 sport coupe but just never quite managed it and now I have to do loads of miles so not an option :-(
Love em tho - and IMO its a waste of time trying to compare one - they are aimed at comlpetely different markets - the M3 is distinctly 'younger' in its appeal while the auto-only C55 was a bit of an old mans car really (no disrespect intended there..)
BaldGuy
MB Enthusiast
LOL... You got your flame proof suit on?
gazz
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 435
I must admit to having a soft spot for both. I have a T model C32 AMG, which in a straight line is definitely quicker than my M3 CS.
For trackdays, although the C32 is entertaining, the M3 is simply in a different league!
I don't use my M3 on the road at all though!
For trackdays, although the C32 is entertaining, the M3 is simply in a different league!
I don't use my M3 on the road at all though!
NISFAN
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2010
- Messages
- 903
- Car
- F13 M6.....for now
AMG would be gutted if their 5.4litre V8 didn't see off a 3.2litre straight 6 in a straight line drag race. 40% more displacement.
The fact you even have to debate this outcome is testament to how good the E46 M3 engine is.
The fact you even have to debate this outcome is testament to how good the E46 M3 engine is.
- Joined
- May 5, 2004
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- 8,450
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- Surrey/Cotswolds
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- W169 A, W205 C, R172 SLC, W447 vantastic
Shame it sounds like a skeleton having a w**k in a dustbin when it's given the beans though ....
LOL. How very true. I had never ever thought of that analogy and it did make me laugh.
gazz
Active Member
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- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 435
Yes it is. The headline power outputs for C32 and C55 are broadly similar, and Mercedes figures claim the C55 is slightly faster.
Reality maybe slightly different
- Joined
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- W169 A, W205 C, R172 SLC, W447 vantastic
Yes it is. The headline power outputs for C32 and C55 are broadly similar, and Mercedes figures claim the C55 is slightly faster.
Reality maybe slightly different
342bhp (C32) vs 367BHP (C55) I believe.
The C32 is 354BHP and C55 is heavier. My mate has a C55. We've done many straight line sprints, and its the one who gets off the line first wins. In a rolling start there is nothing in it. Very evenly matched.
gIzzE
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 5,735
- Location
- Norfolk, UK
- Car
- BMW F11 Touring + Porsche 911 Carrera S + Toyota Alphard Camper
The C32/55 is a luxury mile muncher, a very quick mile muncher but it is designed to gobble the miles (or kilometres) on the Autobahns at incredible speeds with no drama and no fuss.
The M3 is a completely different beast, it is an all out sports coupe that eggs you on to push it as hard as you can, and you will bottle it well before the car does.
The 335i is about the same speed as an M3, and with a simple remap or add on box it is around .5 second quicker, I had times of 4.5 seconds to 60mph on our 335i sport touring auto with a box on, it is a seriously quick car, and very similar in delivery to the C32.
But it really does depend what you want from your car.
I sold this....
To buy this...
As I needed something to gobble miles up in with a bit more comfort than the CSL, however, after a few months I realised I had missed the point of fast cars completely, who really needs a 4.5 second car for racking up work miles in, so I sold it and bought...
This....
And this....
Probably the best combo of cars I have owned.
But agree on the image of the M3, I got pulled 4 times in 2 months and got 6 points, and they were all while keeping up with traffic, one was 59 in a 50, the other was 46 in a 40 and the guy even said "you will always get tugged out of the crowd as you are in an M3 and as the prices fall you get morons buying them."
So I sold it. Shame as it is probably the best all round car you can buy, extremely comfy, will do 30mpg on a run, will keep up with most things on the road but more important than that it makes you want to go out for 'one more drive'.
Seriously, I would suddenly go for a spin at midnight in December and be gone for 2-3 hours, how many cars get you like that??
So an almost perfect car ruined by its own popularity and achievement.
If it were me I would buy a a C63 estate just for this reason alone.
The M3 is a completely different beast, it is an all out sports coupe that eggs you on to push it as hard as you can, and you will bottle it well before the car does.
The 335i is about the same speed as an M3, and with a simple remap or add on box it is around .5 second quicker, I had times of 4.5 seconds to 60mph on our 335i sport touring auto with a box on, it is a seriously quick car, and very similar in delivery to the C32.
But it really does depend what you want from your car.
