CLS55 and other AMG buying advice - car on Autotrader

[philnewmerc]

Hello

I've been mulling over looking (hopefully buying) at a car that is 5 hours drive away - I don't really want a 10 hour wasted round trip so I wondered what are sensible questions to ask the seller about the car beforehand? Car in question is:

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS CLS55 4dr Auto COUPE Petrol Automatic | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS CLS55 4dr Auto COUPE Petrol Automatic at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

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I did phone but he seemed very vague and searching Companies House for the details of the directors does not inspire confidence (previous car sales company dissolved) but it does look clean and affordable so I would treat it like buying from a private seller I think. There are other AMGs but they're higher mileage and/or more expensive. Or should I just wait?

In general, which AMGs are better value? My only criteria is must have 4 or 5 doors and no s classes... i need to park ! My budget is 10K + 2K spare for repairs

Is the HPI check on Ebay reliable or should I get my own?

Cheers
P

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Only looking at the photos, the badges arent level/quiet correct positions. could have had black aftermarket ones on, or has been re-sprayed at some point.

One of the rear passenger side parking sensors looks either paint chipped, or somthing up with it.
Non standard front grill.

CLS55s are great cars.

 

[philnewmerc]

Well spotted thank you. I'll ask him if it's been resprayed... Never a good sign. But then again I doubt he'd say yes either. My previous clk had a non-standard front grill and black tape all over the chrome to make it look cooler. It looked awful, but was still a great car once I put it back to standard. But I'm very nervous of buying an abused AMG

 

[philnewmerc]

Apart from the badges, does anything look fishy? One of the very old MOT failures from about 2012 I think said there was a belt hanging loose and a broken pulley... I imagine the supercharger belt? I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing, I suppose good in that if somebody didn't know this then they can't have been driving very hard, or bad in the they didn't service it properly???

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Looks in otherwise good condition, bare in mind that its an 18 year old car! - its never going to be totally fresh.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Apart from the badges, does anything look fishy? One of the very old MOT failures from about 2012 I think said there was a belt hanging loose and a broken pulley... I imagine the supercharger belt? I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing, I suppose good in that if somebody didn't know this then they can't have been driving very hard, or bad in the they didn't service it properly???

That was 11 years ago!

 

[philnewmerc]

Having watched a few of these go, it actually seems very good value (or it's a dog up close). Any ideas? Thank you!

 

[philnewmerc]

That was 11 years ago!

If it was a private seller, I'd be there like a shot, because in my experience I've always found people pretty straight, or you can work them out. But because it's a trader, and I've had bad experiences before, I'm quite nervous. I warranty from a v small trader means absolutely zilch. But like you say I don't expect it to be perfect, I just don't want the engine to blow up or a wheel to fall off, both of which have happened to me lol ! (Both cars bought from backstreet traders).

 

[philnewmerc]

Someone please tell me not to buy this

 

[SL63Mark]

Overall looks sound, but I'd want a full inspection on a ramp. Have some money put aside for inevitable expenses, unless you have an in-house mechanic.

Price looks good. Headlamps will want doing. Any car with this age/miles will have some paint work.

Do you feel lucky ?

 

[Lenny63]

Thinking about all the things mine has had done in the last 15k ( I am on 99k also strangely enough):
2 x rear shocks
1x rear air spring
Engine mounts
Gearbox mount
Discs and pads
New rear SAM
Super charger tensioner
Double idler pulley
Supercharger coolant pump
1x sticky front caliper
Alternator
2x new batts (main and aux)
2 front Window regulators
2x tail light clusters

And probably a lot more I've forgotten

I'd be asking for any invoices linked to SBC braking system pump and/or front airmatic struts. Front struts are £1200 a side plus fitting

I wouldn't necessarily get too upset about paint work done to the car unless it has aigns of accident damage. The reer arches rust due to stone chips and the fronts can blister at the wing due to the same. I had my car tidyied up last summer at the bodyshop for that very reason including front and rear bumper

My advice would be,dod your best to find an enthusiest owned car. These really bite if you don't get a good one

For context, I'd be asking more rhan 9k for mine if I listed it. So maybe that tells you what you need to know re the price point of this one...

