I bought an s 500 for 8k and drove it for ten years. Someone crashed into me and insurance paid me 8k. Literally the cheapest car ive ever owned. So I also just bought an s55 lol
@@Denis-ed3cm Best part, in Washington State you get to keep driving salvage vehicles so I still have my old s500 that runs, it was a tank and lived through the crash.
Ive owned about a dozen cars in the last 25+ years, out of all of them, my '05 w220 S55 AMG is one of two that has never left me stranded. Thing is an absolute tank. You hit on a point that is often overlooked, imo.... This is almost the prefect "American" car. Big car, big engine, comfortable as heck. If you're willing to get dirty, you can pay 7-10% (similar to what you would buy the car under MSRP) of factory repair costs if you're willing to put in the research and work. ABC can be messy but really easy work and affordable if you source the parts well. Plus, how many other cars can you buy with factory 500hp for under 10k? I'll likely never sell this car, regardless of portfolio. Great overview!
The ABC actually doesn't break that much, but after 100k-ish miles, it might not be a bad idea to replace all four struts and all ABC lines WITH GENUINE MERCEDES PARTS:, so about $6k-$7k in parts.
This is a car with ABC. So it has no air suspension. Also not "literally every s-class" had ABC. in fact it was an option for regular V8 and only later AMG and the S600 had it as standard. regular W220 had Airmatic which is the air suspension. Btw. this colour is s beautiful and fits the car perfect. Kudos to the first owner who ordered it that way instead of boring silver or black.
Hi! Thanks! That’s why I call it hydropneumatic suspension, which is what the ABC is. I do say “almost every S-Class” on the video, I don’t have % but I’ve seen it on most cars except the basic trims. I agree completely with the comment about the color.
@@abriatusBut you said "it feels like you are driving on a cloud, but it applies to this car and the air suspension that it has" So what is it? Airmatic was the primary suspension on the S-Class, but if you have been looking at V10’s and AMG solely then of course it will seem like ABC is the standard.
@@abriatus Trust me, I have own it since Christmas if last year, I just get on and she drive...you don't have to worry about the transmission either...they are toughest 5 speed Mercedes ever made...just a few small thing to watch for is the trunk latch vaccum cylinder, they break easily, trunk latch is very easy to replace, Rear roller blinds might go out...but overall that is a perfect super reliable daily if you take good care of it, engine will last you very very long.
I literally had a nightmare with that last night, no joke. I've seen it in some of my friends' cars and it's never pretty. But so far, the experience has been great!
Airmatic wouldn'tbe as bad, this one has ABC which is worse. If you have a slight leak with Airmatic, it will pump it back up quickly, and you don't lose the expensive hydraulic fluid, which also makes a mess...
@@MartiniPinball Yes,this is a DIY car.Airmatic problem may not be expensive,either.I changed compressor and valveblock six years ago,and no worries ever since.Cost me 500e.
Awesome video, im in a similar boat!! SL55 with relatively low mileage, super reliable M113k engine, but with other components failing. And also hoping I don't go broke trying to fix it. but so far with a bit of elbow grease everything has been achievable!!
Fun fact on AMGs and Maybachs of that gen, the normal S classes might but AMG and Maybach for sure actually had push to start if you have keyless go. You put your foot on the brake and hold the botton on top of the shifter and it starts the car. This might've came with the refresh but worth a shot.
@abriatus I'm the same way with cars... always gotta have something different after a short while (LOL) but with a car like this, I find it nearly impossible to get bored of !
Odometer says 157.000km steering wheel says 357.000km hmmmmmmm.......... Nevertheless a super clean car. That engine compared to its competitors M/S62, Audi 4.2, this 5.5L is 10x more reliable.
So what do you think of my latest purchase? Btw, hope to see at least some of you at the Goodwood FOS later this year :)
I bought an s 500 for 8k and drove it for ten years. Someone crashed into me and insurance paid me 8k. Literally the cheapest car ive ever owned. So I also just bought an s55 lol
lucky you:))
@@Denis-ed3cm Best part, in Washington State you get to keep driving salvage vehicles so I still have my old s500 that runs, it was a tank and lived through the crash.
Ive owned about a dozen cars in the last 25+ years, out of all of them, my '05 w220 S55 AMG is one of two that has never left me stranded. Thing is an absolute tank. You hit on a point that is often overlooked, imo.... This is almost the prefect "American" car. Big car, big engine, comfortable as heck. If you're willing to get dirty, you can pay 7-10% (similar to what you would buy the car under MSRP) of factory repair costs if you're willing to put in the research and work. ABC can be messy but really easy work and affordable if you source the parts well. Plus, how many other cars can you buy with factory 500hp for under 10k? I'll likely never sell this car, regardless of portfolio. Great overview!
I know many people don’t appreciate the early 2000s design, blobby headlights etc. But for me, this car oozes class. Very dignified
I think it looks good with the AMG front splitter.
I have a 2002 AMG and a 2005 S500. The AMG seems to be built better and it definitely runs stronger. I swapped the ABC out though.