I sold this....
To buy this...
As I needed something to gobble miles up in with a bit more comfort than the CSL, however, after a few months I realised I had missed the point of fast cars completely, who really needs a 4.5 second car for racking up work miles in, so I sold it and bought...
This....
And this....
Probably the best combo of cars I have owned.
But agree on the image of the M3, I got pulled 4 times in 2 months and got 6 points, and they were all while keeping up with traffic, one was 59 in a 50, the other was 46 in a 40 and the guy even said "you will always get tugged out of the crowd as you are in an M3 and as the prices fall you get morons buying them."
So I sold it. Shame as it is probably the best all round car you can buy, extremely comfy, will do 30mpg on a run, will keep up with most things on the road but more important than that it makes you want to go out for 'one more drive'.
Seriously, I would suddenly go for a spin at midnight in December and be gone for 2-3 hours, how many cars get you like that??
So an almost perfect car ruined by its own popularity and achievement.
If it were me I would buy a a C63 estate just for this reason alone.
timk
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 759
- Location
- Wiltshire
- Car
- VW Passat Alltrack, E39 BMW M5, Mercedes C55 AMG Wagon
I agree - the M3 is a victim of its own success. I co-drove one from Birmingham to Monaco and back for the Grand Prix about 2 years ago, and (being a last minute decision to go) the drive was a frantic, epic blast, the car kept up with everything and anything, and in short is simply a brilliant driving machine. Sadly, the 'it's an M-free innit' lot have destroyed it, it's perceived as a thuggish car these days.
The C55 is something of a Jekyl and Hyde car though. When you want it to be, it can be manic and furious - it will rev to the red line and won't change up unless you tell it too, and beyond 6000 rpm it makes a nice anti-social noise. The steering is quick, the handling tight and responsive. Unlike the M3 it will potter and waft about town in slushmatic mode if you are not in the mood, and the looks are innocuous enough to make you invisible when you want to be. The M3 is one dimensional. IMHO...
The C55 is something of a Jekyl and Hyde car though. When you want it to be, it can be manic and furious - it will rev to the red line and won't change up unless you tell it too, and beyond 6000 rpm it makes a nice anti-social noise. The steering is quick, the handling tight and responsive. Unlike the M3 it will potter and waft about town in slushmatic mode if you are not in the mood, and the looks are innocuous enough to make you invisible when you want to be. The M3 is one dimensional. IMHO...
nick.ged
Active Member
is that the twin turbo diesel one? Ive herd they are amazingly quick and cheapish to run.
nick.ged
Active Member
Yes it is. The headline power outputs for C32 and C55 are broadly similar, and Mercedes figures claim the C55 is slightly faster.
Reality maybe slightly different
they always quote the higher priced one as being faster, most would think about paying more for a slower vehicle.
gIzzE
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 5,735
- Location
- Norfolk, UK
- Car
- BMW F11 Touring + Porsche 911 Carrera S + Toyota Alphard Camper
Yeah.
It is a cheapish car to run, it would average 26mpg and on a run back from Chipenham to Norwich it returned 34mpg even though we did it in 2hours 5 minutes. Do the maths.
However...... It is also a bit dull,
gkerr4
Active Member
isn't that the 335d - a 3.0 (not 3.5 as the badging would let you believe) twin-turbo diesel? - they are very very quick too and yes, quite economical. I've heard there has been some technical issues with the x35d engine series tho - a lot of heat under that bonnet area - that said its used in a lot of BMW cars now (X5 35d, 535d, 740d, 335d, X3 35d).
- Joined
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- Surrey/Cotswolds
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- W169 A, W205 C, R172 SLC, W447 vantastic
I have come up against a couple of 335 BMW's deisels and petrol. Yet to find one that doesnt disappear in my rear view mirror.
I think AMG power outputs are somewhat on the conservative side.
If I wanted to race around a track I wouldnt buy a C55 but as our roads are not a track the C55 fits the bill very nicely for now. It would have been a C63 if wasnt for another purchase I am making but thats another story
I think AMG power outputs are somewhat on the conservative side.
If I wanted to race around a track I wouldnt buy a C55 but as our roads are not a track the C55 fits the bill very nicely for now. It would have been a C63 if wasnt for another purchase I am making but thats another story
