[Time To Buy?] Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series

In the latest episode of my Time To Buy series, I get behind the wheel of an iconic modern Mercedes-Benz, the CLK63 AMG Black Series. When the car launched it cost around £100,000, 13 years later, you can expect to still pay that money for a used example. But it isn't just the value of these cars that have made me always want to experience one.
The CLK63 Black Series is a street legal version of the Official F1™ Safety Car, which borrows design and technology from the Formula One racing world. For starters, the Black Series is a 500 horsepower version of the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine, with 0-60 mph acceleration of 4.1 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.
The Black Series model can be easily identified by its carbon-fiber flared fenders that are filled with larger, staggered-width wheels and tires. AMG forged aluminum wheels (9 x 19 front, 9.5 x 19 rear) are shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa sports tires (265 / 30 R 19 front, 285 / 30 R 19 rear). Larger vented and perforated composite disc brakes can be seen through the AMG wheels; front discs are 14.2 inches in diameter, with 13.0-inch discs at the rear.
Also obvious from the outside is a front apron with carbon cooling air intakes under the front bumper and lateral air outlets in the front fenders, which feeds extra air to a larger radiator and a second transmission oil cooler. Redesigned side skirts under the doors lead to its flared rear fenders and a rear apron with carbon-fiber air diffuser fins.
High-performance parts from the F1 Safety Car include an AMG sports exhaust, a limited-slip rear differential and a separate oil cooler for the rear final drive, which uses a thermostatically controlled cooling fan to limit temperature peaks. On the trunk lid, a carbon-fiber spoiler airflow helps reduce aerodynamic lift forces at high speed.
The chassis of the CLK63 AMG Black Series features adjustable suspension with new spring links, wheel carriers, thrust arms and camber and torque struts.
The Black Series engine comes with completely redesigned intake and exhaust systems. Larger intake ducts, a new AMG sport exhaust with full-length twin pipes and a recalibrated engine control unit provides even swifter throttle response, not to mention its 500-horsepower.
The Black Series model is powered by the first engine designed totally by AMG. One of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8s ever, the new engine boasts a wealth of features derived from AMG's highly successful racing heritage.
Its seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT transmission is coupled to a rear final drive that's about six percent "shorter" for more responsive acceleration. The automatic transmission has Manual and Sport driving programs (the comfort-oriented Comfort mode isn't included), and drivers can shift between the seven gears using aluminum shift paddles on the 14.1 inch DTM-style leather steering wheel.
The F1-inspired design and technology of the CLK63 AMG Black Series is carried through to its high-tech interior. This dedicated two-seater sports touring car not only dispenses with rear seats, but its bucket-type seats, rich carbon fiber interior trim and black headliner also underscore the purposeful look of a true race car. The AMG front seats are covered in nappa leather with embroidered silver AMG logos.
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Thanks for watching SeenThroughGlass. If you liked this video you may also like videos by Shmee150, Salomondrin, Supercars Of London, Car Throttle, MrJWW and Petrolicious.

[@seenthroughglass]

Not really sure why KZbin is only allowing “480p” resolution .... hope you enjoy the video anyway

[@10Tenths]

*Seen Through 480p

[@tomevans5934]

Seen through the smudged glass 😂

[@idzardkruizinga]

Stile a great vid!

[@Carsbybram]

reupload sam :) we can wait :D

[@marcom5500]

Seen through slightly foggy glass, still a great video tho! Keep it going

[@venom5809]

Sam shoots videos with the highest quality cameras KZbin: "I'm going to ruin this man's career. 😂

[@aussiemetalkid00]

1080p in 2020 is a visual letdown on anything other than a mobile device. 2-4K is where it's at to fully experience the content.

[@-LK34-]

D D most people watching this are on mobile.

