[E90 335i]

I guess I better put my flame suit on but I have a truthful story with an underlying question.

I came up to a red light and so did a CLK 55 AMG (I didn't know at the time because his passenger front wheel was at my back door)...we both accelerated normally and I was about the same length ahead (maybe a little further) when I heard his motor roar (windows down) so I stood on it and by the time I got on it he was just about equal, slightly behind me. As soon as I spooled up, I jumped back another .5 CL and put him back where he started, or a little behind that (his front passenger wheel to my rear left wheel, probably a bit further back). We stayed about the same and he walked me slightly everytime I hit the higher RPM and I would walk it back as soon as I shifted gears and got back into the torque range. At about 90-100 mph he started creeping on me and I could feel it but I stayed ahead and backed off at 110 mph and let him pass me as he gave me a thumbs up. I read the badge on his car (assuming it was a CLK 550 as I would rip a 500) but the badge read 55 AMG and he had two pipes together on the driver's side. I remember the CLK 55 AMG having the more restrictive exhaust setup in comparison to its SL 55 AMG counterpart with the quad exhaust.

I've seen videos of the E55 AMG vs. 335i with light mods and the E55 will walk the 335i once they both get up to speed. What I don't understand is how I pulled off this CLK 55 AMG (Cabriolet), definitely not a kill or even a big win, but barely stayed ahead where he started). I just got exhaust on the car (secondary cat delete, resonator delete, Magnaflow X pipe, Magnaflow mufflers, 2.5'' aluminzed piping from the primary cat (O2 sensor) back to the X pipe and 3.5'' Magnaflow tips). Looking at the stock exhaust, it was very restrictive with many bends and objects to restrict flow compared to my new exhaust. I really notice the pull a lot more at speed with the exhaust and I would have never come close to that CLK unless I had the exhaust.

But something doesn't add up here...all the sources I read about the CLK 55 AMG make it a 4.8 second car, and some sources say even slower. If the 335 stock can run a 4.8, then how can an E55 AMG beat lightly modded 335s?

And, yes, he was trying because I could hear his motor roaring through the gears and he took me all the way to 120 mph....it's hard to toy with somebody and sit as even and close to me as he did (would require a perfect foot on the gas).

Discuss...

[sflgator]

Verts are typically a little slower than their Coupe counterparts, but I would still think a 335i with just exhaust would have some difficulty with a CLK55 AMG (that thing has got A LOT of HP & TQ)???? A PROcede 335i or XEDE 335i however can handle a CLK55 AMG though (although the faster E55 or E63 AMG is a different story...it would be a bit closer. ).

[E90 335i]

That is why I am stumped. Is the comparison between an E55 AMG and a CLK 55 AMG similar to that of the E90 vs. E92 335i where one would expect the E92 to blow away the E90 based on aerodynamics but in reality, they both are very close anyways? It's interesting that a big E class can outgun a more aerodynamic and what would seem lighter (even a cabriolet) CLK....but I guess not. I ran an E550 and gave him a bit of hell (when I was stock) and was able to walk a few car lengths on him to a reasonable speed (just under 100)....E55 is a different machine now. To keep things in perspective, my friend's E46 M3 with K&N drop-in runs about equal (with a driver who knows how to drive it) with my 335i with exhaust. I wouldn't expect a CLK 55 AMG to kill me at this point, but at least I figure he would walk me a few CL.

The E55 seems to have less restrictive exhaust but I can't figure out why AMG stuck only two pipes on one side for the CLK? I also gave a stock C6 Vette a rough time keeping up (with my exhaust) which are very fast cars. He rolled up to me at the next light and said he noticed my exhaust and how much he loves my car and I told him I almost got the C6 Vette and I love that car more than anything and he said how he couldn't believe how fast my car is. I guess I might have one of the 'faster' 335s of the bunch? Who knows. I am not tooting my own horn here at all, I am just curious as to what this CLK 55 AMG is really capable of....stock. His car had only the driver as did mine. I was running with the AC off as I had the windows down and seat warmers on (65 degree night)...I know, I am a damn Floridian..65 degrees windows down is game for seat warmers...

[FirstClass]

Don't all AMGs have quad exhausts, even the lower ones? Could it have been a rebadged 550 or maybe you misread the badge? Without a chip there is not way to explain that outcome.

[E90 335i]

http://www.leasetrader.com/photos/ac...Cabriolet.jpeg

[Kev]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

Don't all AMGs have quad exhausts, even the lower ones? Could it have been a rebadged 550 or maybe you misread the badge? Without a chip there is not way to explain that outcome.

the CLK 55 / 63 AMG verts come with only dual exhaust, not quad

[Kev]

Originally Posted by E90 335i

That is why I am stumped. Is the comparison between an E55 AMG and a CLK 55 AMG similar to that of the E90 vs. E92 335i where one would expect the E92 to blow away the E90 based on aerodynamics but in reality, they both are very close anyways? It's interesting that a big E class can outgun a more aerodynamic and what would seem lighter (even a cabriolet) CLK....but I guess not. I ran an E550 and gave him a bit of hell (when I was stock) and was able to walk a few car lengths on him to a reasonable speed (just under 100)....E55 is a different machine now. To keep things in perspective, my friend's E46 M3 with K&N drop-in runs about equal (with a driver who knows how to drive it) with my 335i with exhaust. I wouldn't expect a CLK 55 AMG to kill me at this point, but at least I figure he would walk me a few CL.

The E55 seems to have less restrictive exhaust but I can't figure out why AMG stuck only two pipes on one side for the CLK? I also gave a stock C6 Vette a rough time keeping up (with my exhaust) which are very fast cars. He rolled up to me at the next light and said he noticed my exhaust and how much he loves my car and I told him I almost got the C6 Vette and I love that car more than anything and he said how he couldn't believe how fast my car is. I guess I might have one of the 'faster' 335s of the bunch? Who knows. I am not tooting my own horn here at all, I am just curious as to what this CLK 55 AMG is really capable of....stock. His car had only the driver as did mine. I was running with the AC off as I had the windows down and seat warmers on (65 degree night)...I know, I am a damn Floridian..65 degrees windows down is game for seat warmers...

Comparing the E55 (V8 S/C) to the CLK55 vert (V8 N/A) is like comparing apples to oranges. They really can't be compared, power wise, the vert is down 100+ crank hp but weigh almost as much as the E55 (thanks to the reinforced steel bars to hold the chassis together). The E55's acceleration is just pure brute force that throws you back to your seat. To exeperience the same effect on the CLK55, you'd need to put in a Renntech or KLEEMANN blower

[E90 335i]

Bingo, that's the answer I was looking for. I was reading up and saw the CLK 55 AMG's hp in the mid 300's and the SL 55 AMG's hp in the mid 400's and was wondering....

So the 55 AMG badge doesn't necessarily mean the car is supercharged. The CLK 55 AMG is a N/A car producing 367 (I think) HP and in the 370s for tq.

Now it makes sense. I know I read the badge correctly....it's just that 55 AMG doesn't necessarily mean it's supercharged unless it's on the E55 or the SL 55....

Thank you!