W220 2003 Mercedes S55 AMG

[Palmers]

My newly acquired S55. Body work is pristine, interior is blemish free (still need to get photos)

51k Full MB service history.

[Palmers]

TheAngryDog said:

Nice! Is it a kompressor model?

Can't think of many better ways to drive around the UK!

Indeed it is! The colour and the fact it was 03 (better build quality and kompressor) made it for me. Black / dark wood trim is a bonus as well, hate that cream they come in!

[Palmers]

Tanzanite blue. Its a deep dark shade of blue. I need to give it a proper clay and polish to rid the swirls, then it would be gleaming. But thats weather permitting at the moment haha.

[Palmers]

Few pics of the interior as requested. Havent cleaned it yet but took a few snaps.









Ive traced the arial looking things in the window and i can see they go down the passenger A pillar and disappear. When you tug on the wire you can feel it under the carpet so i think it runs to the headunit. Also has alpine wrote on the sensor i found near the rear view so im thinking its something for the TV.

Battery has died on it again. This time overnight. I can drive fine and even park up and with the radio on etc just seems to not hold the charge overnight,

Also needs an intercooler pump. Will only withstand WOT for a few gears before it backs off power and takes a few minutes to open back up. Still managed to put my mates astra VXR in its place though

[Palmers]

Funny you should say that i was waiting a few months to get a nice one. This one popped up and the next day i got it.

Since then i have seen 2/3 nice AMG versions for sale. There is on exactly the same as mine on ebay at the moment ending soon, same colour and interior! But its at 9k LOL bit more than i paid, and its done 10k more miles

[Palmers]

Chris x said:

I'm watching that one on eBay, cant believe what its at! Doesn't even have factory fit parking sensors and the head unit is awful!

The only other S55K that I've seen for sale on eBay is the silver one with the big alloys, not sure if you've seen it or not.

Will you be doing the intercooler pump yourself? I've seen that its a common problem. Is it a noticeable amount of power loss? Always wondered if its something I would notice or not! Did you beat your mates VXR in limp mode of full chat?

I know right! I havent seen that one do you have the link?

I might try myself, its under the front left hand side of the bumper, but i might use my friends garage. In fact, if im taking it to his garage, i might just get him to fit it LOL!

Erm its very noticeable, id say it drops to about 270ish bhp. Still pulls but not that well you can feel its restrained.


I was on full chat, was only a 2nd and part of 3rd gear pull (30-120) anymore after that and it goes no haha. His VXR is about 330bhp and only 1250kg so it should have give me a run for the money on paper, but i think my 516 ft/lb and the fact its just instant thanks to the kompressor. Really long gears on this though. I need to do a proper one with him when i get it sorted.


Also with regards to the suspension on this thing, bit temperamental apparently although mines fine (touch wood) but what an achievement. It does not allow body roll AT ALL, there is none! It just doesn't exist. Each corner is at something stupid like 220 bar though. With it being pneumatic the raise option for kerbs etc is literally instant, unlike my old A8's on air which takes time as the compressor fires up making you look a plonker waiting for it to go up.

[Palmers]

bmthnick1981 said:

Very nice, W220's get a bad rep but there are some great models, this and the twin turbo V12 S600.

Ill be honest i was looking for the V12 TT model. Could only find black and silver with that really yuck beige interior.

But when this popped up my sensible head came on. The V12 has a bad reputation for being expensive and unreliable. Wheres the handbuild V8 is bomb proof. Couple that with the AMG extras, bigger brakes, better seats, styling etc, and a decent colour interior and exterior i was sold lol.

[Palmers]

jimmymidnight said:

Such a great car. I love the menacing front end and it's Q car coolness.

Gotta love a Q car haha

[Palmers]

bmthnick1981 said:

The V12TT models do seem to be thin on the ground. I have a book somewhere which lists the build numbers. Rarest of all is the S65 AMG. From what I understand the naturally aspirated 5.8 V12 is more troublesome than the later twin turbo 5.5 V12. The earlier engine being notorious for expensive coil pack issues. I had understood the later twin turbo V12 wasn't so bad. I'm a big fan of the supercharged engine in yours, and as you say it is a genuine AMG model which the S600 is not.

There is a few on ebay / autotrader but they seem to be wanting 14k for some of them! madness! I think clarkson did a test with hammond on old V12 cars for the price of a new hatchback a few years ago, he got a CL600 and it didnt take long for a repair bill to hit the table.

I think the biggest benefit of an AMG is the brakes. Alot of 600 owners describe them as "adequate" haha. 8 pots on the AMG are st hot i think !