“Drive him. As long as it’s affordable.” A Mercedes brochure praises the coupes of the C208 series. With the Mercedes CLK 55 AMG, these are almost prophetic words. Because the coupe is now an insider tip for anyone who wants to have affordable V8 steam hammer fun. The top model of the series originally cost around 80,000 euros. A lot of money for the time. Today the vehicles start at 10,000 euros. Certainly something for the whoops-awesome faction who will conjure up the next car park of a fast food restaurant with a modified exhaust system.
If you want to have a little longer fun, you should invest some time to get an untinkered and not rushed to death vehicle. Then double the amount is easily due. In any case, the effort is worth it. Treated with a little love instead of being kicked out right away, this powerplant will arguably last longer than the rest of the car. The 5.5-liter eight-cylinder (engine code M113) was already a few years old when the Mercedes CLK 55 AMG was introduced, but in the M 113 E 55 variant with the displacement increased to 5,439 cubic centimeters and the resulting output of 255 kW / 347 hp and a maximum torque of 510 Newton meters is a real piece of cake. The robust, archaic design with three valves (two on the intake side and one on the exhaust side), the forged aluminum pistons and the overhead camshaft is virtually indestructible.
When the CLK 55 AMG came onto the market in 1999, Mercedes was just about to take over the Affalterbach tuning company. This does not change the postulated sportiness of the models with the three letters, which is also reflected in the revised chassis. The optimizations include stronger stabilizers, firmer shock absorbers and lowering of the body by 25 millimeters compared to the other CLK versions. Unlike the AMG version of the Mercedes SL, the power CLK coupé is not uncompromisingly trimmed for dynamics.
So the set-up is much more comfortable, which makes the CLK a perfect companion even on long journeys. We did an extended lap in the CLK 55 AMG and got out with a grin, intact intervertebral discs and the voluminous sound of the figure eight in our ears. But that doesn’t mean the coupe can’t bare its teeth. From a standing start, the 100 km/h mark falls after 5.4 seconds and at 250 kilometers the electronics stop the hustle and bustle. Driving performance that is still worthy of honor today, almost a quarter of a century after the appearance of the CLK 55 AMG.
This also applies to the equipment, which is usually quite extensive in the AMG versions. Leather is set, as is the Comand system. Although this is rather dusty compared to today’s infotainment opulence, it still does its job. However, replacement systems are quite expensive and cost the budget several hundred euros. So you can also be satisfied with the standard radio, since nowadays smartphones are full-fledged entertainment including navigation anyway.
Unfortunately, a big issue with Mercedes cars these years is the rust devil, which also has a devastating effect on the C208. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look at the weaknesses typical of automobiles. This includes the wheel arches, the sills or the door edges. A striking error in the Mercedes models of these years is also the ignition lock. If the key hooks excessively when pulled out of the steering wheel lock, a defect could be announced.
As befits a model from Affalterbach, the CLK 55 AMG of the C208 series also appears with more verve than its standard brothers. There are larger rollers in the wheel arches (225-45 in the front, 245-45 in the rear), plus a more distinctive front and rear apron and wider side skirts. The ostentatious sportiness is no coincidence. According to the specifications of the then Mercedes boss Peter Pfeiffer, the CLK, which was created under the aegis of the legendary Mercedes designer Bruno Sacco, the C208 should also visually bridge the gap to the new design language with the four-eyed face, that of the E-Class (W210) was introduced a few years earlier and was to be continued with the Status-Mobile Mercedes SL (R230). After all, the CLK (C208), together with the Roadster SLK (R170), was part of a product offensive with which Mercedes wanted to shed its veteran image. Since a coupe fits well into the picture. However, the space in the back seat is not really great either. Getting into the rear is also difficult. But the best place in the Mercedes CLK 55 AMG is in the front left anyway.
