E46 330i VS CLK500

[Tjoppies]

dont know if we're allowed to post about Benz's around here  :fencelook:

:chef:
so went to have a look at a fellow forum member's CLK500 this weekend , but before we get that - it's worth mentioning he has a car collection of note , spent about 35min with the boat and rest of the time was browsing his collection...2 x 330i's , an 96 540i in what seems close to atlantis blue , an M5 , an C55 amg.

and you would be hard pressed to say which car is cleaner than the next - thanks for the tour Fordkoppie  :ty:


back to the boat , being a 2005 model is was amazed by the technology in it - yes it cant be compared to a E46 but the luxury , build quality is so much better than i expected , and better than modern 5 & 3 series that i've driven in.

it has a pretty decent list of options fitted including the nav - 15yrs later the interior doesnt seem stupidly dated , leather is near perfect , carpets near perfect , interior plastics & fittings near perfect - thankfully its not fitted with the wood trim

on the test drive we were cruising in what i assume was 7th gear , floored it and boom boom goes down 2 gears - pushed back into the seat and we were doing north of 220kph (in a very straight , empty road between there and nowhere) with a barely noticeable SSHHH windnoise.

gear shifts are much smoother/faster than the 330i which is niiiiiiice


so  plans are being made to acquire the " boat" , we'll opt for a Hollard warranty if we manager to secure it before it gets picked up by somebody else

might get some critique for going with a older luxury car but
1. BMW maintenance is not much cheaper
2. i like the feel of the older generation cars
3. its already done all its depreciation
4. we dont want to finance now with wife's illness and not being able to work fulltime
5. it's a Fordkoppie car

 

[VinceM]

Ultra clean.

There was a time when I was looking for a cabriolet that I looked at the same car you looking at just the cabriolet.

Those CLKs are awesome, and the example you looked at is super clean. I think you’ll enjoy it. It is pricier than an E46 ito maintenance. It doesn’t have an accurate steering (feel) like an E46 or road hugging handling like an E46 M-Sport but you will quickly adjust to what this car offers. A plush ride with high levels of comfort.

All the best!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Tjoppies]

i have enjoyed the hell out of my 330i , and still do and it's still 1 of my bucket list cars and chances are i will own 1 again , but even though i have no pressing reason to sell i want to try other cars as well , the C55 / C32 is on that list but after experiencing the CLK i feel it's the car i want to own next.
most times i park i find myself looking back and thinking hell it's a good looking design

yes the BMW's are much more of a "driver's car" and more poised - but i can probably count on my 2 hands that i've had it in Sport and really banged it from start right through all the gears , not to mention i've never raced it.

at the moment i want something more " mature " and " soft " ...the CLK has every creature comfort i could ever need , plenty of torque , ultra comfortable GT car. i travel to limpopo and nelspruit very often so it would be a much more comfortable travel

 

[///M Individual]

If you have your heart set on this, go for it bud! It looks super clean and well maintained. These cars sound great with a decat as well, almost AMG like.

 

[Rotinaj]

Nothing new regarding BM quality vs MB.

Back to the CLK it is a pillarless coupe so it is spectacular when the windows are down, the ride is just better. Show it a lumpy bumpy piece of tar at 180 and it just eats it never getting unsettled. The engine if the 225kw version is one of the most reliable benz motors ever sold it just has a camshaft or crankshaft sensor failure issue that is easy enough to fix. If the 280kw motor it goes like stink but it has the camshaft sprocket wear issue. 7G box is prone to failure if neglected (IE service the bugger every 60/80k) and that is about it.

Given the choice between a Japan Red 330i with a brown leather interior wood trim and no silly sportspac and a CLK500 of any nature i would really be torn in two. The 330i is a superb car in almost every single aspect if you don't compromise the ride, but you just can't beat rolling down the windows and feeling like you are in a Targa car with a big old V8 rumbling along. Just never hoon it, it is a GT you aim the nose and just keep the tank full.

Owned plenty of Benz and BM's. Maintenance on the Benz is just less than a BMW. Parts prices the benz is a bit more, but less stuff goes wrong so it balances out.