The ML55 AMG is an important vehicle for Mercedes as it was the company’s first SUV to receive the AMG treatment. It is powered by the naturally aspirated M113 5.4-liter SOHC V8, one of the most reliable AMG engines ever. That develops 342 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, which gave the 5,000-pound ML55 a respectable-for-the-era 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 141 mph, making it the fastest SUV at the time – and the first truly sporty SUV. The ML55 AMG showed manufacturers such as BMW and Porsche that there was a market in the U.S. for performance SUVs. The rest is history. Now, several automakers build high-performance SUVs and sell them by the thousands, but Mercedes was the first. Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG offered on AutoHunter by a Phoenix, Arizona seller.
The seller describes this ML55 AMG as being finished in black with a black leather interior. The vehicle has covered 93,000 miles from new and has not only been well cared for, but it has also received a number of upgrades that improve its already good off-road capabilities.
The exterior of this ML55 looks to be in excellent condition, with nice black paint and no issues to be seen. Being in Phoenix, it has not had to live with salt on the roads. Based on the condition, I am guessing that this car spent its off hours in a garage, otherwise the paint would not look this good. This ML rides on a set of factory 18-inch AMG Monoblock wheels clad with 275/70 Nitto Ridge Grappler tires.
The interior looks amazingly nice. The black leather appears to be in great condition as does the rest of the cabin. It includes WeatherTech mats as well as the original Mercedes carpeted mats. The only change from stock is the Pioneer replacement head unit that adds Bluetooth and SiriusXM radio.
Under the hood, the M113 V8 looks great. The engine compartment is clean and everything appears as if it was cared for and maintained. Recent service includes the replacement of the crank position sensor, A/C drier, A/C expansion valve, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, thermostat, water pump, valve cover seals, coolant reservoir, power steering pump, and power steering reservoir. In addition, this ML55 received a recent transfer case rebuild, a new transmission pan seal, and fresh brake pads and rotors.
Upgrades include Bilstein shocks, H&R one-inch spring spacers, and a MagnaFlow dual exhaust system.
This ML55 AMG has not only been extremely well cared for, but it also has some great upgrades. The stance on this Mercedes makes it look ready for both off-road fun and daily driving.
If this ML55 AMG looks as good to you as it does me, then act fast and bid on it right now. Don’t forget that when it was new, this Mercedes had a list price of over $65,000. You have an opportunity to get one of the original performance SUVs and the very first factory-built AMG SUV, so get in there and bid because the auction for this 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG ends on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (MST).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
