High Mileage M113 NA S55. Should I stay away?




What else should I look for? Not my first AMG car as we have a w209 CLK55 in the family I maintain.
Thanks




Dealing with that vintage stereo will cost you a few grand as well.
maw


I'll echo the previous sentiment about the supercharger. I bought a 2003 S55 that I knew was a project car. It had good performance when I bought it, but not what I would expect from nearly 500 horsepower. Turns out, the supercharger wasn't even being driven! The pulley had sheared, and while the belt was intact and turning the pulley, there was no connection to the supercharger!

Couple hunnert bucks on eBay for a new pulley assembly, and let me say this clearly... Having had both supercharged and not, you want the supercharger. That car will never compare to a 2003 or newer car.
What else should I look for? Not my first AMG car as we have a w209 CLK55 in the family I maintain.
Check for leaks, normal raise/lower operation and if you have a STAR setup, the operating pressure of the system and any stored ABC codes.
On a road test, try and find some rougher roads and see if a warning light flashes over a bump (indicates failing accumulators).
Ask the current owner about sagging if left parked for a few days. Inspect the reservoir area carefully to see if it's dirty from old fluid or if there is fluid spilled into the engine bay.
As for the rest of the car, you know the M113 / 722.6 combo already and how stout it is when taken care of. At 160K miles, I'd be more concerned about the transmission not being serviced.




