Buying an CLK55
 

Im looking to buy my first AMG, but the car has 78xxx or so on it. Is there anything i should look out for? i really dont know much about engines so any kind of advice will be helpful. Thank you.

i think most ppl around here will tell you to take the car to a decent Mercedes shop (even another MB dealership) and have them do a pre-purchase inspection. For a good, in-depth inspection on an AMG car should cost $200 or so and will be well worth the money. It will also likely give you some negociating power when it comes time to decide the price.

Good luck

AMG's have expensive; brakes, wheels, engine computers, mechanicals engine parts.
The hugh power of their engines is harder on the transmission, axles, cooling systems.

I also suspect that the AMG body cladding is very pricey.

A car like that should have complete records and a Mercedes Service Book with stamps (dealer or independen

Car should have effortless power for any situation. Upward shifts near full power should never bang into next higher gear. Brakes should be so effective that in a parking lot at sixty mph with hand off steering wheel when brakes are applied aggressively car should stop straight.

I'm not sure what model year your looking at. I'm guessing a W208. When you pull dipstick, rub distant end between your fingers, you should not feel a spec of dirt or grit.
Battery top (in trunk) should be clean with no stains.

Coolant in overflow tank should look like pee with no chocolate looking drops floating or sticking to tank side.

Also it's the little stuff like Daimler sticker on lower passenger side front windshield, Mercedes stamped battery, Complete tool kit, Clear brake fluid in the reservoir that give hints on the cars life.

Also with a digital camera take snap shots of the bottom of chassis. Front engine cladding underneath engine should be free of oil and coolant.

And have a Mercedes dealer do a chk like advised in post above.

Have it checked out as advised above. The W208 CLK55 is a fairly reliable car. One of the main surprise expenses are the 2 piece front rotors as the cheapest I have found them is between a little over $250 EACH. A lot of the parts are standard W208 parts with, obviously, the AMG modifications. This means that a fairly substantial amount of things on the car (i.e. air conditioning, climate control, etc) will not be more expensive to repair than any standard W208.

Set up a " Line of Credit " with your friendly bank manager.
When you need " normal wear "parts ( brakes, etc. ) you're going to faint.
That's the only issue that prevented me from buying a C 43 last year.
Click on " FastLane" above & check some of the prices.
Don't faint. ;)