Description:

This is going to be long so get comfortable.  For those truly interested i implore you to read through everything before contacting me.


What i have to offer is a 2003 S55 AMG with just over 200k miles.  I say just over because the odometer/dash has the common LCD screen issue.  Just a couple transistors on the back side to replace and you are good to go.  However, all the vitals are still working on the dash(just the common LCD issue.  Have recorded everything ever done for the car under my ownership.  You will find a pic of the services listed here.  Hopefully the pic can be enlarged enough to see the writing, because i really don't feel like typing all that out.

So anyway, on to the car.....which has a clean and clear title in my name.  I am listing this as a donor car ONLY for the fact that the shell has been dinged enough times (thanks south florida) that to refresh the body would cost as much as the price.  Therefore this vehicle is best served as a donor vehicle to one of two situations.  One, someone can do a full part out of the car and double up their money.  I simply don't have the time or space.  Two, someone looking for a solid drivetrain for a project would be best served in buying the complete car then selling off what they don't need/use and the car will pay for itself.

Technically, the car could be refurbished if someone were to be in the body/paint industry and is halfway decent with a wrench.  It is simply a cost/benefit ratio that tilts the vehicle to donor status.  I still drive this about 5 miles a week to keep everything good.

I am going to be brutally honest here, so get prepared.  It is a great vehicle but lets not forget it is a 2003 with 200k miles on it.  It has its idiosyncrasies.  Thing i would make a priority to fix if using it as a driver.  Replace fan module.  Its out so stop and go driving is not recommended,  Over 45-50mph it is fine but without air flow across the rad/cond temps can climb.  I never let it get past 100.  Being that the fan module went out the A/C system blew off a little freon before i sussed out the problem.  So A/C is still ice cold, but needs a top off due to the pop off valve letting some out.  Could use new engine and tranny mounts.  Speaking of tranny.....don't let the miles fool you.  I serviced the tranny myself (did it the right way) and is still buttery smooth.  So no worries there.
Something any new owner will need to notate.  These cars are known to have the oil filter housing seals go.  I took me a long time to chase down this leak.  While i did put in new seals in the interim oil seeped onto the belt drive.  I replaced the belts and some pulleys, however the superchager pulley on the crank worked loose.  Guessing due to oil saturation.  So while it runs fine as is currently if you want to use the SC will need to address the crank/SC pulley.  I removed it and car runs fine.  And that's about it for maintenance. 

As with any new ownership(whether driving it or using as a donor) will want to put in new plugs.  If pulling engine this is a good time to degrease and reseal.  Valve cover seals are fine but if it were me i would put new in front and rear mains as well as oil pan seal while out the car as preventative maintenance.

The car has been converted from ABC to coilovers.  Also replaced the ABC pump with a standard s-class pump so no need to worry about replacing ABC pump.  The hard parts are already done.  Another wonderfully delightful surprise is the interior is in amazing shape considering its age.  Very little wear visible and zero tears.  So if parting out this is a huuuuge bonus as black interiors is what everyone wants.  Plus the front seats are dynamic.  Only issue with interior is the passenger a pillar cover.  There was a sun roof leak issue that demanded me pulling out that cover to trace the leak.  When doing so the glue simply gave out.  Can be reglued if bothersome.  And on to the sunroof.  While the mechanism itself is still good(operational until taped up) the seal did dry out and let water pass which damaged drain rail under the headliner.  Take the tape off and can use sunroof.  Sell as operational part or put on new seal and leave in car to enjoy.  I never used the sunroof but a few times, so never bothered me to leave it as is now.  This is fairly recent as in the last 6 months. Leak went unnoticed for a while as it all drained behind the interior an on the floor of car.  Eventually i found this out and caught it before any electronics where harmed.  It did however trigger an SRS fault on the dash due to the rear seatbelts.  Not sure how it happened, but rear seatbelts function properly and simply needs a reset through xentry to turn off srs light on dash.  No blown bags and clock spring in good shape.  And no, there is no musty or off odor in car.  Aired everything out until fully dry and no residual effects left behind. 

Other things to note.  As mentioned paint is needed.  Not a bad 20 footer but needed none the less.  Front and rear bumpers are peeling paint.  And front needs a crack repair but still usable.  While trunk lid is fine the passenger hinge is no good.  Many mercs are known to have these hinges rust and this one, while not terrible, still binds a bit so would suggest just selling trunk lid without hinges.  This binding is what ended up blowing the hydraulic fitting on the pump for trunk actuation.  Pump still good but needs line repaired to be operational.  Also think the soft close actuator for the trunk is leaking.  I know the driver door is leaking but the rest of the doors the soft close works just fine.

Windshield has crack but doesn't leak.  Parking brake recently became inop for some reason.  Maybe due to never using it for years???  Headlights could use lens covers.  BTW, have tons of pics i can send to perspective buyer, just too many large files to upload here.  Oh, and for some reason the radio went out not to long ago.  Was working just fine, played around in the fuse boxes under hood(checking for bad/corroded) fuses then radio never worked after that.  Thinking i may have put a fuse back in the wrong space, but really just haven't bothered to look into it as i rarely used it anyway.  So hope it is an easy fix with fuse but plan that the radio needs replacing(or the amp---known to fail in these cars).


For those looking to part out the car here is the good stuff.

AMG brakes
Cats---usually follow the platinum spot price at 1:1......I.E. plat is 1400 your 4 cats will be the same to a wholesaler
AMG mufflers
Coilovers(godspeed) extra set of springs (oh, still some ABC lines i left attached to the car)
suspension components---there are ZERO knocks, clicks, bangs, etc from anywhere....shocking how good a shape its in
interior---this is about as mint as a 20= year old interior can be.  Even the driver bolster is still intact and no wear.
A/C control unit
HVAC components(condenser/evap/dryer/lines,etc)
tail lights----the more desirable later year ones
trunk lid----needs paint but still great shape otherwise(minus passenger side hinge)
doors---its hard to show in pics but passenger side has lots of dings, and drive side rear a small crease along bodyline/molding
fenders---driver perfect passenger little paint flaking
AMG bodywork----front/rear bumpers and lower valances
hood
passenger mirror
headliner
rear sun shade
seat belt modules
air bags---all of them
steering assembly/wheel
ignition suite
battery
shell---roof, floors, quarters, front inner clip, trunk pan, etc
rear diff
rear axles
subframes----fornt/rear

There is easily close to 12k or more in those parts alone.  And that's not even all of it.  Nor did i account for the driveline.....engine runs great, tranny is great, driveshaft great.


I don't mind detailing out everything about this car but please understand time is valuable.  If you have only a passing fancy for the vehicle please save us both the time and headache.

Again, 2003 S55 AMG with clean and clear title in my name and still currently being driven.  Buy it as a donor or talk to me about what it will take to fix it up.  Its all pretty much laid out above, but if you have specific questions i don't mind answering.  If you want more pics send me an email you would like them sent to and how large the file size is allowed per email.

Located in south east FL so if you want to bring your trusted mechanic to check it out that's fine.  Out of state i can bring it to the shop of your choice for a PPI.  While you may not glean anything about the car i haven't already told you i don't mind if this gives you peace of mind.

Oh, if you are ok with 3 good Giovanna 'austin black' rims and one cracked rim i can put the 3 good ones on the car along with the OE spare  (with cracked rim in trunk) and reduce the price by 500$.  The ones on there now are Lexani.