1999 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

The 1999 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG is a pre-update W210 saloon that has been imported into the UK from Japan. This means while it must’ve left the dealership forecourt a little more than two decades ago, it hasn’t been exposed to the kind of harsh weather conditions that can cause the vehicle to age exponentially. This high-spec example now has a UK registration, a new V5 document, other supporting paperwork from Japan including original manuals, a mileage certificate, etc.

With a recorded mileage of just 65k miles (the odometer reads 105k km), it’s safe to say that the car hasn’t been driven much. The vendor confirms that it hasn’t been modified, the panels are all original, and the car hasn’t been affected by rust or any accident, either. There’s no service record but this E55 does come with a mileage certificate from Japan, this verifies the mileage is genuine with this information being taken from the Japanese MOT history. It has also had an MoT test done recently, and it cleared that without any advisory.

When the W210 was launched, the new E-Class was nowhere close to the preceding W124 in terms of appearance. The move away from the squarish styling and adoption of quad headlamps (among other things) proved to be a huge gamble for the German carmaker. The headlamp arrangement continued for two more generations until with the W212 facelift, which is when Mercedes-Benz moved to a more conventional-looking arrangement. In hindsight, it’s pretty clear that the 210 did give Mercedes-Benz some design direction. It was also aerodynamically better than before, but without losing some of the Mercedes-Benz traits of the time, like the single windscreen wiper.

The AMG model took things up a notch but without ruining the (now-pleasing) design of the E-Class. For instance, the monobloc wheels that AMG and Mercedes-Benz fans love around the world do make a sea of difference. With the AMG body kit, the car does look more assertive than ever, too. For the uninitiated, it’s still an E-Class that probably appears more appealing than the standard saloon, but for those who know cars, it’s a landmark model — representing a great mix of understated (and under-appreciated) styling, thorough re-engineering to turn it into an M5-rivalling ‘Bahn stormer, and a beast of an engine, all packaged together beautifully.

Rust, which is considered to be the W210’s biggest enemy, is thankfully nowhere to be found here. That’s mainly because this Japanese-import hasn’t been subjected to harsh weather and road conditions. The bodywork is original and largely devoid of damage except for a scuff mark on the nearside sill at the rear. We did also notice that the rear of the bootlid has developed some micro-blistering, please see the gallery for photographs. 

No matter how sporting the car is, one can’t compromise on the interior quality and finish on a Mercedes-Benz, and the W210 isn’t any different. Despite its age and design that would look bland by today’s standards, the cabin of the E-Class is a great place to be, not just in how comfortable it is, but also in the way it’s been put together. The AMG model was bestowed with ‘AMG’ goodies, which does help in differentiating itself from the lesser models.

As mentioned earlier, this 1999 E55 is a high-spec car, with a long list of standard fitments that makes it easier to live with, in the age of feature-loaded cars. According to the vendor, the list of extras includes a sunroof, blue-tinted glass, electric blinds, electric rear headrests, sat-nav, electric + memory front seats, leather+wood AMG steering wheel, etc.

UPDATE: There are several safety pins holding up the headlining in the rear of the cabin. The buttons and switches all seem perfect, the seats appear to be in okay shape (as can be seen in the photos, there’s indeed some sagging going on), and apart from minute wear marks (one of the door pads looks damaged and there’s a mark on the door sill), it’s gotta be one of the best W210s around.

The Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG was the pinnacle of the W210 E-Class, in terms of performance. Mercedes-Benz sold nearly 12,000 of these across the globe, and while that number is hardly comparable to how many 210-series cars they shifted, this is hardly small for a performance-orientated car. And ‘small’ isn’t the adjective one would use for its power figures, either. The 5.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine made close to 350 bhp, helping the car achieve 62 mph from a standstill in just over 5 seconds.

This Japan-import E55 drives without fault, mentions the vendor. He adds that it doesn’t exhibit any suspension rattles, either. The aforementioned V8 engine is smooth and the gearbox shows no hesitation in shifting through gears. The car has an AMG spare wheel included, too. Like the exterior of the car, the engine bay doesn’t appear to be that of a car from the late 90s. The underside looks free from damage but will benefit from a cleanup.

Originally registered in 1999, this E55 AMG was imported into the UK and was registered in November 2021. It has zero former keepers in the UK; in Japan, it did about 65k miles. Put through an MoT test recently, the car passed with zero advisories.

The V5 (shown in the photo gallery) shows the registration is T338 VAJ. The vendor didn't supply plates on the car so the winning bidder will have to get these before driving it home.

Buying an E55 isn’t just going to be a statement (that you have great taste in cars) but also a chance to enjoy one of AMG’s finest under-appreciated cars. A well-maintained example like this, which hasn’t been affected by rust, is hard to come by. The car is offered from the trade & at an estimated value of £7,000 - £12,000, this is a car that could give the M5 a hard time but without having to lose its ‘Mercedes’ traits.

The AMG body kit and the beautiful wheels might be clear giveaways of its high-performance capabilities, but the W210 AMG, even with this tasteful red paintwork, isn’t as visually loud as any modern car with a similar intent. Instead, this can be a great way to enjoy sportscar-rivalling performance from an unassuming saloon. Plus the extras like brake assist, xenon headlamps, etc. are bound to make it easy to live with. Just like it’d have been in the late nineties.

This car is being sold from the Trade.  Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. Our opening hours are Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.