Models · Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG C219 buying guide
The first CLS was the original four-door coupé, and its AMG version, the CLS55, shares its supercharged 5.4 litre V8 and much of its hardware with the E55 of the same era. A CLS63 with a 6.2 litre V8 followed later in the C219's life; this page covers the CLS55 only.
The versions
- CLS55: 5,439cc supercharged three-valve V8, 476PS (469bhp) and 516lb ft, the same engine as the E55
- Five-speed automatic
- Airmatic air suspension as standard, and electro-hydraulic Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) brakes
- Four-door coupé body, rear-wheel drive
What to check on a C219 CLS55
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
SBC brakes and the brake recall
What to look for: Watch for any brake warning message at start-up and on the drive. On a car built before the end of 2005, ask a Mercedes dealer, with the registration or VIN, to confirm the brake system recall was done. Ask whether the SBC pump has been replaced or rebuilt and when the brake fluid was last changed.
Why it matters: The CLS55's electro-hydraulic brakes use the same Sensotronic system as the E55, and the pump has a finite service life. Specialists can rebuild it as well as replace it, and changing the brake fluid needs a computer with the right software. Cars built before the end of 2005 were recalled to adjust the brake system. A car with the pump done and the fluid changed by someone equipped for it is the better buy.
Airmatic suspension
What to look for: On the test drive, switch between the suspension settings several times. Park on level ground afterwards and check the car sits level at all four corners, and listen for the compressor running for a long time.
Why it matters: Airmatic is standard on the CLS55, as on the E55, and a fault usually means a leak or a failing pump. Air suspension needs attention given enough time, so a car with recent suspension work on its invoices is a plus.
Intercooler pump
What to look for: Once the engine is warm, make sure the car pulls strongly and consistently through the rev range. Ask when the intercooler pump was last replaced.
Why it matters: The supercharged V8, shared with the E55, relies on an electric pump to cool its intercooler, and these pumps can fail. Reduced performance is the main sign, and a new pump is a straightforward fix.
Also in the full guide
- Electrical equipment
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the C219 CLS55
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Mercedes-Benz.