What do you think to this S55 AMG?

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W4SIM

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S55 AMG Kompressor
Hello all

Iv been in the market for a good S55 Kompressor and i like the looks of this one, i dont suppose its anyones on here is it by any chance?

The car seems nice bar one thing that im not 100% keen on if im honest, and i didnt even know this option existed on an S-Class, but the rear has only 2 seats?

Iv heard its something called "Captain Seating" and its a rather expensive option, but what do you think?

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS S55KL 4dr Auto Amg Saloon
 
If theres anything in specific you think i should look out for or if you could tell something from the photos then your comments are most welcome.

Thanks.
 
I assume the two rear seats do all the vibro-massage and reclining and stuff like that? Hence they are separate seats, not a bench.

I suppose it only really matters if there is any possibility that you may want to carry three in the back at some time?

If not, then it isn't much of a detriment to you. The rest of it looks clean enough, and the toy count looks high.
 
Your right, the toy count is very high on this actually, pretty much every option seems to have been ticked. At a guess i'd say that goes hand in hand with the rear seating option, whoever seems to have originally ordered it from Mercedes must have been a big player (and im guessing snobby enough not to even want to sit next to someone in the back, :rolleyes:) so they pretty much ordered everything on it, including the rear seats which massage, recline, heat AND cool. The rear cooling seats are pretty rare even on an S55.

Its nice to have a proper seat in the back for 3 people but i guess at some point im gona have to pick my least favourite brother and leave him at home, the other 3 are riding luxury!!! :devil:

But on a serious note, i doubt very much that il be carrying a full load anywhere, but you never know when the occasion calls and thats whats putting me off. Wonder if you can put a child seat on that middle bit???
 
But on a serious note, i doubt very much that il be carrying a full load anywhere, but you never know when the occasion calls and thats whats putting me off. Wonder if you can put a child seat on that middle bit???

A child seat wouldn't be able to be fixed to the centre portion as there is no seatbelt or ISOFIX mounting in the middle section.

That S55 looks like decent value for an 04 car, sure the mileage knocks it down a bit (as does the fact that it appears to be a private sale) you'd want a warranty on that!
 
but i guess at some point im gona have to pick my least favourite brother and leave him at home

I assume the S-Class has a capacious boot? :D

Wonder if you can put a child seat on that middle bit???

I'd guess not. There would be no means of restraint.

It's a whole load of car for not a lot of cash, and it looks tidy enough. As long as it stacks up in the looks department underneath and in the arches, etc, then I think you should seriously consider it.
 
A child seat wouldn't be able to be fixed to the centre portion as there is no seatbelt or ISOFIX mounting in the middle section.


I'd guess not. There would be no means of restraint.

DAMN IT, not what i was hoping for, but i guess when theres a will theres a way. Can a restraint/seatbelt/ISOFIX point of some kind not be retro fitted?
 
I guess if you really want to accommodate a seat in the middle, it would not take much to purchase a lap belt and fit that across the middle, using the fixing points for the existing right and left belts.

Whether that would pass an MOT or not is a completely different question...
 
That S55 looks like decent value for an 04 car, sure the mileage knocks it down a bit (as does the fact that it appears to be a private sale) you'd want a warranty on that!

This is the other thing playing on my mind, and perhaps im being quite silly, here, but in comparison to all the other S55's out there at the minute this seems quite cheap . . . . i wonder if theres a hidden agenda/problem that might rear its ugly head after a couple of weeks :confused:

The most worrying aspect for me is the ABC Suspension letting go, but he does say it does have a "specialist transferable warranty", just depends on what it covers, as im sure most cars with over 100k are not covereable with most of these warranty companies?

Why would the private sale knock the price down, i thought thats better for a bargain as he'l be more willing to negotiate (hopefully)?
 
I guess if you really want to accommodate a seat in the middle, it would not take much to purchase a lap belt and fit that across the middle, using the fixing points for the existing right and left belts.

Whether that would pass an MOT or not is a completely different question...

I like you, you have my way of thinking, almost, coz im not too worried about an MOT for the seat, as long as IM confident that its secure then its a pass. :thumb:
 
I guess if you really want to accommodate a seat in the middle, it would not take much to purchase a lap belt and fit that across the middle, using the fixing points for the existing right and left belts.

Whether that would pass an MOT or not is a completely different question...

To add:

There may also be issues if either or both side occupants activated the seat recliners whilst there was a child seat strapped across the middle. I.e. the lap belt would go slack...
 
To add:

There may also be issues if either or both side occupants activated the seat recliners whilst there was a child seat strapped across the middle. I.e. the lap belt would go slack...

Dont worry about that.

To put it into context, 99% of the time the child aint gona be in the car, the 1% that she is . . . . is when the rear seats are going to be disabled.
 
As long as it stacks up in the looks department underneath and in the arches, etc, then I think you should seriously consider it.

I like the looks of it, iv always loved these big luxo barges. Jaguar XJR, BMW 7 series, Lexus 600 range, Audi S8 etc etc. But an S55 has something different about it . . . . power AND comfort.

But what am i looking for underneath and in the arches? Rust or suspension?

Is there any way to tell if the suspension is on its way out?
 
But what am i looking for underneath and in the arches? Rust or suspension?

Both! And check for even tyre wear, in fact all the 'usual' second-hand car checks. Treat everything with the utmost suspicion until your checks prove otherwise!

Is there any way to tell if the suspension is on its way out?

I'm afraid I have no idea. If it works on the day, and is level, and the controls can raise and lower it all properly, then that's probably about as good as you can get. It may fail tomorrow, or never. I don't know how you would be able to tell.

I'm no expert at the best of times, and I have no experience of the W220 either, so a more qualified opinion might be of more value to you.
 
Is there a Merc Indy Local to the car that you could it take it to for a once over? You would probably have to pay a hours Labour but would be well worth it on a car like that. I'm sure the seller wouldn't mind for a potential sale.
 
Cannot see how this has any more gadgets than you get in any other S55k AMG. The rear seats are quite a rarity, but if you are content with a four seater, there are lots of CL55 AMG or a CL600 out there which some say (me included) much classier cars. With that sort of mileage the price wouldn't be far off the advertised. Mel.
 
Is there any way to tell if the suspension is on its way out?

I believe when it is, the car takes a long time to raise and lower.

Re the middle seat. Personally, just put the little one in a normal one, mounting a baby seat accross an arm rest is really a bad bad idea.
 
I believe when it is, the car takes a long time to raise and lower.

Didnt think of it like that . . . . so how long is the average to lower and raise? Im guessing we're only talking seconds?
 
Is there a Merc Indy Local to the car that you could it take it to for a once over? You would probably have to pay a hours Labour but would be well worth it on a car like that. I'm sure the seller wouldn't mind for a potential sale.

I have found a Merc Indy local to me and iv already spoken to him about these cars. He says he's happy to check it over for free if i bring it to him.

But back in May of this year i went to have a look at an S55 that came up for sale quite close to me, about 15 miles, which is quite rare. I asked the guy if i could take it to the Indy to have it checked over and he declined on the spot, saying he had had it checked over by Mercedes themselves and he was happy with that. The problem was, I was the one buying the car and I needed to be happy with it, but because he didnt budge i didnt buy the car. Not letting me have it checked over was not 100% of the reason for bot buying it, but lets just say it put all sorts of doubts in my mind.

From the advert for this one Autotrader is telling me its 40 miles away, which by normal standards would mean about 60 miles. But i have no idea in which direction and i dont think he's going to let me bring it this far for a checkover. So once i find out il be on here asking if theres a local Indy nearby.
 

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