[@rsschick12]

@@aussiemetalkid00 1080P pretty much is 2k, 1920×1080 typically is 1080P, the 1920 is almost 2k

[@rsschick12]

@@aussiemetalkid00 4k is typically 3840x2160

[@rsschick12]

So saying 1080p is a visual letdown and then saying that 2k is where its at, is basically saying something is good, but that that same thing is bad, its not really making sense

[@10Tenths]

This car to me was peak AMG. Silly enough to be a real hoot and didn't take itself too seriously as the GT3 or even current AMGs!

[@zakr1187]

Clk dtm?

[@xcofcd]

Around the time that car came out was the peak of all german performance cars AMG, BMW M, Audi RS, Porsche and maybe even VW

[@YeaBroer]

For me it was that solar beam yellow C63 Black Series

[@Rodrigoxki]

Incredible car. Mine was the SL65 Black Series. Still remember dreaming about them during the Gran Turismo 4 days..

[@radityaindera3442]

Yeah but there's definitely something about SLS AMG Black that's just undeniably desirable

[@EconomicsMate1]

If Clarkson sells you buy. Hammond and May gave Clarkson such a hard Time owning this car, and now look at it. It held its value so well and its a true monster and legend of a car. Amazing review as always Sam.

[@lucian6395]

He said when he sold it, he didn't lose any money on it

[@Rugras.]

I think he also said it's the one car he truely regrets selling.

[@willlowbridge350]

Lucian - hi. I truly am not picking on your comment as a trip or ego. And I will never b able to buy a great motor like this one. But 13 years ago buying anything here in the UK £ pounds for 100k and getting 100k back some13 years later is not actually the same. Because inflation has eaten away at what 100k could buy you back then. With inflation accounted for13 years later @100k then had the buying power today of 138k . So anyone buying that car and selling it for the same they paid a long time ago whilst not a paper loss. It is actually almost 40k in loss. That is still much better than many many cars. I know “they” who buy them could afford to loose the cash etc. just wanted to that show money over time becomes less powerful so you need more as costs rise. Again not being funny about your comment just a view on what inflation dose to everyone. Cheers

[@lucian6395]

@@willlowbridge350 I get what you mean, I'm not sure if jezza acounted for inflation.

[@sunnylam2284]

Apparently Clarkson wrote in one of his columns that the Lotus engineer who designed the Top Gear test track said that the CLK Black could be faster round the test track if the suspension was softer and more toned down. And as the Black came with adjustable suspension from factory, the engineer did help Clarkson tune the suspension so that it can ride properly. And surprise surprise, it IS faster than what came from factory. So all that 'hardcore' suspension was for nothing.

[@radityaindera3442]

Rigid suspension is nothing if the tyres can't keep up. No wonder it went faster.

[@driftingstyles]

I like how you preface this comment with "apparently" then write the rest as if it were fact

[@sunnylam2284]

@@driftingstyles Which it is.

[@rod272727]

you know there are other things to adjust in the suspension...it's a bit more complicated than "hard" vs "Soft"

[@_chenn]

Little bit more to track setup than soft or hard, what worked for the top gear track won’t necessarily work for another. Maybe their setup worked best overall

[@longtailgt]

This looks PERFECT!!! This to me is one of the best looking Mercedes of all time! Yes, not just AMG but all Mercedes included.

[@andrevonoehsen4857]

absolutely right. Greatest car ever and so much under price on the market in the moment. It is the same with the normal clk 63. They are ultra rare as well. Prices for both models will defnetly go through the roof in the next years.

[@sandypatrol3457]

I love the wide side arches of this car. They make the car look so beastly!

[@1nmasuku]

Love these, this and the c63BS are ultimate coupes worth having in any collection.

[@hasanvic4853]

Loved these era of mercedes. Especially with the sl55 and 65

[@ajacks1974]

480p? Dammit , I'm too early

[@joe125ful]

1000p here...

