2003 S55 Brabus
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222 S-65
Everything is to do with how the whole car is!
Has this one been loved, lived in the garage, never been in weather. Polished, detailed monthly..... Or has she been ridden dirty... Put away wet, run in the salt, parked outside and covered with pine needles all her life?
How has she been looked after mechanically? Dealer all it's life with six figures of repair orders... Or DIY-er who only replaced things that made the car go with $20,000 of deferred maintenance?
Also.... The 'K-8 kit' is often done with a whole lot more by Brabus. Interior? Body kit? Headers? What size crank pulley? How far did they turn it up?
Do some research!
.
Has this one been loved, lived in the garage, never been in weather. Polished, detailed monthly..... Or has she been ridden dirty... Put away wet, run in the salt, parked outside and covered with pine needles all her life?
How has she been looked after mechanically? Dealer all it's life with six figures of repair orders... Or DIY-er who only replaced things that made the car go with $20,000 of deferred maintenance?
Also.... The 'K-8 kit' is often done with a whole lot more by Brabus. Interior? Body kit? Headers? What size crank pulley? How far did they turn it up?
Do some research!
.
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Lol @ do some research. I have done as much as I can. I wasn't soliciting an exact dollar amount from anyone. Just an idea. The car was well taken care of. 3 owners. Some small cosmetic stuff like chips that are expected for a 15 year old car. Has receipts for most major work including engine swap by Brabus. It isn't in mint condition by any means but also seems to have been taken care of.
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'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Lol @ do some research. I have done as much as I can. I wasn't soliciting an exact dollar amount from anyone. Just an idea. The car was well taken care of. 3 owners. Some small cosmetic stuff like chips that are expected for a 15 year old car. Has receipts for most major work including engine swap by Brabus. It isn't in mint condition by any means but also seems to have been taken care of.
maw
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ABC completely redone with Arnotts all the way around. No lights. 103k on car. About 10k on engine. Asking 14k. An 03 S55 maxes out at 10k in value but I don't know of any way to value a Brabus which is why I am asking here.
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maw
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222 S-65
A 220 S55 is harder to sell then an E55. Thus; don't expect to pay a big premium for the pulley and software.
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'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Jay's Brabus K8 with the full meal deal Brabus interior, 600lb/ft, headers, carbon fiber hood and trunk lid et al made for a $15k premium over an otherwise very nice E55 of same year. His car is essentially the EV12 with a deficit of four cylinders. That previous owner had six figures in enhancements that depreciated every bit as badly as the rest of the car.
A 220 S55 is harder to sell then an E55. Thus; don't expect to pay a big premium for the pulley and software.
I went looking for an E55 and decided I liked the “grown man” 55 sedan (S) over the boy racer version (E). But E vs S wasn’t part of OPs question, unless I missed something. The S is a more costly car to maintain, so fewer people are up for it and yes it’s harder to sell. But again that wasn’t part of his question.
What’s the Brabus premium over stock S55K? My answer is “not much”, no matter what the improvements cost when new. I’d rather have the rear seat and A/C treatment that came stock over any non-factory speed bits.
But then again, I took the S over the E, so there’s that. The EClass set pays for speed all day long. I think the SClass is a different car altogether, from concept to execution to target buyer.
maw
Last edited by maw1124; Dec 20, 2018 at 08:06 PM.
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
Short answer being that the Brabus crank pulley, belt pulleys, additional charge cooling heat exchanger + bigger water pump for charge cooling assuming it has all that stuff will add as much to value as a willing buyer will pay a willing seller for a car so equipped. OP has not shared what the car is equipped with.
Hint: It won't add much at this point in the car's life. One positive with the Brabus kit being that Brabus still offers replacement parts for things like the special aluminum water pump pulley... Albeit at a premium price.
Hint: It won't add much at this point in the car's life. One positive with the Brabus kit being that Brabus still offers replacement parts for things like the special aluminum water pump pulley... Albeit at a premium price.
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John I called and spoke to Brabus today. The person that I spoke to from Brabus USA actually advised me against buying the car because replacement parts for the K8 were not available to purchase anymore. Where do you know of that replacement parts would be available? This will greatly impact whether I buy it or not.
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
Brabus USA is interested in selling new cars.
