FS: 2003 Mercedes CLK BRABUS 6.1, 62kmi, $50k (Dallas, TX)

[gsxr]

No affiliation. Beautiful car, but price seems optimistic IMO:

http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/feature-listing-2003-mercedes-benz-clk55-amg-brabus-6-1/

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/d/super-rare-1-of-onlymercedes/6374334111.html

Super RARE-1 of only 2-2003 Mercedes CLK BRABUS 6.1 - $49000

Brabus is a German tuner that takes Mercedes vehicles and upgrades them to the extreme. Like a Mercedes on steroids. They have an installer in California that had everything shipped to them from Germany and they did all the work.

The 2003 CLK61 has full BRABUS treatment including suspension, exhaust, body kit, floor and trunk carpet, pedals, door sills, lock pins, shift knob, speedometer cluster and most importantly the handbuilt 6.1 liter V8 engine that is able to deliver 426 bhp @ 5400 rpm and 621 Nm of torque!
The engine specifications, body aerodynamics and weight to power ratio produce a top speed of 190mph and acceleration from 0-60mph in 4.7 sec.

I bought the vehicle about 5 years ago and and have only put on it 5k miles since owning it. Currently has around 62k miles. Also has upgraded sound system with speakers, custom subwoofer box in rear armrest, 8 channel amp and aux input. The car is a stunner and very comfortable

Full service records available and documentation in a binder. Not your average Mercedes CLK. Try to find another one​

 

[maw1124]

Yeah, I’ll take a factory 6.3 for half the money...

maw

 

[gsxr]

I thought the normally-aspirated M113 didn't like being bored & stroked. Jono...? Although, I guess if it's lasted this long, Brabus must have built it right!

 

[alabbasi]

Hard to understand the reason for this car when there was a more powerful factory AMG car available for the same model year.

 

[maw1124]

I think the rationale for this car was to compete with the BMW E46M3, which had a better power to weight ratio and balance. The V8 CLK was front heavy and a bit slow compared to that car. Then of course BMW went to a lighter V8 for ‘07, and MB went to the 6.3 in the CLK at the same time. So the back and forth was between those two former homologation vehicles. But that was the late 90’s to early ‘00s development cycle. 10 or 20 years later (i.e., now), the CLK55 makes no sense unless it’s dirt cheap. The E46M is still a fun car for $25k (with this mileage), and so is the CLK63 for about the same amount and mileage. But even as rare as this one is, I don’t see paying more than I can get either of those cars for, let alone the E9X M3 with the lightweight V8.

So like GSXR says, nice car but a bit optimistic on price.

maw

 

[weide1]

Hard to understand the reason for this car when there was a more powerful factory AMG car available for the same model year.

Which one was that? The 63 appeared 3 years later.

 

[gsxr]

Which one was that? The 63 appeared 3 years later.

I'm guessing CLK55 Kompressor? I don't know the 208 chassis very well.

 

[maw1124]

All of the 55 Kompressor’s were available then, although none of them were in the CLK price range, sans maybe the E55. Maybe. The CLK never got a Kompressor en masse. That engine may well have ripped the chassis apart, similar to the way (drum roll ... wait for it) the E46 M3 needs subframe reinforcements to handle the forces created.

Part of the reason this is native discussion for me is I considered the CLK alongside the M3 (E36 and E46), but I wanted a Kompressor car, too. So I got an S55 Kompressor and an E46 M3.

The one CLK that got a Kompressor engine is the one I posted about the other day, the CLK DTM AMG, which is absolutely nuts (and apparently very secret in its execution). My guess here (and this is only a guess) is that it would take pro drivers and drag slicks to get 55Kompressor power onto the street in a CLK, which is probably why it was basically reserved to pro drivers wearing drag slicks. Mere mortals got the Black Series in 6.3 format.

maw

 

[gsxr]

The CLK never got a Kompressor.

AH! I did not know that - thanks, maw! This may explain why this particular car got punched to 6.1L normally aspirated.

 

[alabbasi]

Which one was that? The 63 appeared 3 years later.

E55, CL55, SL55, S55. While I understand that the CLK was never offered with a supercharger, it still doesn't make sense given the other models available in the range.