The ABC actually doesn't break that much, but after 100k-ish miles, it might not be a bad idea to replace all four struts and all ABC lines WITH GENUINE MERCEDES PARTS:, so about $6k-$7k in parts.
This is a car with ABC. So it has no air suspension. Also not "literally every s-class" had ABC. in fact it was an option for regular V8 and only later AMG and the S600 had it as standard. regular W220 had Airmatic which is the air suspension. Btw. this colour is s beautiful and fits the car perfect. Kudos to the first owner who ordered it that way instead of boring silver or black.
Hi! Thanks! That’s why I call it hydropneumatic suspension, which is what the ABC is. I do say “almost every S-Class” on the video, I don’t have % but I’ve seen it on most cars except the basic trims. I agree completely with the comment about the color.
@@abriatusBut you said "it feels like you are driving on a cloud, but it applies to this car and the air suspension that it has" So what is it? Airmatic was the primary suspension on the S-Class, but if you have been looking at V10’s and AMG solely then of course it will seem like ABC is the standard.
Owning the same one, in Black On Black...ABC still worked perfectly.
Glad to hear that you haven't had any issues, gives me confidence
@@abriatus Trust me, I have own it since Christmas if last year, I just get on and she drive...you don't have to worry about the transmission either...they are toughest 5 speed Mercedes ever made...just a few small thing to watch for is the trunk latch vaccum cylinder, they break easily, trunk latch is very easy to replace, Rear roller blinds might go out...but overall that is a perfect super reliable daily if you take good care of it, engine will last you very very long.
"Airmatic has failed, wisit workshop" - pray this does not pop up on display, good luck!
I literally had a nightmare with that last night, no joke. I've seen it in some of my friends' cars and it's never pretty. But so far, the experience has been great!
It’s easy enough to fix yourself. It really isn’t the most difficult thing to fix, the struts can be expensive but you’d safe a ton doing it yourself
Airmatic wouldn'tbe as bad, this one has ABC which is worse. If you have a slight leak with Airmatic, it will pump it back up quickly, and you don't lose the expensive hydraulic fluid, which also makes a mess...
@@MartiniPinball Yes,this is a DIY car.Airmatic problem may not be expensive,either.I changed compressor and valveblock six years ago,and no worries ever since.Cost me 500e.
One of my future cars
Awesome video, im in a similar boat!! SL55 with relatively low mileage, super reliable M113k engine, but with other components failing. And also hoping I don't go broke trying to fix it. but so far with a bit of elbow grease everything has been achievable!!
I have a 2006 S55. It replaced a 2001 BMW 740iL. This car is not going anywhere, ever.
Beautiful example
Thank you very much!
Fun fact on AMGs and Maybachs of that gen, the normal S classes might but AMG and Maybach for sure actually had push to start if you have keyless go. You put your foot on the brake and hold the botton on top of the shifter and it starts the car. This might've came with the refresh but worth a shot.
I think you’re referring to the later gens with the 5.5L V8, I’d say 2007ish
Beautiful car, beautiful engine. N/A V8.
awesome video, i am from germany and own 2 s55 with the m113k
BEAUTIFUL S55 and really well done video! You earned a sub! :-)
Also, how has it been to you since the video? Cheers!
Thank you and welcome to the channel! It's been flawless so far, but I'm already looking into getting my next car, I get bored easily
@abriatus I'm the same way with cars... always gotta have something different after a short while (LOL) but with a car like this, I find it nearly impossible to get bored of !
are parts difficult to source in 2023?
At least I haven’t encountered any probems with that
Hi,
Seen the car at Wallapop market place are you selling it personally or it’s someone else ?
It’s the new owner. I sold it in late 2023
Hi, I have had an S430 for 3 years and have had some maintenance done, but that happens with every car, I do everything myself.
Que sorpresa estaba buscando videos de este modelo y me encuentro este el cual esta grabado en madrid, yo trabajo ahí al lado que coincidencia 😮😂
See if you can find a good condition used Kleemann supercharger system
Works that an the m113 from 2001?
I just found one for cheap, it’s someone’s grandpas car but has 150k miles (Yikes!) it’s still very clean though regardless
How much you pay? You still have the car?
I paid 8.000, but I already sold it
This is cool! I Have W220 S65!
Burl woods is beautiful part of the luxury cars interior
Odometer says 157.000km steering wheel says 357.000km hmmmmmmm.......... Nevertheless a super clean car. That engine compared to its competitors M/S62, Audi 4.2, this 5.5L is 10x more reliable.
It's nice but this era of Merc is really outdated now and electrical issues are going to pop up left and right now that they are 20+ yrs old.
you're really outdated now
@@mraiwa1000 ur mom
Switch to coilovers. Problem solved
you bought the wrong year
the supercharger was definitely a game changer but I understand wanting NA too.
Just saw that car for sale
F in the comments everyone
I hope this car won't be the end of me
@@abriatus For real though, good luck on the S55 you'll need it lol. That's literally a ticking time bomb in most cases.
@@Kazz7420it isn’t tho