Brabus specific parts we have inquired about have all been available through them... At a considerable premium. There are other sources too.
E-Bay is helpful. That is where Jay ended up purchasing his water pump pulley for 20% of what Brabus wanted for the same updated part.
You ask what the car is worth.... Even if we were able to see detailed information of the car via photos that you have not posted, information about the car such as just what Brabus did to it... They do anything and everything to them; all bespoke... How it is mechanically ect we will still not have any idea as the market is different everywhere in the world. In Japan there is no secondary market for such a car so off they go to the auction to bring peanuts. Here in the USA an 220 S65 that is pretty nice is offered at 18,000 here on the board with low miles. I've done this kind of stuff for too many years to do it for free on a car I have not seen. Do your own research and make a decision that works for you.
Also... If you are fretting about the purchase price.... Will you be able to maintain this kind of car? Be ready to write that high four figures to five figure check.
I'm in the business and am able to replace the engine in one. I got to in my S65. Things happen. It is a complicated machine.
Note.... They got better with the 221 chassis cars. Many annoyances solved. Good luck.
Brabus specific parts we have inquired about have all been available through them... At a considerable premium. There are other sources too.
E-Bay is helpful. That is where Jay ended up purchasing his water pump pulley for 20% of what Brabus wanted for the same updated part.
You ask what the car is worth.... Even if we were able to see detailed information of the car via photos that you have not posted, information about the car such as just what Brabus did to it... They do anything and everything to them; all bespoke... How it is mechanically ect we will still not have any idea as the market is different everywhere in the world. In Japan there is no secondary market for such a car so off they go to the auction to bring peanuts. Here in the USA an 220 S65 that is pretty nice is offered at 18,000 here on the board with low miles. I've done this kind of stuff for too many years to do it for free on a car I have not seen. Do your own research and make a decision that works for you.
Also... If you are fretting about the purchase price.... Will you be able to maintain this kind of car? Be ready to write that high four figures to five figure check.
I'm in the business and am able to replace the engine in one. I got to in my S65. Things happen. It is a complicated machine.
Note.... They got better with the 221 chassis cars. Many annoyances solved. Good luck.
Last edited by JohnLane; Dec 21, 2018 at 03:35 PM.
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Lol maybe you have been doing this so long, a simple question becomes complicated. I can't really tell if you are trying to help or being condescending. I am not asking the forum to give me a free appraisal. I have owned MB for a long time and am aware of the costs associated with owning one. None of which really has any bearing on this conversation or my original question. My question was really simple. Because I am not familiar with the value of an older Brabus, I asked on this forum since I can't just get on KBB and do an appraisal. I had done as much research as I could BEFORE I even posted on the forum. I only asked in the forum because I could not find anywhere that would give me an idea of what an 03 with full Brabus kit would be worth, if anything. I even wrote that I know that an 03 S55 is max valued around 10k in US. Idc what anything is worth in Japan. I clearly either rubbed you the wrong way with my question or whatever but in all fairness, if you can't help then there isn't much value in your reply. I never asked for an exact dollar amount or how much repairs would be. Just what anyone thought it may be worth in their opinion.
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222 S-65
Believe it or not... I'm trying to be helpful. Now you get just a dab of snark.
You refer to a 'Full Brabus Kit.'
In very clear English.... What has Brabus done to the car?
A pulley and software to turn up power? What is power turned up to?
Brabus interior?
Brabus body kit? Carbon fiber Hood and trunk lid? Bumper covers?
Brakes?
Wheels?
Brabus does any combination to all of the above. Or at least they did when people would spend the money on a 220. All of which effect resale.
All of which help about what the car will be worth.
What at is the car worth to you?
What is the car worth to the seller?
/snark
You refer to a 'Full Brabus Kit.'
In very clear English.... What has Brabus done to the car?
A pulley and software to turn up power? What is power turned up to?
Brabus interior?
Brabus body kit? Carbon fiber Hood and trunk lid? Bumper covers?
Brakes?
Wheels?
Brabus does any combination to all of the above. Or at least they did when people would spend the money on a 220. All of which effect resale.
All of which help about what the car will be worth.
What at is the car worth to you?
What is the car worth to the seller?
/snark
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Answers are next to questions.
