Ode to the CLK Black

"gometz" (gometz) 12/28/2014 at 01:55 • Filed to: None

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While looking at CLK63 Black Series for sale (for fun), it dawns on me it wasn't as appreciated as it should have been. The Hammer and the Red Swine are examples of what we love from AMG; heavy cars with big engines that were brash. Overstated doesn't even begin to describe the overwrought fenders on these cars.

AMG started their Black Series with the SLK. The car was generally unloved, being too harsh and not powerful enough. But maybe it wasn't in your face enough?

Look at a CLK63 AMG:

Every wheel arch is far too big. The four exhausts with the gigantic diffuser. All the many oversized vents on each corner.

We often talk of sleepers, this is the opposite of that. This is a "LOOOOOOK AT MEEEEEE" car, it looks like a DTM racer for the road. Beautiful is a word a select few would use to describe its many creases and vents. And it's based off of a extremely boring coupe. The regular CLK was a grandmother's car (I can say this, my mother owns one, and she recently became a grandmother).

AMG and Mercedes didn't make the CLK Black to be a GT, the suspension is far too hard. But it's also not a stripped track car, it weighs more than the regular CLK63 AMG. They realized what the world wanted, nay needed, was a ridiculous car that would turn tires into smoke.

It wasn't the fastest car in its segment; as fast as the E85 Z4M and slower than an E90 M3 on the Top Gear Track. But can you honestly say that in either one of those cars you'd get as many smiles per mile as you would out of a Black Series? Mercedes prides itself on being a refined car company, yet they decided to build this, on of the least refined cars of its time.

I remember my brother explaining to me why he loved the Subaru WRX STi. He explained he loved the big wing and gold wheels, saying it looked like a toy. I now understand his sentiment, but with the CLK Black it is even more guttural and vicious. It looks like a Star Wars toy in car form. Darth Vader would hoon the crap out of one.

I say bravo CLK63 AMG Black Series! (Jesus that's a mouthful) Let us enjoy a picture of one doing what it does best, destroying tires:

Time for a scotch.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > gometz 12/28/2014 at 03:34

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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdck1n_m…

Clarkson reviewing one. It's borderline artistic.

2tonic > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 12/28/2014 at 07:32

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My next door neighbor has a boyfriend who drives one of these. It's pretty extreme looking and sounding - I get woken up in the morning every time he starts it up. I'm sure it's fast, but it looks very poseur-ish to me. (This is as much a statement about the driver, and not the vehicle). I'm an old-school 3 pedal type and I just can't get into buying an enthusiast vehicle that does the shifting for you. That takes away half of your input and feedback with the car. No mechanical connection to the shifting, no driver management of the three-way clutch, brake, and throttle interaction = less driver involvement.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > gometz 12/28/2014 at 11:22

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I hope they stay "cheap" for quite some time, at least until I can afford one. It's destined to become an auctions classic though.

witchdoctor11 > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 12/28/2014 at 11:35

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I'm right there with you, I looked at them as well and they were surprisingly affordable. Please stay cheap for a few more years!

Viggen > gometz 12/28/2014 at 12:03

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This and the C63 Black. Normally I'm not fans of AMGs because of their focus on brute strength and ignorance, bordering on a muscle car level. These two though, I don't know I really like them for some odd reason.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > witchdoctor11 12/28/2014 at 12:08

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Right? I thought they would be close to their new retail value by now, but they are far from there.

gometz > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 12/28/2014 at 12:08

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I've mulled over the idea of trading in my C63 for one, but I'd be losing 2 seats which will come in handy in the next few years. But man I love the Black Series.

nucciOMG > gometz 12/29/2014 at 10:07

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I'm in a very dangerous spot. I've had my S60R for a few years, paid it off a while ago, making more money, and I'm getting hungry for something new. I have decided I want... no I NEED a V8 (at least) So I'm looking at RS4, M5, C63, CTS-Vs. Any of those would be awesome but... then there is the Black Series. Lurking juuuust above what I want to pay. I stayed up last night trying to figure out a way to justify it (financially, morally, and then how to convince the prettier half that this is the car that makes sense)

Sigh... yes I know... I don't think I could have a more first world problem issue in my life.

gometz > nucciOMG 12/29/2014 at 10:35

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As someone who owns a C63, I'll tell you you won't be disappointed unless a manual is very important (in which case the Black would also disappoint). Personally I'd drop the RS4 from that list, it's much more refined than the others. A C63 also goes through rear tires every 8-10k, so keep that in mind (though with discount tire you only end up paying about $250 per set with the warranty).

