German Car Forum

If the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series and 2007 BMW M6 could talk trash, things would get ugly in a hurry.

The big-bore Benz would snort something about its 465 pound-feet of grunt, the kind of power that would leave the Bimmer's flame-surfaced sheet metal in a smoldering pile on the road. The high-strung M6 would make a remark about the Benz's boy-racer fender flares, silly bodywork vents and decidedly uncivilized exhaust note.

You can imagine the slugfest that would follow, plenty of 500 horsepower bellowing through quad exhaust pipes and then R-compound rubber splattered across elegant grilles. Think of it: a total hammer-and-tongs cage match, testing these high-performance icons to their breaking point.

And that's precisely how we approached this comparison of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series and the 2007 BMW M6.

Price Wars

Sorry to end the suspense, but it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Benz wins this contest given its $136,000 price tag — nearly a $27,000 premium over the M6. Or should it?

The BMW M6 coupe and the M5 sedan have proven themselves worthy to us in the past. And this M6 came fully equipped, complete with $3,500 worth of Merino leather upholstery, BMW's $1,000 Comfort Access System, the $1,000 Head-Up Display and $1,095 HD and satellite radio. The price tag for this car comes to $109,190, as tested.

For its part, the Benz has no options. But like the M6, it comes standard with a navigation system, automatic climate control and plenty of leather upholstery. So this AMG-built hot rod is not exactly a stripped-down track-only version of the CLK. Quite the opposite, in fact. There's plenty of opulence to go with its bad attitude.


Cont....


The Easy Choice

Bottom line: The Benz wins this test, but not just because it's quicker and handles better. Nope. When you're talking about laying down this much cash, there's more to it than performance. For this kind of green we want something special. We want attitude to go with the speed, sound to go with the looks and exclusivity to justify the cost of entry.

The CLK63 AMG does it all. And it does it in a way the haughty, if capable, M6 cannot, with fat fender flares, bad attitude and plenty of brawn to back up its trash talk.

Full Article and Video:

Comparison Test: 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series vs. 2007 BMW M6

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These are no true competitiors but its a cool test anyway. If this was a regular CLK63 my choice would be M6. CLK63 BS feels more special and a sportier car so thats my choice. But the pricetag is just too much, there are other sportcars for that money I choose.
but between M6 and CLK63 BS, the benz is my choice.

Bring on the M6 CSL and my choice would probably be different.

M6 CSL is going to be the definition of what a brutal car is. I wonder if DCT will be available with this model? Would be extremely devastating machine against cars like the CLK63 Blk Ser. I'm loving how the pistol whipping segment of the automotive market is developing, from supercars to road & track cars.

That's the first time I heard a review mention that a "Benz handles better than a BMW".

The CLK Black Series looks good in red though.

To be fair with the M6, the CLK-B.S is using R-tires which the bimmer isnt using. Also the B.S are more trackoritented than the M6, the M6 is more like a GT but despite that its no pig on a track.

Black Series counterpart is BMW's CLS versions so this review isnt completly fair to the bimmer. Its like comparing a M3 CSL to a C55/CLK63.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the M6 also pretty heavy?

I recall reading a pretty negative review about the M6 (maybe it was EVO) which basically complained that the car is too heavy to be a "good handler" in the sense of the M3 and M5. I believe the verdict was that the M6 is "more of a GT car than an ///M....

It weigh more than a 977TT or a Z06 but less than a CL63.
CLK63 BS isnt light either? slightly less than the M6.
Anyway, the M6 CLS will probably take care of the weight issues.

Maybe Mercedes has the "BMW formula" figured out, eh?

cool test.. the CLK deserved this win..
just look at the pics.. the battle ends right there..
but its abit unfair.. the CSL will be the real competition.. but still it wont..cause the CLK and 6er arent the same type of cars..

PS
Cant wait for the CSL..i hope they fix that sad face..