In very clear English.... What has Brabus done to the car?
A pulley and software to turn up power? What is power turned up to? Yes pulley and tune. Car has not been dynoed so not sure what exact HP is. Per Brabus it was 50 HP over what AMG claimed at time which was 493@6100 rpm.
Brabus interior? Door sills, steering wheel, and gearshift knob.
Brabus body kit? Carbon fiber Hood and trunk lid? Bumper covers? Yes to all.
Brakes? Brakes are currently AMG factory brakes.
Wheels? MB wheels.
What at is the car worth to you? I have nothing invested so it isn't worth anything to me at this time.
What is the car worth to the seller? He is asking 14k so I am guessing at least that.
In very clear English.... What has Brabus done to the car?
A pulley and software to turn up power? What is power turned up to? Yes pulley and tune. Car has not been dynoed so not sure what exact HP is. Per Brabus it was 50 HP over what AMG claimed at time which was 493@6100 rpm.
Brabus interior? Door sills, steering wheel, and gearshift knob.
Brabus body kit? Carbon fiber Hood and trunk lid? Bumper covers? Yes to all.
Brakes? Brakes are currently AMG factory brakes.
Wheels? MB wheels.
What at is the car worth to you? I have nothing invested so it isn't worth anything to me at this time.
What is the car worth to the seller? He is asking 14k so I am guessing at least that.
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222 S-65
OP don't figure on purchasing this one as a long term investment. Lol
If you like the car and it looks to be worth 14 large to you... Jump on it. Certainly it will be a rare animal.
If you do buy it be sure to insure it with an agreed value policy so that when doorknob backs into the unobtanium hood and bumper your insurance company doesn't come back with "Ummmm we found ya a good use-ed hood and a less scratched up bumper at the pick-an-pull for $175.00 and we'll pay that."
If you like the car and it looks to be worth 14 large to you... Jump on it. Certainly it will be a rare animal.
If you do buy it be sure to insure it with an agreed value policy so that when doorknob backs into the unobtanium hood and bumper your insurance company doesn't come back with "Ummmm we found ya a good use-ed hood and a less scratched up bumper at the pick-an-pull for $175.00 and we'll pay that."
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maw
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Yeah I always cringe when I see a stereo "upgrade". After looking around some more, there are quite a few 04-06 S55s with the rear seat package in the 10k range. There is an 04 asking 13k with only 77k miles about 30 mins from me. I am still intrigued by the rarity and uniqueness of Brabus but not willing to pay thousands more than its value for it.
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'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Please post some of these when you get a chance. I’ve not seen “quite a few... with the rear seat package” available. Every now and then I see one or two available. But it’s all about ownership history. I know there’s an ‘04 pewter one I think... but it’s pewter.
maw
maw
Last edited by maw1124; Dec 25, 2018 at 06:13 PM.
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Sorry. Quite a few is relative I guess for a 15 year old car. I have come across maybe 4 or 5 between autotrader, cargurus, and craigslist so maybe "a few" would have been a better description. I will post some next time I bring up the search. I am gonna go check out the local one tomorrow.
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'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Don’t worry about it. I stay on top of them, and have stayed on top of them for the last 10 years. Those rear seat packages were always kinda rare. The one you’re going to look at seems like it can be a good one. These are stout cars. Tons of car for the money and the “no compromise” mix of power, luxury, safety, reliability and style just never gets old. And at this point, I think 10% of MSRP is about as cheap as they’ll ever be. Not that these are $12k cars — the beat up, modified ones are. A 46k mile stocker recently went for almost double that on BaT. Most people are just afraid to own them. But if you can handle any old Benz, you can handle this one.
Happy Hunting,
maw
Happy Hunting,
maw
Last edited by maw1124; Dec 25, 2018 at 04:13 PM.
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'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Yes, you always want the last year in any MB chassis. Subtle parts upgrades during the run. But as a long time MB owner you know that. Here, I think the intercooler pump and some of the ABC campers were upgraded. I don’t really know because I only ever considered an ‘06. A good exercise would be to visit your local MB stealership parts counter to see if they can tell you the superseded parts over those years. They may have a way to search for that.
maw
maw
Last edited by maw1124; Dec 25, 2018 at 06:15 PM.