As awesome as the Black is, I have the same issue as you. I cannot logically justify to myself or my better half. The C63 is already illogical in most car terms, but at least it has rear seats.

nucciOMG > gometz 12/29/2014 at 10:51

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Awesome to hear from someone with a 63. Manual would be fun, but isn't a deal breaker. RS4 is out of place in that list, for sure, but I'm a sucker for the look of a B7. 8-10K on a set of rubber is low, but I have to be honest it would mostly be fault, especially going from AWD to RWD... and being a hoon at heart.

Being a C63 owner, do you have any tips/known issues that only arise after having the car for a while?

gometz > nucciOMG 12/29/2014 at 11:12

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Bought mine with 60k miles about 3 years ago and it has about 95k now. So far I've only had to do oil changes, tires, and I have brake service coming up. Some people claim there is an issue with the M156 cams, but this seems like it was overblown by a few owners early on. I do know I have a small leak on my valve cover I need to get fixed. Otherwise no work, not bad for a honking big race designed V8. It's pretty much like clockwork (oil change every 6 months, new rear tires in the winter).

I get about 20 mpg highway, but could ease it up to 22. I will say Mercedes should have redone the rear suspension from the regular C Class (the front is actually based on the CLK Black suspension). The rear tires are too narrow (255s for a 451 hp car). The early auto was slow to respond, later dual clutches were much better apparently. Also, be prepared for a very tight suspension, But the seats are awesome (though wider people don't like them).

Since you're coming from a Volvo, repairs won't be a whole lot more, but they will be more. AMG's take 0W40 oil that some shops will sell at $10k/qt, and the M156 needs about 9.5 quarts.

Make sure to find a good shop in your area. I actually discovered that the shop in Houston (where I live) is great for routine, but overcharged for brake and engine work. There's a new shop run by young guys near my parent's house in Austin who overcharge on oil changes (because they don't have the oil inventory like the one in Houston), but the valve cover and brake work is almost half the cost.

nucciOMG > gometz 12/30/2014 at 09:45

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Ah good to hear. And good to know about the cams, was there ever a fix/recall to resolve the issue?

~20MPG is what I would expect from this brute. I'm kinda surprised that the rears are only 255 tho! There must be room to add beefier rubber, right? As for the suspension/chassis, my R has poly bushings, chassis braces, and coilovers- shouldn't be stiffer then that. Where are the seats tight? I have wide shoulders and a small waist, so I'm a weird fit sometimes.

Ah, the good old maintenance! Really- 9.5 quarts!? I'm not even mad... that's impressive. I do pretty much all the work on my cars myself. Is it relatively straight forward or is it " German" where I need special tools to do everything?

Thanks for taking the time to help me out with this, I'm excited for one of these and I'm REALLY trying to pump the brakes until I learn as much as I can.

gometz > nucciOMG 12/30/2014 at 21:37

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It mainly seems like it was a bad batch of cams, failures aren't all that common and usually happened pretty early on and on early models.

I've got 265 I the rear now, and I think I've heard of people going up to 275s, above that I don't remember reading much.

The seats are typical sports seats that hug your sides. For wider people it's a bit uncomfortable (my 6' 3" 300 lb friend looks really uncomfortable in it). Some shorter people feel like the sides hop up too high. But they are great for regular frames.

I haven't really done much other that lights on my own, but from what I've seen (usually take a walk underneath at the shop and talk to the guys), it seems pretty normal. Transmission will be a pain to work on, but you shouldn't be messing with that yourself anyways.

I think my old E90 330i took about 8 quarts for its little 3 liter, that was impressive.

Oh and there's two oil pans on the C63.