Japanese Import C55 AMG

[andy27168]

Evening Gents,
I am in the process of selling my Audi Cabriolet, and I am getting the urge for another AMG to join my CLS 55 (probably sell the CLS in a few months if i can bare to part with it with lol).
I am being drawn to a C55 AMG Saloon or Estate, mileage doesn't bother me to much but I have been seeing some rather nice Jap imports with lower mileages and in colours other than silver which I am drawn to.
I know they had more options available to them in the Japanese market, with more Designio options, different colour trims etc. so would look for one just little different.
Additionally i know the Command system is different but is it so different it doesn't work at all? As I remember when a friend of mine had Jap import the stereo wouldn't tune in to our stations etc. Instrument cluster would have to be swapped out (if it hasn't been done already, as long as it has been correctly), speed limiter as standard i believe
Does anyone know the extent of the differences between a Jap spec and Euro spec Mercedes in the case of a C55? I would eventually like to convert it to a Eurospec and as I am into my OEM mods I would enjoy the challenge.
Any thoughts guys?

 

[Alfie]

Evening Gents,
I am in the process of selling my Audi Cabriolet, and I am getting the urge for another AMG to join my CLS 55 (probably sell the CLS in a few months if i can bare to part with it with lol).
I am being drawn to a C55 AMG Saloon or Estate, mileage doesn't bother me to much but I have been seeing some rather nice Jap imports with lower mileages and in colours other than silver which I am drawn to.
I know they had more options available to them in the Japanese market, with more Designio options, different colour trims etc. so would look for one just little different.
Additionally i know the Command system is different but is it so different it doesn't work at all? As I remember when a friend of mine had Jap import the stereo wouldn't tune in to our stations etc. Instrument cluster would have to be swapped out (if it hasn't been done already, as long as it has been correctly), speed limiter as standard i believe
Does anyone know the extent of the differences between a Jap spec and Euro spec Mercedes in the case of a C55? I would eventually like to convert it to a Eurospec and as I am into my OEM mods I would enjoy the challenge.
Any thoughts guys?

I really would think very carefully about this as the Japanese cars are wired totally differently to the rest of the world. It is a huge job to convert the Comand system. The costs often outweigh any saving on the price of the car.

Every connector on the back of the comand is a different shape and function to European spec!

 

[Petrol Pete]

Others on here have bought jap import C55's and will be along soon to give you more info. My daily drive is a (UK) C55 estate. From what I understand of the Jap imports is despite their age they show little in the way of corrosion, C55 of any age in the UK will often rust around the front wheel arches and at the front part of the rear wheel arch , which spreads to the top of the rear wheel arch, in fact just look in any supermarket car park at any S/W203 C class model MB and you will likely see what I am talking about.

We have ben told many a time that MB galvanised all of its car bodies long before 2005/6 ...but in my opinion either they got the chemistry wrong during the process or its bull$hit.

The biggest issue is the rear subframe corroding which is about a £3/4K job at a specialist , it seems new rear sub frames are no longer available, again Japanese imports seem not to have this trouble but it MUST be inspected (get photos) before purchase.

The insert in the rear tailgate is different and will not take a UK number plate properly. But that is an easy fix - buy another one and get it painted to match - I believe the front plate mounting is different but not a big issue.

When the C55 came out there were very few options available as it was already top of the range price wise , COMAND instead of Audio 20 and parking sensors were the two main boxes that could be ticked.

I did notice that a few imports I looked at had exhaust modifications, none of which are desirable and would be very costly to put back to standard. I think the speedo is in KM/H which would mean the digital one on the dash would be MPH, I am not sure if that can be changed , I know it can't be switched off. Completely replacing the instrument binnacle could prove costly as they are bespoke to this model with the 'legend' V8 on one dial and 'AMG' on the other and read up to 200 MPH and would either have to be found new or from a wrecked C55.

If you go down the import route you will most likely find a low mileage rust free example . Personally I would not spend too much of my time and money getting it to UK spec as it is pretty close already, I would just do what was needed to get it legal and the sound system working (replaced) because whatever is done it will always be an import and as such the value will rise or drop accordingly.

In my opinion as we stand right now in ten years time these cars will be worthless due to tax/eco/covid/Greta/Biden/EU/ Extinction rebellion/BLM/Heinz57 (delete or add as appropriate) so I just enjoy mine while I can. The same car comes under 2 tax brackets . Mine it the later model so is twice as much to tax as the same car registered earlier, the difference is in the date registered and the later models have 'proper' paddle shifters on the steering wheel as opposed to the tiny buttons on the front and small paddles on the rear of the earlier models. This is of no real consequence as using them is pretty pointless, as is using the gear selector in manual mode.

Quite cheap to run and own for a 'real' V8 AMG. Mine has 148K miles on it , it lives outside all year 'round and is mechanically sound but is showing signs of the rust I have mentioned. I will cross that bridge when I decide to come to it, after all 'rust never sleeps'....

PS. On a personal note I think the C55 (estate in particular) looks positively wrong in either black or white and/or with wood trim inside (of any colour) same with the leather. black only. Iridium silver with black on alloy is the only way . Tanzanite blue ...maybe.

 

[K14BER]

Think uk car in tanzanite blue is the way to go, had my wagon about a year now and never seen another yet, smiles per gallon is excellent with sleeper looks and performance to embarrass all but super cars

 

[badgx]

Roads in Japan are not gritted with salt, so the examples are likely to be rust free.

With regards to the comand radio, you should find them in mercedes car dismantlers or breakers yard and should be cheap. You could even go after market radio if your reallh stuck, so definitely thumbs up from me.

 

[chic0821]

Not Mercedes, but years ago I considered importing a Supra from Japan. Apparently the Japanese do not like leather seats in the from (maybe too hot in summer, don't know why) & all cars I looked at had fabric front seats. Some had fabric rear seats but some had fabric front, leather rear. There were other things which I can't remember about & put me off so it did not happen. Must say though all had low miles & immaculate. Make sure it has what you want

 

[K14BER]

Problem with imports is they will always have a stigma about them much like a cat registered one, they mite look and drive great but you mite have to sell it one day and the market shrinks for either of these. Think you would struggle with after market head unit as standard unit uses fibre optic cables so would need a complete wired system new amp and sub, mph speedo could be a problem too. And then if you do manage to sort all that out it will still be a “grey” import

 

[Petrol Pete]

The OP has not ben back on here since the first post 14 months ago so probably gave up on the Jap import idea.