The 6 looks older than the CLK although it's the newer car,i say it needs to be facelifted soon and that falming red hot CLK BS is just the best looking compact coupe ever made IMHO

you know BMW doesnt change much on their facelifts. You can forget that they will change much on the 6er. I bet the only difference will be a chroome line in the front ala 5er.

in that case .. its a sad situation..

As has been noted, the CLK63 is perhaps a step above the M6, so this comparsion isn't exactly fair. Still interesting though.

BTW, the CLK BS looks gorgeous.

The regular CLK 63 was trashed by the regular 335i.

So let's see the BS against the 335Si, M3, M3 CSL shall we ?!

My God, I can`t believe this. The CLK BS clobbered the M6 with a baseball bat with those numbers!

0-60 4.4 vs. 4.7..... skidpad test...0.96 vs. 0.85... breaking test from 60mph 108 vs 114.. and the CLK weighs just 4lbs. more!!

(Looks like the M6 would have a hard time keeping up with the E63 Touring)

That aside I didn`t think the M6 was that expensive. If I were to spend $109,000+ dollars, a 27,000 dollar difference would be nothing to me. I`d go for the CLK BS! It beat the M6 in every given catagory and manages to stand out more in the looks department according to the journalists.

Great victory for MB here!

like stated before the CLK63 BS is using, R-tires and that helps a lot for traction and grip but you already know this.

and those are only 0-60 and 402m, Im certain that M6 has is faster in +200km/h, thats the new M's strong side, below 200km/h the M6 is like many other sportcars.

These two are hardly competitors, not even standard CLK63 is candidate for the M6. I think your dark MB side excited you little too much here

1. I highly doubt the M6 can overtake the CLK63 BS in the 200km/h test as you indicated, thay might be neck and neck here but even I doubt that.

2. These two might not hardly be compaditors from a journalists stand point
but to the consumer, thats a different question. If your in the market your going to compare, it`s that simple.

I have my belief and you have yours, so what should we do? Buy ourself a M6 and CLK63 and then compare.

Sure there will be people crosshopping between these two, but they will also choose between a Porsche, R8, Z06, Ferrari or a Lambo. The upcoming M6 CSL will also be one candidate. M6 and CLK63 BS arent the only cars in the world.

But it doesnt change much, these two (M6 and CLK BS) were built with different purposes in mind.

lol get a grip man.. aint no 335 in the world gonna beat this MB
are you really that naive ..that you belive a 500+ hp benz is so bad in the bends that it gets owned by a car with ONLY 300 or so hp??
comeon man..give some credit for gods sake

M3 and M3 CSL.. now thats a diffrent story..those will probably be as fast or probably alot faster ..

1. With equall tyres the M6 reaches 200 in 12.8 sec. at best, acording to Sport Auto. I doubt the CLK BS will be near.
That AMG engine is a low to mid torque porker, while the M only really comes alive after 180 Km/h, and by that time, the V8 is out of breath.


Also, I'd like a Sport auto shoot out, not an Edmunds one. They're barely capable of making a proper review.

the sportiest car wins in sportauto therefore CLK63 BS will win in sportauto.

True, but the M6 will still have its areas, as mentioned.

This is too much just how a 6.2l will be out of breath and a 5.0l won't?!! come on please!! the bigger lungs of that V8 will have an advantage of course!

they said the same about E55, that wasnt true. Now E63 is here and it can only keep up with the M5 to 200km/h. so no, bigger lungs dont have always advantage. Gearing, weight and aerodynmaics are other factors to count in. M%/M6 are extremly effective after 200km/h.

1. You are way overestimating the M6 here... The AMG engine is not a torque poker by any means it`s light, works faster and is more efficient than Kompressor V8. Also, don`t forget the manual-mode, it allows the M156 to speeds 50%faster.

2. The edmunds review is very scientific with the numbers and driving dynamics behind the reviews. I didn`t find bias here, it`s a good report.