 

[maw1124]

E55, CL55, SL55, S55. While I understand that the CLK was never offered with a supercharger, it still doesn't make sense given the other models available in the range.

I understood fully what you were saying, Al.

You didn’t say more powerful CLK’s, you said more powerful AMG’s...

But the Nemesis of the CLK was the M3, and in my view the CLK never really caught up until the M156/M157 6.3 engines. And even then, the bubble lights killed the look for me. Just couldn’t do that in the E or CLK. And I needed a 4 door, which ruled out the SL. So...

maw

 

[alabbasi]

Yeah, I don't know that there has been an M3 competitor in the Mercedes Benz lineup since the E30. I loved the looks of the original CLK (W208) model but no so much this car. Although it did warm on me after driving one that belonged to a girl that I dated for a while. Hers was an 07 CLK 350 coupe and I was expecting a 2 door c class. It was actually a pretty pleasant place to sit in.

The convertibles look great with the roof down but it's no E46 M3... with big V8, slow automatic and soft ride. I suspect that people bought them for the opposite reason as opposed to an alternative one.

 

[weide1]

I understood fully what you were saying, Al.

You didn’t say more powerful CLK’s, you said more powerful AMG’s...

Good point.

But if one person is willing to buy a two door coupe in a certain price range, i suppose he or she will not end up in a more expensive CL. And certainly not in a convertible or a saloon.

By the way, this Brabus is a C209. Not a C208.

 

[maw1124]

Yeah, I don't know that there has been an M3 competitor in the Mercedes Benz lineup since the E30... The convertibles look great with the roof down but it's no E46 M3...

Intuitively, I’m a Benz guy... but when I was looking for a fun, hop-around 4 seater drop top, I just couldn’t find a Benz that fit that bill (friendly mechanics stopped me from doing a C36 transplant in a W124 cabrio). And I didn’t think it was worth Porsche money over the E46M. So for $25k, which was all I was willing to spend, the E46M was money well spent. Surprisingly fun, trouble free car, actually.

But to Al’s point, you have to remember “it’s still a 3 Series.” If you compare that car to an E500E, you’re off base. The E500E cost more in ‘92 than the M3 did in ‘05, and sitting in the car tells you why.

But I’m ranting... cheers, Gents.

maw

 

[alabbasi]

Good point.

But if one person is willing to buy a two door coupe in a certain price range, i suppose he or she will not end up in a more expensive CL. And certainly not in a convertible or a saloon.

By the way, this Brabus is a C209. Not a C208.

I'm not sure what price range your talking about, but Brabus didn't just do a software tune to punch the engine out from 5.0 liters to 6.1. I suspect that an M3 and a CLK55 could be bought together for what one of these cost new. Again making little sense.

 

[weide1]

Maybe one could buy an M3 and a CLK 55 for the price of one CLK Brabus 6.1. One could probably even buy a CL for that money. I must look these prices up in my archive when i get home. All true. But then you would still end up with a standard factory car. And that is just what a Brabus is all about. It is not just the increase of power. It is more the idea of a tailor made car. A rare and special one. A car with an engine that rarely anybody has. That is the idea behind this CLK Brabus 6.1. The exclusivity of the engine.

Same with the W211 E 63 AMG. One hell of a car. But if you wanted something really rare and special, you'd buy an W211 E 62 MKB. With the older M113 engine. With less power and performance. Probably even more expensive. But a lot more exclusive. A very lot more.
And believe it or not, that will make sense to certain people.

If i had me a better budget, i would consider myself one of those certain people.

 

[maw1124]

I’m not one of them. I like exclusive stuff that works, with a big R&D budget and dealer support behind it.

Extra power almost always comes at the expense of reliability and street-ability. So it has more power, but are the brakes, chassis and cooling sufficient? Says who, Brabus? Ok, but I think I’ll trust AMG for that. Can almost anyone take an AMG car and push it closer to the limit? Sure, just ask RennTech, Eurocharged, Kleeman, Brabus, Lorinser, or anybody else in that market (if they’re still in business when the question comes up, and have records). Does that make the cars rarer and more expensive? Sure, just ask any of their customers. Does it make the cars better? Well..., probably only if you think rarer and more expensive is better. I’ll pass.

