Mercedes ML55 AMG: Used Car Reminder
Posted by Doug DeMuro in Used Car Reminder on | 8 comments
So you’re looking for a cheap used car. You want something with a little excitement; a little performance. Perhaps you want one of the most sought-after high-performance brand names in the used car world: AMG. Behold, the Mercedes ML55 AMG which, to the surprise of probably everyone who assembled it, does still exist.
The ML55 AMG came out in 2000 and brought the AMG features we knew and loved from the C- and E-Class to the M-Class. That meant large, flat-faced wheels; a bigger engine; and styling modifications that were undetectable to the naked eye but proudly detailed in a 24-page German press release.
Yes, some of them broke. OK, all of them broke. But the ML55 AMG is cool for two reasons. One, it arguably kicked off the high-performance SUV trend, which is generally agreed to be among the most offensive market segments in the car business. Plus, it had red brake calipers.
Each ML55 came lovingly prepared by several factory workers in Alabama, which is exactly who you’d want to build a high-performance German vehicle. They all had a 342-horsepower 5.4-liter V8 that made 376 pound-feet of torque at just 3,000 rpm. It may not sound like much, but it held a 20-horsepower advantage over the S500 of the time.
Stunningly, ML55 quality was poor and most of them have broken down by now. The remaining ones will probably break soon. But who cares when you look so subtly good?
8 Responses to “ “Mercedes ML55 AMG: Used Car Reminder”
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I remember when these came out, everyone wanted one because they were more car-like compared to the Land Rover Discovery, which I think was it’s main luxury SUV competition back then. The AMG version was very impressive, very very fast for the time. But all of the MLs were junk, I remember going to look at them, considering trading my Disco for one. I was surprised that they were actually the lowest priced Mercedes, IIRC even cheaper than the C-class of the time. Then when I test drove it I realized why, they were several steps down in quality. My Disco, which was definitely not a paragon of quality, seemed worlds above it.
I wonder if there is an AMG out there that would really be worth it or whether it is just a reverse intelligence test for rich people.
I do own a 2003 Mercedes 320SLK and it has AMG wheels………nothing else AMG. I adore it, the red toy is lovingly stored for the Winter in a heated, clean industrial building with the thermostat set at 50 degrees F, better living conditions than many of my early aprtments.
I appreciate your approach, but you understated the problems with owning this vehicle when you said “quality was poor and most of them have broken down by now,” as you left out the part about outrageously expensive parts.
How about a nice Lincoln Aviator from the same era instead? Not quite as powerful or fancy, it’s infinitely more reliable…and there are a lot of bolt-on parts for that DOHC 4.6 that can really make it scream.
Slow day over at TTAC, so I decided to come check out your site. Good stuff, Doug.
Ah…the performance SUV, “…which is generally agreed to be among the most offensive market segments in the car business.” You really have to ask yourself: what’s the point? You’re not going to take it to the track, and you’re sure as hell not going to attempt scrambling up an old prospector’s trail with one. Any attempt at spirited driving is just going to result in your kid throwing up all over the alcantra Recaro second row bench seat and onto the carbon fiber trimmed rear DVD player.
It seems hard to believe that the Germans could give birth to such an obviously American segment. I think it’s debatable that the Saleen Ford Explorer or Durango R/T tested the waters first. Maybe we even need to trace it further back to the GMC Typhoon.
Looked at these when looking for a used CUV for my wife. Pricing looked great, inside was nice enough. Went on the forums (I always do this when looking for a car) and *woah* there is a sad stressed out bunch of folks. Pass.
Which is sad, really, because this would be an awesome used car if it was even slightly reasonable to own.
“One, it arguably kicked off the high-performance SUV trend, which is generally agreed to be among the most offensive market segments in the car business.”
The 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited and its thirst for premium unleaded would like to have a word with you. If you can find one that hasn’t been chipped to run on regular unleaded, that is…