- Powerful 5.4-litre M113 V8 engine
- Impressive ride/handling balance
- Body feels solid and rigid
- Steering is accurate and linear…
- … but lacks feel
- Brake pedal lacks initial response
- Transmission sometimes kicks down on corner exit
- For purists, see the BMW E46 M3 Coupe
Overview
Released in Australia in February 2000, the Mercedes-Benz C208 CLK 55 AMG was a two-seat coupe. Manufactured in Germany, the rear-wheel drive C208 CLK 55 AMG Coupe was powered by a 5.4-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
M113.984 V8 engine
Assembled by hand, the 5439 cc M113.984 V8 engine had a die-cast alloy block with 97.0 mm bores and a 92.0 mm stroke, cast-in Silitec cylinder liners, fracture-split forged steel connecting rods, iron-coated aluminium pistons with oil spray cooling, an alloy cylinder head, a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) per cylinder bank driven by a double-roller chain, three valves per cylinder (two intake, one exhaust) actuated by roller rockers, two-spark plugs per cylinder, a dual-length intake manifold and a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
The Mercedes-Benz C208 CLK 55 AMG Coupe could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and had an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLK 55 AMG | 5.4-litre petrol V8 (M113) | 5sp auto | 255 kW at 5500 rpm | 510 Nm at 3000-4300 rpm |
Transmission
For the five-speed automatic transmission, the gear ratios were 3.59 (1st), 2.19 (2nd), 1.41 (3rd), 1.00 (4th) and 0.83 (5th), while the final drive ratio was 2.82.
Dimensions
Compared to the W202 C 43 AMG with which it shared its platform, the Mercedes-Benz C208 CLK 55 AMG Coupe was 80 mm longer (at 4567 mm), 2 mm wider (1722 mm) and 16 mm lower (1371 mm), though wheelbase length was unchanged (2690 mm). Furthermore, the C208 CLK 55 AMG had a kerb weight of 1620 kg.
Compared to the standard C208 CLK Class , the CLK 55 AMG could be identified by its AMG bodykit which consisted of a unique front air dam with built-in fog lights, contoured side skirts and rear skirt.
Suspension
The Mercedes-Benz C208 CLK 55 AMG Coupe had double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, both with coil springs, gas-pressure shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. Compared to the standard C208 CLK Class, changes for the CLK 55 AMG Coupe included:
- 25 mm lower suspension;
- Stiffer springs and shock absorbers; and,
- Reinforced stabiliser bars.
Steering
The C208 CLK 55 AMG Coupe had recirculating ball, power-assisted steering.
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG Coupe included dual front airbags, front door-mounted side airbags, ABS, brake assist, traction control (Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Acceleration Skid Control’ or ASR), electronic stability control, and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.
Brakes
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG had two-piece 334 mm by 32 mm vented front brake discs and one-piece 300 mm by 22 mm vented rear discs.
Features: Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG Coupe
Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG Coupe included 17-inch AMG alloy wheels (7.5J x 17 front and 8.5J x 17 rear) with 225/45 R17 90Z front tyres and 245/40 R17 91Z rear tyres, a seven speaker sound system with a CD player and six-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, multi-contour front seats with power adjustment and heating, cruise control, xenon headlights with washers, front fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift lever, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated mirrors, power windows, a power adjustable steering column (for height and reach), driver’s seat memory settings, a power sunroof, trip computer and an immobiliser.
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