CLK55: double or quad exhaust?

[Windymiller]

I'm off to look at a 2003 CLK55 tomorrow, but from the dealer pics it only appears to have 2 exhaust pipes on the one side — I thought they all had 2 or each side?

They assure me it's a genuine car, but I though I'd best check beforehand.

And finally, what's regarded as the best system for liberating the amazing noise of these things?

[r129sl]

On a 2003 CLK55 AMG there is only one set of twin pipes on the near side of the car. The engine is the n/a version. If it were me, I wouldn't replace the stock AMG exhaust unless it were broken: the replacement is highly likely to be of inferior quality. If you're set on replacement, you can "tune" the sound to be however you like. Do think of your neighbours, though!

[Windymiller]

Ah, right. When did it stop being n/a then? Is that what the quad pipes denotes? Apologies for the total lack or Merc knowledge!

[slippery]

The CLK only came as normally aspirated. It progressed to CLK 63 later on which was still NA.
The CL was the coupe that went supercharged.

[slippery]

Nappler said:

C55,SLK55 and CLK55 were n/a and 360 ish bhp , C and SLK have 4 exhausts, not sure about the CLK, if you want the V8 Kompressor which is 500 bhp and 500 ft/lb of torque it means getting an E,SL,CLS or S Class.

Or an '03 model CL.

[mhhayes]

Don't know the exact details, and it might only apply to later CLK63s, but I seem to remember that the Coupe had 4 pipes, the convertible only 2.

[amg master]

the first clk55 amg came with 2exhausts 03 i think,then from 54 reg they came with 4 exhausts.

[slippery]

Did you buy it then OP?

[Windymiller]

No, it were a bit of a dog in need of some paint...

[slippery]

Oh well, nothing ventured.....

[Windymiller]

Spotted another one, but not sure about the following...

"clicking in the vent, which last around 20sec when you start up (this is a common fault and the previous 2 I test drove did the same) and the SRS light is on, this is the passenger seat belt, does not move when the door opens, no big deal! Also the keyless start off the gear shift has stopped working, only starts off the key now."

All sounds kind of superficial, though I don't really know about the clicking thing?

[slippery]

Walk away. If an owner can't be bothered to put a car like that right, what else have they neglected. The trouble is, you are bang in the middle of the bad build era of these cars, so you need to find a well sorted example and it's probably worth the extra to have a decent warranty too.

[Windymiller]

Yeah, I keep hearing the bad-build thing. Roughly when did things get better?

[slippery]

Probably around 06, but in reality, the next generation of each variant was the significant step forward, as a lot of the cost cutting was in the design as well as the build. ie new C Class much better, new S class much better, new E Class much better etc. Some people report no problems with the older cars like you are looking at, others end up with nothing but trouble.