But I understand your point. The final year of my S55k, some 429 made North America, even fewer in Flint Grey with Chestnut wood, 19” 2-piece wheels, rear A/C and rear heated and cooled reclining seats (I’ve literally not seen another one in the years I’ve owned mine). But what makes the car truly special is, it rarely breaks. And when it does, almost any MB dealer around the world can fix it — and that will be the case long after Brabus is out of business. For all the Brabus hoopla, my S55 is still faster (0-60 in 4.4, says MB conservatively).

Oh, and by the way, you can buy that, and an M3 (with that same worldwide coverage), for the price of this Brabus CLK. Those dollars make cents (and sense) to me. I’m not knocking this car, just its price. If it was close, I’d probably go drive it, comparing it to the E9X M3 (another 400+ hp naturally aspirated V8 sports coupe, but with a dual clutch transmission that makes all AMG transmissions seem slow by comparison). If I hadn’t driven what this car would stand next to, my story would be different. But I have, so... it’s not. My buddy took a E9X M3 Sedan 6MT and added a Vortech Supercharger to it. I don’t know what the car makes, but I know she breaks the tires loose at highway speeds when the boost comes in (similar to the 997 Porsche 911 Turbo). If that car wasn’t a salvage rebuild (by him), I’d be chasing him to buy it. But like this CLK, it’s not my bag. A CLK Black Series though...

Great discussion Gents.

maw

 

[alabbasi]

Maybe one could buy an M3 and a CLK 55 for the price of one CLK Brabus 6.1. ......It is not just the increase of power. It is more the idea of a tailor made car. A rare and special one

That's where all tuner cars stop making sense. If it was a question of rarity or pedigree, an Aston Martin, Bentley or Ferrari would better fit at the price range, and you might even get parts support in 10 years.

Maw, I love my S55, It's got so many hail dings that you'd think Tiger Woods tried to escape his wife in it after he got caught cheating again. For that reason, I drive it like I don't give a crap and this makes it more fun than any other car I own.

 

[weide1]

That's where all tuner cars stop making sense. If it was a question of rarity or pedigree, an Aston Martin, Bentley or Ferrari would better fit at the price range, and you might even get parts support in 10 years.

That´s an opinion. Not a fact.

What i like best in those tuned cars is the variety of enlarging of the displacement.
Take the Brabus CLK 6.1. It has bore and stroke 99,5 x 97 mm. Brabus has a 5.8 too. That one has 99 x 93 mm bore and stroke.
You take Carlsson. They had a 5.7 with 97 x 94,8 mm.
And so on and on.
To me it´s the knowlege of knowing which several versions were around. No more, no less. I know nothing about durability and reliabilty.

This i realize, i am not talking as a person that owns such a tuned car. Possession may probably or most likely change my opinion. An engine that is always broke is no joy.

Compare it with music. Or with movies. By far most people nowadays see movies from these recent years. I recently saw The Man from Utah with John Wayne. From 1934.

Those little long forgotten treasures. I see them as the icing on the cake. Same as the Brabus CLK 6.1.

 

[alabbasi]

That´s an opinion. Not a fact.

I have no idea what ^^^ means. My opinion? Your opinion???

This car makes little sense (to me) and the only relevant fact is that I would not buy it. You might have a different opinion and I will support your decision to buy it if you choose to. I can offer assistance here as it's local to me (also in Dallas, TX) and I have storage that you could use until you arrange transport.

 

[ace10]

If I was interested in a hot MB coupe from this era and had $50K to spend, I would save some more pennies up and find a Black Series.

 

[weide1]

I have no idea what ^^^ means. My opinion? Your opinion???

This car makes little sense (to me) and the only relevant fact is that I would not buy it. You might have a different opinion and I will support your decision to buy it if you choose to. I can offer assistance here as it's local to me (also in Dallas, TX) and I have storage that you could use until you arrange transport.

This is one hell of an offer Mister. Thanks. I would surely use your generous offer if i were to buy this Brabus. But i am not. Because it makes no sense.

No, serious. Like i said, i am not into buying these rare tuned cars. Although my heart will approve, my mind says no.
It is enough for me to gather and archive information, images and specifications. In the past i have testdriven a lot of those rare and special tuned cars. Up to very impressive speeds.

But now I leave it to that.