text: SLK 55 AMG vs M3 - Mercedes Benz SLK Forum
  Mercedes Benz SLK Forum > General Discussion about Mercedes Benz SLKs > AMGs > SLK 55 AMG vs M3
  #1 Old 12-23-2008
  SLK 55 AMG vs M3
  I have now seen several youtube "drag race" videos between SLK 55 and M3 . To my surprise in the 3 i have seen the M3 [older version] pulls away quite well and early on. My understanding was that SLK 55 was faster on a straight line and M3 was better and faster on the track. The SLK55 also has a better 0-60 time.
  Is ther someone here with personal experience? Could anybody explain or am i simply mistaken? I realise that factors like driver ability and payload ect are important.
  #2 Old 12-23-2008
  http://www.fastestlaps.com/index.php...=458aa0d73610e
  This more or less answers it!
  #3 Old 12-23-2008
  The E46 M3 is a simply awesome car, it uses its high rev engine to squeeze horses out the tailpipes right to the limiter and it drives like its an extension of your body, i used to own one and i still enjoy taking them for a blast when we get one in PX'd, both the M3 and the 55 are rated at low 5's to 60 but in reality the M3 does it in about 4.8 and the 55 in about 4.3.
  In a drag race your about right, the S54 basically screams into its powerband while the 113 is still at idle so the M3 takes off first, thats only temporary and once the 113 gets into its stride and the torque sets in then its all over for the M3.
  On a track it comes down to driver skill, i think its reasonable to say that with 2 drivers of similar experience the M3 and 55 would stick to each other but the 55 would not be passing the M3, at least on a twisty circuit obviously the more straights it has the easier it is for the 55 to pull away.
  God i love the E46, she's showing her age now internally both in design and technology but externally she's as graceful as the day she way born and that sweet sweet engine can still insert that kidney grille right up the tailpipes of many a more expensive car.
  #4 Old 12-23-2008
  Thats an E92 but i only see track figures and factory specs, a track is no contest i wouldn't be stupid enough to even try and compare but I've had some drags with the 55 and new M3 and the 55 came out on top.
  kungfudevil, nakulan7
  #5 Old 12-23-2008
  I think if you compare the covetable version of the M3 to the 55 , the 55 will win. the extra pounds on the M3 covertable sets it back.
  My SLK55 ran VERY consistent 12.7-8 at the local 1/4 mile strip trapping 110-111mph (close to 100 passes overall). Easiest car to launch at dragracing I've ever had.
  What mode did you have the best 1/4 mile times? ESP off? S mode I assume.
  The 55 is considered a sleeper around here. The only time I came across an M3 on the hiway, they were obviously surprised I started to pull away until we had to back off. Their expression made me smile. Of course I have a smile every time I can turn it loose. Even if it's only for a few seconds.
  I am certain that at some point of my life i will own an SLK 55. I am quite impressed with the capabilities of both the E46 and E92M3s but try as i might i cant see myself driving a BMW. If i were to buy a 4 door saloon which goes that quick i would probably go for an Evolution X FQ360. Much more affordable and probably more reliable as well. The new Evo is an absolutely fanatastic machine to drive and quite forgiving too. I fell in love with it after a test drive on a very wet road on a deserted trading estate. the very thought of it makes my heart beat quicker.
  I would love to have both of them. The SLK 55 for sunshine and fun and the Evo for a bit of rough and tumble.
  #9 Old 12-24-2008
  "S" mode, ESP "off, and let the car do all the work *L*. With the stock Pirelli's I would ease into the throttle until the car was moving then quicky foot to the floor, as traction permitted. When I switched to Potenza RE-01R's, it was just stomp and go as those tires hooked a LOT better than the P Zero's.
  #10 Old 12-24-2008
  Nothing wrong with a BMW, the E46 was 2 door only remember so if your thinking 4 doors that only gives you the E92 unless you want to go further into the past.
  Evo's are very nice cars but you can't compare a BMW M with it, on the one hand you have a luxury German car with everything needed in a car and put together in a nice package and on the other you have something nailed together in Japan and looking like its crashed into a Halfords shop window.
  #11 Old 12-24-2008
  "other you have something nailed together in Japan and looking like its crashed into a Halfords shop window."
