Used Car of the Day: 2004 Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG

by Tim Healey

Published: September 18th, 2024

used car of the day 2004 mercedes benz s55 amg

Few 20-year-old cars with 200K miles on the odometer could make me take notice. This 2004 Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG is one of them.

The seller says it has been, until recently, a daily driver and that the paint and interior are "flawless". Apparently it has been stored indoors since being discontinued as a daily.

One yellow/red flag is that the car has been in an accident and carries a salvage title, though the seller says all repairs were done "professionally."

The car has been repainted a different color and the seller has all receipts and records. It's loaded in terms of options.

The asking price is $29,000. Click here to see more photos and details of this California-based car.

[Images: Seller]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#MercedesBenz #UCOTD #UsedCaroftheDay #UsedCars #2004MercedesBenzS55AMG #MercedesBenzSClass #AMG #2004MercedesBenzSClass #MercedesBenzS55AMG #S55

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 52 comments

2ACL on Sep 19, 2024
Just because you paid too much to keep a car alive doesn't mean others will. This one is disqualified from a premium based on mileage alone, and the salvage title and repaint don't help the cause one bit. Sure, 2004+ W220s addressed a lot of that generation's foibles but that's not enough to offset the entire run's broad consideration as a low point in S-class history.

1 Reply
ChristianWimmer on Sep 19, 2024
Honestly, the W220 S-Classes aren’t as bad as people make them out to be. The early models had some issues which were thankfully mostly taken care off with the facelift, though strangely rust remained an issue. The important part is that these days the faults are known and there’s a thriving online community [for any car] that gives useful DIY tips on preventative maintenance and where to get genuine OEM or solid [reliable] aftermarket spares. When I worked for a Benz dealer in the early 2000s I got to drive plenty of these (mostly S320, S320 CDI and S500 models and once an S400 CDI V8 Turbodiesel) and I found them relaxing, comfortable and great Autobahn cruisers. Best of all the W220s actually handled compared to the floaty and boat-like W140 predecessors.

1 Reply
- See 1 previous
- MaintenanceCosts on Sep 19, 2024
  I like that the W220 has a less conspicuous appearance than other S-Classes. And the S55 K is the very best version of it. But the example in this article is terrible.
  
  1
- Tassos Jong-iL on Sep 19, 2024
  Yes comrade this series is the most sports sedan of the S classes, not suitable for a dictator, however.
  
  1

Recent Comments

Theflyersfan After the first hard frost or freeze - if the 10 day forecast looks like winter is coming - that's when the winter tires go on. You can call me a convert to the summer performance tire and winter tire car owner. I like the feel of the tires that are meant to be used in that season, and winter tires make all of the difference in snowy conditions. Plus, how many crazy expensive Porsches and Land Rovers do we see crashed out after the first snow because there's a chance that the owner still kept their summer tires on. "But...but...but I have all wheel drive!!!" Yes, so all four tires that now have zero grip can move in unison together.
Theflyersfan One thing the human brain can do very well (at least hopefully in most drivers) is quickly react to sudden changes in situations around them. Our eyes and brains can quickly detect another driving dangerously, a construction zone that popped up while we were at work, dense fog out of nowhere, conflicting lines and signs on some highways, kids darting out between cars, etc. All of this self driving tech has shown us that it is maybe 80% of the way there, but it's that last 20% that still scares the crap out of us. Self driving computers can have multiple cameras feeding the system constant information, but can it react in time or can it work through conflicting data - think of construction zones with lines everywhere, orange signs with new exit information by the existing green exit sign, etc. Plus, and I think it's just GM's test mules, some systems require preexisting "knowledge" of the routes taken and that's putting a lot of faith in a system that needs to be updated in real time. I think in the next 15-20 years, we'll have a basic system that can self drive along interstates and highways, but city streets and neighborhoods - the "last mile" - will still be self drive. Right now, I'd be happy with a system that can safely navigate the slog of rush hour and not require human input (tapping the wheel for example) to keep the system active.
Kcflyer night and day difference. Good winter tires save lives or at least body work. And they are free. Spend a few hundred on spare wheels on tire rack. Mount the winter tires on them. They replace your regular tires and save a commensurate amount of wear. Thus, over the life of the vehicle the only added expense is the extra wheels. I can usually find a set of used wheels for less than 400 bucks all in on craigslist or marketplace. Then swap the wheels yourself twice a year. TPMS has added a wrinkle. Honda has the best system that requires little or no expense. Toyota/Lexus has a stupid system that requires a shop visit to program every stinking time. Ugh (worth it over a honda since your valves don't need to be cleaned every 60000 miles)
Bruce Purchased (in 2024) a 1989 Camero RS. I wasn't looking for one but I picked it up for 1500. I wanted to only pay 800 but the fellow I bought it from had a real nice family and I could tell they loved each other. They needed the money and I had to give it to him. I felt my heart grow like the Grinch. Yes it has the little 2.8. But the write up does not represent this car. It has never been messed with, all original, a real time machine. I was very fond of these 3rd gen Cameros. It was very oxidized but straight, interior was dirty but all there. I just retired and I parked in my shop and looked at it for 5 months. I couldn't decide how to approach it now That I can afford to make of it what ever I want. Resto mod? Engine swap? No reason to expect any finacial return. Finally I started just doing little things. Buffed and polished the paint. Tune up, Fluids. I am still working it and have found a lot of joy in just restoring what I have just the way I found it just fixed and cleaned up. It's just a cool looking cruiser, fun to drive, fun to figure out. It is what it is. I am keeping it and the author of this critical write up completely misses the point. Mabey the point is what I make it. Nothing more and nothing less.
George Now that the Spark And Pretty Soon Gone is the Mirage I really wonder how are you going to get A low rental price when getting a loaner car for the week or more? Cars that are big as spark usually cost 5 to 10 dollars a day for use in a week rental agreement.Where as a SUV like a Equinox or a Rogue Midsize SUV would cost about 20 to 30 dollars for the same length of time of lease and since you’re getting more space leasing is going to be very expensive.