I know it seems kind of ridiculous that the upgrade from a V6 in the C32 to the V8 in the C55 only brought about 15 more horsepower. I believe Mercedes' logic was to compete directly with Audi who had replaced the S4's V6 with a V8. I have done a lot of research on the C55 and while it never won many comparos against the likes of the comparably aged M3 or S4, there is something about the Mercedes build and reliability that I came to love with the Crossfire. I just always felt confident that the car would start thanks to the sound mechanics and quality of the MB engine and parts. That, and the fact that I now feel comfortable with the Mercedes build and parts having worked on my car frequently. I believe the C55's engine bay is very similar to that of the C32's, and in turn the SRT-6s and SLK32s. The V6 engine was simply swapped for a V8 but much remains the same. Someone please correct me if I am wrong?