I’ve written up a couple Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG wagons in my time with GCFSB; even got fooled by a E500 doing a damn good AMG impression on one post. I don’t know what it is about this car that keeps bringing me back to it. I’m not really much of a Mercedes guy. I prefer my fast wagons wearing four interlocked rings. However those three letters found on the trunk (and unfortunately the license plate frame) always catch my eye and earn the car a second glance.
Maybe that’s what I like about these souped up mid-aughts family haulers. If you don’t know what to look for, you don’t know what you’re looking at. That could be said of many wagons with a ferocious power plant but in the case of the E-Class I think it is particularly true. With its country club profile, dopey four headlamp front end and lengthy rear you could be forgiven for thinking these cars were nothing special. I suppose that until they’ve heard the supercharged V8 at wide open throttle most folks wouldn’t think it is, even after you point out the thick AMG steering wheel, quad tip exhuast and AMG wheels. That’s fine as far as I’m concerned, more E55 AMG wagons for those of us in the know. After all, these are rare cars that were only sold through a direct to your driveway order process. It appears that this example which was delivered to Woodland Hills, CA has remained in excellent condition over the 72k miles it has covered so far. The question is, has it been so well cared for that it necessitates the $31,500 asking price?
Year: 2006
Model: E55 AMG wagon
Engine: 5.4 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 72,000 mi
Price: $31,500
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2006 Mercedes Benz E55 AMG Wagon on AutoTrader.com
RARE! 2006 AMG E55 WAGON-SUPERCHARGED! Perfect condition. Always garaged. Blue Tooth technology Extended warranty All scheduled maintenance, All records, Always garaged, Excellent condition, Factory GPS system, Fully loaded with all the goodies, Looks & drives great, Mostly highway miles, Must see, Never seen snow, New tires, No accidents, Non-smoker, Seats like new, Still under factory warranty, Title in hand, Very clean interior, Well maintained
Well, the easy answer is no, this car isn’t worth what the seller wants for it. I don’t care how rare sub-100k mile E55s are, I wouldn’t spend over $30k on one. For that kind of money you can get into this car’s successor, the E63, which is said to be more reliable, is certainly more powerful and has more modern creature comforts. It has the vastly superior 7-speed automatic that makes the car quicker than the E55 even though it produces less torque. It also did away with the much maligned Sensotronic braking system in favor of Pre-Safe which caused far fewer headaches for Mercedes. With that in mind, I would approach the seller of this vehicle with an offer of $26 to $27k which will probably be met with a laugh but one must remain steadfast in their bargaining. Unless those awful sheepskin covers are hiding 100% mint condition seats and this car has had absolutely every little thing that goes wrong with a W211 E-Class replaced, I just can’t see how this car is worth what the seller wants for it. Given the interior build quality during this era these cars are quite prone to annoying little failures which add up quick. Can you live with a malfunctioning window regulator or squeaky glove box while hot rodding around town? I couldn’t.
These cars have to be properly sorted to be fully enjoyed and even if this one is, I’m still not convinced it’s worth what the seller is asking. It is all well and good that the car has new tires, has always been garaged and the 72k on the clock has been racked up mostly on the highway (seems like they always are with these cars) but those things don’t add up to more than $28k in my opinion. I can see where the seller is coming from, he has a rare car, beloved my enthusiasts that has lived a pampered life in Southern California. What are not taking into account is that thanks to our old friend depreciation, the heir to the throne is within the same price range and given the choice between the E55 and E63, I’d go E63 every time. Still, if you could get the seller down into the mid to high twenties, I think the E55 is a wonderful option for shocking people who think they’re looking at a ho-hum wagon.
Cheers,
-Andrew
