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1999 Mercedes Benz E55 AMG (W210) Review, In-depth Tour, Acceleration Test, and Walkaround

Before Mercedes Benz AMG sedans, coupes, and even SUVs were prevalent, AMG was a totally separate entity from Mercedes Benz. It was an independent tuning company that catered to the wants and needs of Mercedes Benz enthusiasts (and Mitsubishi Galant) who wanted more power from their luxurious land yachts.

In the mid 1990s, Mercedes Benz released a very controversial but revolutionary and daring design language that was evident with the E Class made from 1996. Featuring so much more curves than its predecessor and competitors alike, as well as unmistakable round headlamps, it was the gateway into automotive designs of the 21st century. This E Class body designated as the 210 came in three forms, the W210 sedan, the S210 wagon, and the now separate line called the CLK, as well as multiple engine options ranging from the tiny 2.0L E200 I4 with just around 152PS, all the way to the E430 V8 with around 279PS.

Seeing this lack of power even from the E430's V8 engine, Mercedes Benz and AMG partnered up to jointly develop their now second pocket rocket speed monster in the package of a sleeper large sedan. They created this. The 1999 Mercedes Benz E55 AMG with a monstrous 5.4L M113.980 naturally aspirated SOHC big V8 engine which produces 354PS, and 530Nm of torque. Flat out this behemoth of an engine can take this large innocent looking sleeper sedan from 0 - 100km/h in just 5.4s all the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. Of course, unless it's an American muscle car *ahem Mustang*, a large engine is simply not enough to make a car fast while keeping you alive through the corners so Mercedes Benz and AMG also updated it's handling as well as its styling with body kits, larger and wider 18" AMG Monoblock 2 rims, and a lower ride height.

All these changes, while subtle, translate to an experience that is still rather reminiscent of driving a regular W210 but with a big boost. Imagine the W210 driving experience but with a proper caffeine fix. It ticks all the boxes a W210 ticked in the first place, and adds just enough more to the experience without being too flashy nor arrogant about it.

While the regular W210 was first released in the mid-1990s, the E55 wasn’t released until 1998 as the 1999 model year. All in all, 11,894 E55 AMGs were built. The one we have here today is an early E55 that is considered to be a rare 1999 pre-facelift model which were only made for about a year and with numbers limited to 1,104 units before Mercedes Benz released a facelift in 2000 as the Millennium model.

With prices on these new being nowhere near the definition of affordable for anyone sans a name you will hear on the Forbes list, getting this 2nd hand is now a fulfillable dream. At prices less than half a brand new Camry with change to spare for maintenance of a 20 plus year old car, I think it’s now a no brainer.

W210 E55 AMG Pre-facelift
MY: late 1998 - 1999 (pre-facelift)
2000 - 2002 facelift

Only 11,894 made for the entire line
1,104 for this pre-facelift model
Smoked tail lamps
W210.074

5.4L M113.980 V6 NA SOHC 3 valves per cylinder
5 speed 722.6
0-100 in 5.4s
top speed limited to 250km/h
354PS, 530Nm torque

Tires 235/40ZR18 front, 265/35ZR18 rear
18" AMG Monoblock II

Video Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Exterior
02:56 - Trunk
03:47 - Engine
04:46 - Interior
08:56 - Test Drive
12:25 - Acceleration
14:18 - Verdict