[@OC02]

Tony Valdez I don’t have it yet hmm

[@alcapone9397]

#metoo

[@antoombom9584]

I still have only the 480p option😭

[@sterlingsilver320]

2 months later and I still only have 480p😂

[@alexwollman9183]

500+ ! Congrats well deserved

[@lucky-shuntscjm7151]

One of my all time fav's!!!!!! If I was a collector this would be in the keeper category for sure!!!!! 😍

[@gonzera4439]

I would’ve daily it if i had shit tons of money

[@TheHsinz]

Oh boi this is going to be a juicy one

[@larsstougaard7097]

Are you talking about that this video is in 480p only 😯, must be an artistic choice because of the retro AMG 😁. 1080p or 4K would never go well with this car 😉

[@TheHsinz]

Claudio Dio is there anything wrong with being gay?

[@atalayo3o0o]

I love the enthusiasm you got there, pal. I always wanted one of the black series during those days, but I am happy with my 2020 AMG A45s 4matic+, too!

[@davidberesford8107]

Well done Sam on getting rid of the hot foot shoe shuffle 😉

[@fabianb7819]

The CLK is one of the best looking cars mercedes has ever made imho (although I drive the successor lol)

[@davidplatt2919]

Always informative with a bit of humour thrown in 👍

[@MarkHossNorthwestrcclub]

Crackin Vid Sam 🙂 Definitely one of the cars I lusted after, and would seek with lottery win money, and drive the tyre's off it 😉👌🏻 Thanks for taking us along for the ride 🙂 Stay Safe, All the best, Mark 👍🏻

[@mo-hammadabunaser1367]

That's one good looking Mercedes!

[@marcom5500]

This is definitely one of the maddest cars I've had the pleasure of spending time in, and the amount of attention it gets when held up in stop and go traffic is just fun! And that was even a black "subdued" car..

[@conorburton9228]

Great stuff!

[@munraajmangat3534]

Lovely stuff

[@wackyrc1394]

Nice day for a drive and this AMG is quite a car to do just that, I like the red, bit different, good 😁👍

[@Lozenger91]

It's like we're watching it in 2007 as well :P Great as always Sam!

[@phatlaz1974]

Awesome video.

[@tdougs77]

40 seconds in, I'm sold. I'd have one. I've had a couple of V8 AMGs and I loved one of them.. (SLK55 R172). I had a near new C63s and it's put me off AMG as a brand a little, had so many issues (that were all fixed under warranty).

[@bmwm3tz]

Nice video Sam. Bought one about 3 months ago and the transmission can really come to life with a throttle blip tune. Fortunately they are significantly cheaper over here in the US and so the price definitely matches the driving experience.

[@theoknowscars5418]

i love this car and clarkson love this too.

[@cbh76]

I was living in a really small town when these launched and some hero bought one in black. I always gave him a thumbs up. Besides him, I always felt like I was the only person who knew what it was haha. The carbon all blended in on the black ones and they didn’t stand out as much.

[@n.danishsamuel2497]

When I saw the intro, I realised this is going to be a good on😉😉

[@Adam-M1]

Amazing motor.

[@jondobbs]

One sold on Collecting Cars today for £56k + buyers premium. RHD and 40k on the clock. We have been living in a money illusion 🤔

[@RS-jb1lf]

Imported from SA hence the cheaper price.

[@AmarF]

one of the most beautiful cars ever made

[@lefroy1]

I definately wasn't the only one waiting for that burnout launch teased at the beginning! ;-)

[@jamespugh]

Awsome video . Held value for 13yrs. Same the 488 is calling you

[@soubido]

My all time favorite AMG

[@ansolfa]

This car together (with the Maserati Granturismo 4.7 V8) has the best soundtrack ever. No other cars nowadays have such nice sound unless tuned with straight pipe.

[@zzhughesd]

Just look at it. In red. Thanks content Sammy Boy.

[@jahyoda]

Best Personality In Auto Space !

[@OC02]

It’s rare to have an interesting car in Ireland but there was one of these in a garage not to far away it was there for a few months and sold during the week it was really nice in black and since it sold Tim and Sam have both done videos on it

[@scottlewis3664]

It is always the right time to buy a black series!

