Looking for a CLS 55 AMG, any tips?

[szucchet]

I think you're using a somewhat different dictionary to the rest of us...

I can't speak for the CLS specifically, but from my experience with the 55K-engined E class, on anything with over 100k miles it's quite likely that you will need to spend about a grand straight away. That will be the engine and gearbox mountings, the corroded rear brake pipes and a couple of front suspension joints sorted. The air suspension is just a lottery, really, but on a high-mileage car, unless you're very lucky or it has had extensive work done, it will go wrong, and can be very expensive to fix; any sign that it's not 100%, either the current owner fixes it, or walk away - if it was a cheap fix, he'd have had it done...

As the others have said, buy on condition and service history. If you're lucky, you may find a car with everything I've mentioned already done, but if at all possible, have a prospective buy inspected by a Mercedes specialist; it could save you making an expensive mistake.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice! Yes I can imagine that more or less every car over the 100k mark will require some additional TLC, my hope as you mentioned is that the major items have been looked at and that I win the Air suspension lottery (budgeting for work to be done off course)

LoL regarding the vocabulary! Lived on three different continents now so I do like to add a bit of spin to my sentences Its the term for a completely blacked out and hence menacing looking car! I personally didn't take offence to the comment, more interested on the wealth of knowledge here!

I personally prefer the stok AMG 19" rims in grey, but do love well done black on black cars too

 

[Cyclone1]

Hahaha yes! The smaller SC pulley will be a must for me once I get the CLS 55, would be good to drive it stok for a bit too but the upgrade path would have to include more power!!!

Seems like they stay reliable even with these upgrades too!

Definitely drive it stock for a while and see what you think, if you want more power then the options are there. The upgrades on the M113k are pretty reliable, it is worth considering cooling upgrades, but first thing when upgrading is getting a decent check to make sure everything else is operating correctly. A common finding at this stage is a less than efficient cooling pump, which for around £100 is worth replacing.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hell's teeth...

No one will be surprised if this does not happen here in the UK. Similar figures were 'hidden' in this years budget report.

 

[E55BOF]

That for a for a fourteen-year-old car? Not yet awhile, I think. I certainly won't be surprised if it doesn't happen.

 

[szucchet]

Definitely drive it stock for a while and see what you think, if you want more power then the options are there. The upgrades on the M113k are pretty reliable, it is worth considering cooling upgrades, but first thing when upgrading is getting a decent check to make sure everything else is operating correctly. A common finding at this stage is a less than efficient cooling pump, which for around £100 is worth replacing.

Seen this as a common thing to upgrade both for sustained power and reliability! Wonder what the service life on these is if buying one with a used one pre-installed

 

[szucchet]

Road tax is €1809 a year, that’s for anything above 3 litres but after July 2008, cars here are taxed on emissions so anything that produces over 225 co2 is €2350 a year. Probably one of the biggest reasons AMG’s etc. Are so rare here.

Wow thats absolutely criminal for taxations! Would definitely reduce the number of high displacement cars in the UK if it was brought here... Fingers crossed any new legalisations only cover newer cars!