2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG

Highlights

• 5.4-litre supercharged V8
• Luxurious specification with many factory options
• Recently refurbished transmission
• Comprehensive service history
• ULEZ compliant

Overview

Where is the future the Jetsons promised us? You know the one – lots of swooping, curvaceous flying cars zooming about and the kind of effortless power and luxury that we always assumed was just around the corner.

What if that future already kind of happened, and we just missed it? You see, when the CLS was released in all its forward-looking, sinuous glory, many were put off by the futuristic “four door coupe” styling. But we think it’s one of those designs that’s ageing incredibly well. Like a particularly expensive Bordeaux.

Particularly in AMG trim, the curves, bulges, proportions and little hints at sporting intent are just… right. In fact, we think it looks incredibly contemporary – just look at Hyundai’s luxurious Ioniq 6 for evidence of that. And when you combine that styling with gleaming silver paintwork, it looks like something that’s just flown straight off the pages of your favourite sci-fi tome.

But this lithe creation isn’t all show, not by any means. Mercedes-Benz saw fit to marry that gorgeous frame to a brutishly powerful supercharged V8 that can propel this super-luxurious, near two-tonne machine from a standstill to 60mph in just 4.7 seconds. George Jetson would faint at the mere thought of such oomph.

This is a fine example too, well maintained and extravagantly specified with many choice factory options. If you’re looking to absolutely devastate continental distances and barely break a sweat, then there can’t be many finer ways to do it than this.

History and documentation

• Registered 15th July 2005
• Current owner since 2018
• Maintained with “no expense spared” – the current owner tells us they have spent almost £21,000 keeping the car in peak condition
• Stamped service book with services as follows: Nov 2005 @ 9,888 miles (Mercedes Benz Peterborough), May 2006 @ 21,429 miles (Mercedes Benz Peterborough), Sep 2006 @ 32,245 miles (Mercedes Benz Peterborough), Jan 2010 @ 42,529 miles (Mercedes Benz Purslow), Sep 2010 @ 53,521 miles (Mercedes Benz Purslow), Dec 2012 @ 67,408 miles (M-Star Manchester), Oct 2014 @ 77,103 miles (M Style Romford), Nov 2015 @ 86,114 miles (M Style Romford), Jun 2016 @ 91,235 miles (M Style Romford), Aug 2018 @ 94,255 miles (Mercedes Benz Eastbourne), Sep 2019 @ 101,650 miles (Mercedes Benz Eastbourne), Jun 2020 @ 104,861 miles (Mercedes Benz Eastbourne), Jul 2021 @ 108,483 miles (Mercedes Benz Eastbourne), Mar 2022 @ 111,781 miles (MBS Sussex - Mercedes Benz Specialists), Jun 2023 @ 115,621 miles (Mercedes Benz Eastbourne), Jul 2024 @ 119,702 miles (Mercedes Benz Eastbourne)
• Annual “Health Check” undertaken at Mercedes-Benz Eastbourne during current ownership
• Full document pack
• Extensive collection of invoices detailing servicing and maintenance
• Two keys
• MOT with no advisories expires 18 Feb 2026
• 122,800 miles (may increase slightly as the car is in regular use)
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear, checked February 2025
• London ULEZ compliant (we don’t know how this can possibly be true either, but it really is)

Interior

• Smart black leather upholstery shows well, with some gentle creasing and patina consistent with the vehicle’s age, but no tears or notable damage we could identify
• Both front seats benefit from electrical adjustment with a 3-position memory function
• Black carpets and over-mats are in good order, with no threading we could see
• The light grey headlining bears a few light marks, but appears to be secure with no sagging or rips
• The front seats have heating and cooling functionality
• Factory option heated rear seats
• Electrically operated windows and door mirrors
• Front and rear dash cameras have been fitted, with footage saved to an SD card and also viewable via a smartphone app
• Multi-function steering wheel
• Harman Kardon Premium Sound System
• Mobile phone connectivity
• Comand DVD system with navigation
• 4-zone climate control (two front zones, two rear zones)
• Handsome walnut wood veneer to the dashboard fascia and centre console, which shows no signs of cracking, delamination or warping
• Parktronic parking sensors front and rear
• Automatic headlights
• Heated door mirrors
• Factory option electric rear roller blind
• Electrically operated retractable rear headrests
• All of the internal trim and switchgear looks to be in good order, with some marks and blemishes from age and use, but nothing that isn’t commensurate with the car’s age
• Generous boot space, trimmed with black carpet
• Electrically operated bootlid, which can be opened remotely with the key and also via “keyless entry”; this has been disabled for the doors for improved security and the cabin cannot be accessed via the boot
• The seller advises that all of the cabin’s features and functions work as they should, with no faults or issues reported

Exterior

• Subtle but striking silver paintwork shows off the car’s lines and proportions well
• We noted some minor scuffs, blemishes and stone chips, but nothing that would concern us
• The bodywork looks to be in fine order, with no dents, damage or corrosion apparent
• All of the panels look to be well aligned and evenly gapped
• The external trim and badging is all present and correct, and shows well
• Added to that, the light lenses and glass elements are in fine fettle
• Bi-Xenon headlights with Active Curve Illumination
• Underneath, everything appears to be in order, with the sills and floor pans looking straight and clean and only a smattering of surface corrosion on some suspension components
• Factory option 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, recently refurbished and in good condition, with no kerbing or lacquer peel we could discern
• The wheels are shod in a set of Continental Contact Sport 5 tyres (285/30 rears and 235/35 fronts) – the rears have covered about 1,000 miles and the fronts about 4,000 miles
• A spare set of alloy wheels are also available from the vendor by negotiation

Mechanical

• 5,439cc supercharged V8
• Factory performance figures: 476bhp, 517lb-ft, 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, 155mph (limited)
• 5-speed automatic transmission
• Airmatic suspension
• Keyless start
• Power assisted steering
• ABS, TCS, ESP
• Cruise control
• The transmission was replaced with a reconditioned unit in 2023 at c.115k miles by MBS, this work included the torque converter and radiator
• The suspension has been lowered by about an inch using a set of performance ARB drop links – the original M-B drop links are included should the new owner wish to refit them
• New brake discs and pads were fitted about 15,000 miles ago
• In March 2022 new nearside and offside engine mounts were fitted, as well as new track control arms on both sides
• In May 2024 the air-conditioning system was regassed
• The engine bay presents very well, being nice and clean with no signs we could see of leaks or other problems

Summary

This thing is a spaceship. And not one of those rickety ones from Star Wars. No, we’re talking about a Star Trek style, super-smooth, uber-powerful, luxuriously appointed cruiser that can blitz Warp factor 9 without spilling a drop of Captain Picard’s Earl Grey.

We’re trying to think of another car that so effortlessly combines streamliner styling with this kind of luxury and deep wells of power. We’re struggling. For the money, we don;t think anything comes close.

Beautifully finished, exceptionally well equipped and benefitting from a genuinely fine service and maintenance record, this is the kind of vehicle you can buy with your heart and your head.

But probably mostly your heart.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Hastings, East Sussex.