Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG | Spotted
Like the original CLS? Enjoy an AMG V8? You're going to love this
The times, they are a-changin at AMG. There are electric SUV AMGs, four-cylinder C63 AMGs, and more A-Class-based AMGs than anyone can keep track of. The times are changing for everybody, of course, though it just seems that much more drastic with AMG.
Perhaps we all just got a bit too used to awesome engines going in any Mercedes available that we’re now missing what we had with it no longer here. Again, that’s a feeling that will afflict many people who love certain brands, yet seems more acute for AMG. Perhaps it was inevitable when its best-known engine was a 6.2-litre V8 found in everything from a Mercedes R-Class to an AMG GT race car. Whatever the case, and with some spectacular petrol cars still in the AMG line up - with the 840hp E-Performance GT 4-door imminent as well - it seems like the good old days are already attracting a premium.
Those late CLKs that were blessed with the M156 V8 as a final flourish are going up; some C63 507s are still the best part of £50k; and it seems that even SLK AMGs, perhaps on account of the rarity and the lunacy of a V8 in a TT rival, are appreciating. But thanks to the sheer volume of AMG powerhouses made over the years, and the punchy running costs that are all part of the fun, there are still AMG bargains out there. There’s a reason why they make such good Brave Pill fodder…
This CLS55 isn’t your average old AMG, however. Oh no. Typically when looking at £10k V8s you’ll be lucky to get an MOT expiry date and any mention of a service history. For this Benz you best put a pot of coffee on first, as there’s almost 1,400 words detailing service history, upgrades, maintenance, issues, and extras. It’s exactly the kind of ownership record we love to see from a diligent car enthusiast, if also slightly scary - big old Benzes really can cost as much to run as you’ve heard!
Of course, the hope is that with such upkeep there isn’t a big bill around the corner, though this is still a 17-year-old AMG - a contingency fund is always worthwhile. At least one looks more than worth any effort and expense, with both a little more power than standard (530hp instead of 476) plus a Quaife limited-slip diff to really make the most of it. And better brakes to keep a lid on things. The CLS even gets an updated, CarPlay compatible head unit, which will be a real boon everyday. Run on V-Power and trickle charged when not in use as well, this ’55 is undoubtedly ticking a lot of the boxes.
Plus there’s the inherent appeal of any C219-era CLS now. It’s still a distinctive bit of design all these years later, and this one presents flawlessly in Iridium Silver. The AMG flagship is a rare car, too, with the ad suggesting there was only ever around 355 UK cars. And it’s big enough for friends and family to come along as well, with the original owner even speccing ISOFIX for the rear. Can’t do that in an SL.
It's genuinely difficult to pick any fault with the Merc at all, so well done to those that clocked the parking dents. On the less brilliant bits of a CLS, keeping it in V-Power, as the current owner has done, might make Qatar’s World Cup expenditure look a small sum. But that’s not going to be a uniquely AMG phenomenon going forward. For a taste of just why the old Benz ‘bahnstormers were so loved, it’s hard to think of much better - the CLS is for sale at £10,900.
SPECIFICATION | MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 55 AMG
Engine: 5,439cc, supercharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 476@6,100rpm (standard)
Torque (lb ft): 516@2,650rpm (standard)
MPG: 23ish
CO2: 326g/km
Recorded mileage: 106,700
Year registered: 2005
Price new: c. £70k
Yours for: £10,900
For someone who wants one of these it appears on the face of it that this is a cherished and well-maintained example.
Sadly it’s not my cup of Darjeeling as I can never unsee the side profile, one that makes me think of a slightly sad banana...
For someone who wants one of these it appears on the face of it that this is a cherished and well-maintained example.
Sadly it’s not my cup of Darjeeling as I can never unsee the side profile, one that makes me think of a slightly sad banana...
Same money gets you a slightly scabby Mk2 Escort with 4 doors, a quarter of a Renault Megane R26R or an ashtray for a 911.
I know the styling isnt to everyone's taste, but it must have been appealing to enough folk as even now the CLS is a fairly regular sight.
These arent that scary, I had the non AMG 5.5 V8 for a couple of years, had an oil leak which I sorted for £30, the air suspension pump was failing so replaced myself in an hour or so for £104 and that was about it. The 5.4 V8 is pretty indestructible as is the 5 speed auto its attached to, obviously as long as its looked after. The bulk of the suspension is just dead cheap E class stuff, even the airmatic isnt that scary, not compared to the Active Body Control (ABC) on the SL. Its a pump, valve block, level sensors lines and the air struts. The SBC brake stuff can be a pain but comes with the territory, post 2006 reverted to normal brakes that dont age themselves out after however many applications but every 55 will have it. The body on these is pretty good, considering what happened to Mercs just a few years earlier that looked like an abandoned Tugboat after 5 years.
This looks like the one to buy if you want a CLS55, its not gangsteriszed like a lot are, or over optimistically priced at 19 grand like so many at dealers are, that sit for months if not years, I was going to get one after the CLS 500 but decided to go in a different direction as it was too much more of the same and the same cars were sat for ages.
It wont be cheap to run, but its pre 2006 VED so might get away with 300 odd I think, MPG will be mid/late teens most of the time and creep into the twenties on a gentle run, I saw 30 once on my non supercharged, usually 27/28 on a motorway cruise so cant imagine these better that. The brakes on the later CLS 63 are very expensive, the ones on these are pretty reasonable.
Looks like a good example at a fair price. I've always like this shape, too, although I know it's divisive.
If you take out upgrades like the £4k audio system and engine/gearbox tuning, the rest of the cost seems reasonable to me for 8.5 years ownership. A chunk of it is stuff like tyres and other consumables, actual repairs and maintenance probably a couple of grand a year average, not unreasonable for a 500hp car at this age.
Was I the only one shocked to read that it's 17 years old already?
They were very well engineered (aside from the SBC brakes) and designed to do big miles as a high speed autobahn cruiser.
Would take a few more miles with this kind of meticulous history over one with 45k and a few service stamps, I bet the diff was the best part of two grand to get fitted alone.
And the seller is right on the old Command Nav units, utter crap but I sold mine for like £400 to someone in Latvia when I put an Android one in.
Oddly these and the E55/63 don't really receive the kudos that comparable models from other manufacturers do. I have a 2007 CLS63 and my other half at one point had a CLS350cdi which she used daily. I still have mine but hers went in favour of five seats but in the time she owned it, it was excellent. The only thing that actually broke was a window motor.
I know the AMG model will have other things to consider, predominantly the engine and the suspension but the rest of the car should be pretty solid.
I also think these still look great, I am biased though..
I'd love to think these will creep up as they are a real bargain. They have come up a bit as I'm sure they were sub-£10k for a 55 at one point.
Not just me that sees that then!No matter how cheap it is to buy i don’t think I’d enjoy much apart from the noise
CLS55 was on my shortlist of 'affordable' V8s before I bought my Monaro. Totally different driving proposition and I could afford the purchase price, but the cost of potential borks on the Merc ruled it out.
Still think they're a brilliant looking design but then I'm weird and still think the original BMW Z4 roadster looks superb.
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