[@liamcinq]

A lot of these on YT just now, nice to see some other colours than just black although obsidian is awesome.

[@aryobvg]

2:55 the buttons, I finally understand why it's called the black series.

[@trut52]

I want to congratulate your content lately Sam. You are becoming "the" car youtuber.

[@adamford8663]

Please buy !! Mega spec and in red 😍

[@TheChiliLime]

I would say any 6.2 NA V8 AMG car is a keeper now, depending on your vallet ofc. Any Black Series are ultimate ones obviously, but C63 Wagon, which you can get for ~$30k, is a beast as well.

[@sotirispa]

480p squad here :3 (cmon youtube...)

[@joe125ful]

Buy better net i have 1000 p now...

[@denisspratt926]

@@joe125ful What is 1000p? That doesn't actually exist on KZbin. So 1080p?

[@joe125ful]

@@denisspratt926 Who say i was on YT this time?:)

[@denisspratt926]

@@joe125ful You are commenting on KZbin. So if you're no there then shut up. Your comments are irrelevant.

[@joe125ful]

@@denisspratt926 Heheheh dont be soo rude bro:)

[@cheesedoodle4236]

Shmee is buying it for sure

[@radboudcc]

Nice, I own a CLK 350 cabriolet in the same red colour

[@shaneconta249]

480p feels like an old Top Gear video, I dig the issue lol

[@cheshirered9204]

SL55 must be in a similar position and nowhere near £100k either. Best examples are £30-40-50k with super clean ones still in the 20's. Merc' design and build in a superb hard top coupe-convertible. Oh yeah, and that 5.4l V8 AMG masterpiece engine. Superb.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

They are a nice machine.

[@sadz5qcg]

Yo this 480p looking crisp 👌🏾

[@agspots2999]

Please just sell all your assets, buy every car you have driven on the time to buy series, live out of the cars XD. But yes, its definitely time to buy a clk black Sam, could you imagine that and the 360 together?!? Keep this series going, loving it!!!

[@MrMichikelomtres]

What is happening? You are reviewing my favourite cars one at a time, this is amazing!

[@pato10111]

It’s one of those cars that just never really dated. Hard to pinpoint why, but it’s like the Audi Quattro or Lancia Delta of it’s generation. I also think Clarksons piece on Topgear driving it through Scotland highlands struck a chord with people at the time and ever since.

[@dreamcarspotter]

500K boyssss

[@xIRATUMx]

I would quickly im looking at them as well , there rare and everones buying up black series at the moment.

[@unathimichaelmxaku8105]

Damn this colour 🥺

[@rickw8645]

My favourite ever car

[@omarusmani1]

Please re-upload again....due to 480p quality. Love the clkamg black series

[@operamatthew]

favorite benz!!!

[@Carsbybram]

waiting on the 1080p version :)

[@richboy900]

One of the best V8 engines ever produced

[@benclingin2854]

Perfect troll of Shme150. Well done Sam!!! 😂😂😂 This car is the reason I own a W204 C63. How good is red though!?!?

[@the_canyon_carver]

Same here brother

[@Kxji]

Yes please.

[@ManicBeans]

I'd love to see on a Volkswagen Corrado VR6 - it in fact should be a single episode in an entire series (everyday modern classics or future classics)

[@Taylor40667]

7:00 Sam you sure you can keep up with the van? It is a mb Sprinter after all fastest vehicle on the roads 🙃

[@tomrobinson9388]

Taylor40667 if I’m not mistaken the sprinter is undefeated in all of its carwow drag race appearances🤷🏽‍♂️😂

[@Taylor40667]

Tom Robinson correct Tom hahaha 🙃

[@Flexnes1]

Proper bruiser cruiser, that.

[@IWarwickI]

I was just looking at one of these online in Australia 🇦🇺 today 😏

[@paulthorpe766]

Gearbox is ok - on-throttle axle tramp in the wet though is terrifying, never would go out in mine in wet - seats are killers too after 100 miles!