 

[KillerHERTZ]

The one in the ad is on 102k now

 

[ALFAitalia]

Thinking about all the things mine has had done in the last 15k ( I am on 99k also strangely enough):
2 x rear shocks
1x rear air spring
Engine mounts
Gearbox mount
Discs and pads
New rear SAM
Super charger tensioner
Double idler pulley
Supercharger coolant pump
1x sticky front caliper
Alternator
2x new batts (main and aux)
2 front Window regulators
2x tail light clusters

And probably a lot more I've forgotten

I'd be asking for any invoices linked to SBC braking system pump and/or front airmatic struts. Front struts are £1200 a side plus fitting

I wouldn't necessarily get too upset about paint work done to the car unless it has aigns of accident damage. The reer arches rust due to stone chips and the fronts can blister at the wing due to the same. I had my car tidyied up last summer at the bodyshop for that very reason including front and rear bumper

My advice would be,dod your best to find an enthusiest owned car. These really bite if you don't get a good one

For context, I'd be asking more rhan 9k for mine if I listed it. So maybe that tells you what you need to know re the price point of this one...

Well if that does not stop him buying it I'm not sure what will!!

 

[ALFAitalia]

Something else to bear in mind is a rusty rear subframe....especially as the SN on the number plate means it was first registered in the Edinburgh area of Scotland (any standard current style car car reg starting in S comes from Scotland)....the land of cold, wet, snow and road salt!!!

 

[BandyAndy]

100% positive feedback ................. from 1 item sold

Do you feel lucky ?

 

[philnewmerc]

Thanks so much for the advice. The answer is no I do not feel lucky, but I also feel like I want an AMG very badly . One of the directors of that company has had his previous car sales business dissolved by Company's House and his son is now the current director. And on Google maps his address is a garden full of cars. On the other hand he's selling things for 20 or 30k as well... I think the combination of it being cheap, and from Scotland, and wonky badges indicating probable paint work, makes me think it might not be too good underneath, and this is from the era when Mercs rusted like 1970s Datsuns. On reflection I think I might buy a cheap run around while I wait for a more local car(s) to view. It's not that I'm sure it's a bad one, just so many times I've driven half the day to look at something only to find that it's a complete dog... Totally dispiriting. Maybe I have finally learned my lesson! Maybe I'll put a wanted ad on here The comments are greatly received, thank you

 

[Londonscottish]

CLS55's offer a relatively cheap way into E55k ownership and I've looked at them for that reason. Also, I like the fact that they are based on the 211 E Class platform which is pretty tough.

But there are the common faults that people have pointed out; if I was buying one I'd look for bills for common things like Airmatic springs/struts F&R, Airmatic pump, SBC pump, discs & tyres and preventative maintenance things like g/box oil.

That one is towards the lower end of the pricing curve whish would make it it a real bargain if the previous owners had lavished it with care. But the low mileage, low owner cherished ones seem to list in the mid teens. I don't know what they actually sell for but I guess the pricing reflects the (relative) risk.

Personally, I'd try to buy one privately off here and/or one that's obviously been well looked after with stacks of paperwork.

 

[Londonscottish]

Thanks so much for the advice. The answer is no I do not feel lucky, but I also feel like I want an AMG very badly . One of the directors of that company has had his previous car sales business dissolved by Company's House and his son is now the current director. And on Google maps his address is a garden full of cars. On the other hand he's selling things for 20 or 30k as well... I think the combination of it being cheap, and from Scotland, and wonky badges indicating probable paint work, makes me think it might not be too good underneath, and this is from the era when Mercs rusted like 1970s Datsuns. On reflection I think I might buy a cheap run around while I wait for a more local car(s) to view. It's not that I'm sure it's a bad one, just so many times I've driven half the day to look at something only to find that it's a complete dog... Totally dispiriting. Maybe I have finally learned my lesson! Maybe I'll put a wanted ad on here The comments are greatly received, thank you

I think that's wise. Wait and see what else comes up. They are fabulous things, worth waiting for a good one.

 

[philnewmerc]

Well if that does not stop him buying it I'm not sure what will!!

To be honest, none of that sounds unreasonable. I'm more worried about if there was welding required (because once rust starts in never stops), or a gearbox rebuild, or heaven forbid an engine rebuild which would probably scrap the thing... Or if the chassis wasn't quite straight etc

 

[Londonscottish]

To be honest, none of that sounds unreasonable. I'm more worried about if there was welding required (because once rust starts in never stops), or a gearbox rebuild, or heaven forbid an engine rebuild which would probably scrap the thing... Or if the chassis wasn't quite straight etc

From 211's on Mercs were galvanised so, unlike the 210's, 202's etc, the bodies didn't fizz.

The rear subframe might, though.

The engines seem to be pretty bomb proof except maybe the s/c bits and pieces (?).

Gearbox ditto; assuming it's had periodic fluid changes. I did mine at 7 years/55k and 13 years/82k. Can't remember the exact recommendations but 5 years/50k sounds like the right ball park.

Other consumables include front lower arms and balljoints plus the drop links. Mine has had all that in the last two years. Another think to look out for.