  He he.... very naughty...
  Well, the EvoX is much better than the older ones and i was rather surprised of the ride comfort. The interior is tacky and plasticky and no way comparable to the creature comforts of the BMW.
  The difference in price tag and my natural inclination to rally styling makes it very very appealing. Not to mention the comparable performance and the 4 wheel drive.
  Perhaps there is a "chav" in me waiting to come out in to the open?
  #12 Old 12-24-2008
  "The SLK 55 for sunshine and fun and the Evo for a bit of rough and tumble"
  Like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide!
  #13 Old 12-24-2008
  Nothing wrong with a 4 door (e90) M3. It still has the front of the coupe (e92) model and has similar performance figures and with the DCT (double clutch transmission), gear changes are quick. The sedan is cheaper than the coupe too.
  Personally i wouldn't have the Evo. It's really not that great and quite harsh. The BMW and the SLK 55 are vehicles designed for 2 different purposes and in different categories completely. You could compare the Evo and the Subaru but NOT the Evo and the M3.
  The e46 M3 CSL was brilliant in my opinion but we all have to move forward some time or other and while the e90 and e92 M3 are bigger, the M division still have what it takes in my opinion to deliver high output well tuned and designed products.
  With that said, if all goes well my next car will be a SLK 55 AMG (Even although i currently drive a BMW).
  #14 Old 01-04-2009
  I agree. The E46 (333 Hp) will get pulled in a straight line - it's .5 - a full second behind the SLK55 through the 1/4 mile (significant). The E92 M3 is a hair slower through 1/4 mile (4 dr) but I'm guessing the 2 Dr version would be very close/identical to the SLK55.
  As to handling, the E46 has nothing on the SLK55. Even the non Nurbergring suspensioned SLK55 managed a 1 mph faster slalom trap than the E46. The E92 M3, however, handles extremely well (5 mph faster than its predecessor so I'm guessing an 030 SLK55 would close the 4 mph gap but would not eclipse it...the new M3 handles very well).
  Brakes?... no difference in any of the cars (SLK55, E46, or E92). They all have pretty fade free huge brakes that make repeated stops from 60 mph between 112 - 114 ft.
  #15 Old 01-04-2009
  Fyi, the Youtube video you mentioned was in S. Africa.
  1) That was a Euro M3 CSL (not avail in the US - just fyi) that weighs less but costs ~ 15% more than the standard M3. Thus, this rare M3 version is quicker than 95% of the other M3s on the road.
  2) The M3 CSL also had an intake & exhaust. The SLK55 was compeletly stock.
  3) The SLK had 2 HEAVY passengers (the driver alone weighed 270 lbs & his passenger was ~ 240 lbs). The M3 had only the driver... ~ 170 lbs.
  Mystery solved. The SLK55, stock for stock, is quicker than even the limited production M3 CSL (unless you mod the CSL & add an extra 350 lbs to the '55).
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  #16 Old 01-11-2009
  As you guys probably know, I track my 55 frequently. I've been doing it since early in 06 or about 3 years. The group I run with sets up run groups by drivers experience so the guys you're running with shoud be of equal talent to you. In the 3 years that I've been running, with one exception, I've never had an E46 out lap me. I'm estimating that covers about 15-20 different E46s. The exception was in November when I moved into the most advanced run group. One of the E46s in that group could turn slightly faster laps than me. Without question, this guy was a much better driver than me. I've got him on video and will learn from the experience. Even though I could easily handle him on the straights, his line through the corners was a thng of beauty.
  Having said all of that, the 55 is a much easier car to drive quickly on a track. It's torque advantage coupled with the 7 speed makes it very forgiving. When you have a slip up in the finess catagory, brute force is there and willing.
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  #17 Old 01-12-2009
  i love that picture! 2 of my favorite current MBs! in matching colours!
  I was running with 2 M3's last time with Robert. They were quite quick and I hard to keep up as they could drive through corners a little faster with their track tires (still running street). Pure horsepower/torque and taking advantage of driver mistakes allowed me to keep up and pass them. However the setup of the the M3's had them passing me quite often in the corners. The drivers were very good also.