[@SCDC-Channel]

Still one of the best AMGs

[@Wallygjs]

Great car, surprised you didn't put a link to the garage who kindly let you drive their car!?

[@Jamesah1975]

If you can afford it, I couldn’t think of a reason not to buy it. What a fucking awesome two car garage that would be!

[@hikenace2546]

Sam if you decided to buy this car, can we have more race track content... 😊

[@-LK34-]

Wow never seen one in that colour, get it bought before Shmee does🤣

[@bob808]

I've been lucky enough to drive a CLK BS, and it's definitely a laugh! I'd have one, if I had the $, but I'd swap out those seats. Too tight for me 😅

[@ste6834]

Please do a Lancia Delta, there are nice looking non-evo models for sale for 20k and at that price it feel like one hell of a bargain!

[@77CJJ]

Yes, yes, yes!!

[@timboslice46634]

What green bracelet is that? Is that a miansai?

[@mike__db5643]

I am doing a M113k engine swap in a clk 55 amg. It's gonna be insane

[@joe125ful]

10 times better than modern cars!!!!!

[@FrancescoMarelli84]

I hit the like within 10s, yes that is during the burn out. Hope it helps the famous algorithm towards generating revenue for a new set of tires...RIP ;-)

[@lexluthor1166]

That one has the carbon pack which is very rare to see .. there is a white one with carbon that merc uk had ...which is possibly the coolest.

[@revmedia8108]

Sam: «Time to buy?» Me: For sure!! Also me: has exactly 28 cents in his bank account Much love, your friends ar Rev Media!!

[@oscartejura4887]

Sucking up to creators isn’t going to make people sub to you. I’m not judging but that just my opinion from my perspective

[@revmedia8108]

Oscar Tejura agreed!!

[@andresguarin639]

@Rev Media YOU ARE EVERYWHERE

[@revmedia8108]

ADGC We are everything, everytime, everywhere... We control KZbin!

[@kristian5821]

@@oscartejura4887 there not asking for subs tho

[@stg007]

Great vid shame KZbin throttled the the quality down to 480p :(

[@GPTVIBHU]

The video too has a very 2007-ey vibe to it with the 480p

[@thomasbailey4139]

“All of the examples have been ruined through modification and finding an unmolested low mileage one is rare”. Great way to find a modern classic.

[@Buzz_15900]

BUY ONE SAM!!

[@denisspratt926]

Why only 480p? Was a bit late for this one and still only 480p. You should test a Alfa Romeo SZ in this series. That is a rare car and you won't loose money on it. But they are not that expensive either. Keep up the good work though.

[@erichlawrence4142]

Being these are around the same price as a Ferrari 360, which car do you think is the better pick? I know you love your 360, but which is the better value with all things considered?

[@MilzamAkbar0908]

right hand drive merc still have that offset steering till this day

[@henrikenochsson418]

What happend to the 1080p?

[@98jf5]

So weird I just watched one of your old videos and there was one of these at Joe Macari’s

[@gordonsimpson3235]

Great vid again Sam....the 6.3 Black series CLK is still my favourite, the Turbo'd cars don't do it for me - they sound 'manufactured'. Have to say Sam, if I was a traffic police officer, I would definitely pull you over for a check....its the baseball hat mate (and the youthful looks), makes you look like a TWOC'er.....taken without consent I believe it means!!!!!

[@manaboutadog6387]

I’ll wait for the 1080 quality thanks. See you in few days

[@fernandovillarreal4982]

I'd buy it...

[@yash.kapoor]

Instead of £100k for this impractical collector's piece, get yourself a W204 C63 (not the black series), do a bunch of mods, spend some on preventative maintenance, and you've just got a killer car on your hands

[@iwolfdk]

Seen Through Glass Sam why Can i not get more end 480p and not 720p off your video? Other people having same problems?