The video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScAkjwvwHhE&search=Popescu

Even if they did make a completely new engine, they are most definetly going to test it. They don’t want their racecars breaking down in the middle of a race… Even if there is some special way they need to treat the engine–or maybe they even need to get it fixed. It’s still the company’s responiblilty to figure out/explain the problem. That’s the way it is for NORMAL cars even, if you buy a car for 2 milliion (give or take a few 100k) you better have some kind of warranty or something.

Jon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_CLK-GTR

Coupe:

http://www.autopanorama.ru/gallery/MB_SLR-GT_06-03/mercedes-clk-gtr_1024.jpg

Roadster:

http://www.xtreme-tuning.com/imagenes/2004/tuning%20internacional/abril2004/Mercedes%20CLK%20GTR%20Roadster2.jpg

As well, the basis for the engine is the tried and tested MB V12. Regardless if they bored it out for large displacement, and if they changed the lubrication system, or whatever else, the basis for the car is still the same (not to mention the SS version which used the same 7.3 liter used in the Pagani Zonda, which indecently doesn’t have these types of problems…) and its ridiculous that it has supercilious problems like a failing oil system.

The F430 is truly better than the 355, it builds on it superbly. Just because Ferrari now makes a more reliable car, it doesn’t take it any less of a Ferrari; actually it’s great that Ferrari makes more reliable cars…who the hell wants an unreliable car?

Jon.

there is no roadster CLK-GTR… i think you’re confusing the DTM racer. Mercedes had to make 5 in order to meet requirements to race in the Le Mans series. There are no convertibles. This car shares nothing in common with a stock CLK save the headlights. This is a pure race car, mercedes did something more than ferrari, since ferrari wont make the FXX streetlegal… and requires Ferrari technicians on site when operating the vehicle. Mercedes put it out there for everyday use, and being more than a few years old, race technology doubles almost 2 times a year, so this CLK-GTR is almost a dinosaur in respect to technology that might have led it to be super reliable. Comparing the engine in this street legal race car to an S600 is insane and requires no rebutle. Yes the car had problems, but being a ferrari fan you should appreciate that, isnt the 355 the last true ferrari ever made? since it broke down almost monthly, had no parts available in comparison to the 360 and 430 which are basically high strung toyotas.

Thus, this isn’t a ground-up mom and pop operation (see my reference above), this is Mercedes-Benz, and its really both unacceptable and ridiculous all at once.

Jon.

well, the headlights look similar..

This was the roadster version of the coupe, of which they produced 25 road-going cars, plus the 10 or so racecars, plus the cars are based on parts used by other Mercedes cars (of which 100,000 of cars and millions of parts are made). Thus, this isn’t just some odd occurrence made by some small company. How many cars does Koenigsegg make?

Jon.

ummm, they produce more than 5?

sounds like they have a *decent* case based solely on the *claims* presented in the article. still have to see where the paper trail leads.

even as a $2,000,000.00 paperweight, it is worth every penny.

Jon.