Joined the CDI club - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

biopete · #61 03-01-2015, 12:45 AM

Lol. Nice detective work. You can't put a price on a fine automobile.

You just pay what you can and enjoy what you get.

I really wish I was enjoying some massaging seats though. Poor pre purchase research on my part.

TheDon · #62 03-01-2015, 08:08 AM

Not AMG at all, previous owner got the wheels from his brothers E55 AMG. I need to see if I still have my '06 sales brochure I got when these came out. I don't think it's a designo car

JimFreeh · #63 03-01-2015, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

JimF,
Unless you offer less you won't know. Dealers are used to negotiations. But some sellers and buyers are not. What I perceive when approaching any car sale is far different than some here are describing. My personal car the CDI, was a challenge in setting the stage to get @ 20% off asking. But I got the deal done by coming off 2% on my end of the deal, and I had them throw-in $250.00 in additl. labor & parts on the deal. This wasn't at all a 100K+ CDI from TylerHoover deal to do! Mine was a very low-mileage one, priced on the Moon!

No two deals that go down are the same.

Joe,

My point was that the dealer was used to negotiation and generally they price that factor in when setting the asking price.

This is not necessarily true for the private owner.

When I find a car like I described, being sold by a loving owner, it's been my experience that a lowball price is a complete turnoff to negotiations.
Unlike a dealer transaction, emotion can play a significant role in the deal for the seller.

On many cars I've bought, I've successfully discounted the asking price as well. In my previous post, I was couching my remarks on a particular niche seller, not making a broad generalization as you did.

Over my lifetime, I've bought literally hundreds of cars, albeit many were bottom feeder cars. Sometimes your technique is appropriate, sometimes it's not, was my point. My very best cars have, with only a couple of exceptions, been ones that I didn't negotiate. Well, not exactly... sometimes I would get extra stuff thrown in, like new parts not installed or a full set of service manuals.

I'm all for a bargain, and sometimes those bargains are the ones you pay the piper for. I might also mention that I cultivate owners, sometimes waiting years to buy a particular car, and many of those cars were not even offered to the public.

Jim

JimFreeh · #64 03-01-2015, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

IIRC, there were/are only three, maybe four choices of interior colors. His may be a Designio? sp? and a possible AMG accessorized car though.

I've seen tan, grey, and charcoal so far.
Designo cars had unique colors inside and out.

Jim

TheDon · #65 03-01-2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

I've seen tan, grey, and charcoal so far.
Designo cars had unique colors inside and out.

Jim

Poor photo of a sales brochure from ebay.

I'm buying it for reference

Skid Row Joe · #66 03-01-2015, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

Not AMG at all, previous owner got the wheels from his brothers E55 AMG. I need to see if I still have my '06 sales brochure I got when these came out. I don't think it's a designo car

If not a Designo, three interior colors as stated. The Designo is evident with the rolled curved door insert leather. Very supple.

Skid Row Joe · #67 03-01-2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Joe,

My point was that the dealer was used to negotiation and generally they price that factor in when setting the asking price.

This is not necessarily true for the private owner.

When I find a car like I described, being sold by a loving owner, it's been my experience that a lowball price is a complete turnoff to negotiations.
Unlike a dealer transaction, emotion can play a significant role in the deal for the seller.

On many cars I've bought, I've successfully discounted the asking price as well. In my previous post, I was couching my remarks on a particular niche seller, not making a broad generalization as you did.

Over my lifetime, I've bought literally hundreds of cars, albeit many were bottom feeder cars. Sometimes your technique is appropriate, sometimes it's not, was my point. My very best cars have, with only a couple of exceptions, been ones that I didn't negotiate. Well, not exactly... sometimes I would get extra stuff thrown in, like new parts not installed or a full set of service manuals.

I'm all for a bargain, and sometimes those bargains are the ones you pay the piper for. I might also mention that I cultivate owners, sometimes waiting years to buy a particular car, and many of those cars were not even offered to the public.

Jim

I see. I use comps. just as in real estate to arrive at market pricing. That, and the Internet pricing guides.

Skid Row Joe · #68 03-03-2015, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

I've seen tan, grey, and charcoal so far.
Designo cars had unique colors inside and out.

Jim

Same here, Jim.

ROLLGUY · #69 03-03-2015, 12:12 AM

After reading 5 pages of mostly banter about prices and value, I am still convinced that there could be a CDI in my future. I thought the '99 E300 I had was the one to have, but I now have a new (higher) mark to shoot for. Although I am extremely happy with the 350SDL I got a couple months ago, it has since been involved in a collision that might allow it to be replaced. If so, those replacement dollars could go towards a CDI. Although I have not looked yet, being in So. Cal, there may be quite a substantial pool of CDI's to choose from. I think I have some homework to do. BTW, congratulations TheDon on your recent purchase. I really like the color.......Rich

Skid Row Joe · #70 03-03-2015, 12:17 AM

I came to the same conclusion, Rich! I absolutely loved owning and driving my '99 E300TD for almost 15 - years from new, but these CDIs are worth a look!

I absolutely love mine I bought 2 years ago!

chronometers · #71 03-03-2015, 10:09 AM

Theses vehicles were only sold in 45 of the 50 states because of mandated pollution restrictions. It may be easier to find them outside of CA and NY.

One of the best ways to buy these is to go to MBNA's web site and search inventory. There were 13 of these 2005-2006 CDIs nationwide yesterday in the dealership network.

A MB dealer is often going to know what maintenance has been done on the vehicle and will be likely to do the necessary work on the vehicle before offering it for sale. Their used inventory will mostly come from customers trading in their cars for new ones.

engatwork · #72 03-03-2015, 01:21 PM

I am going to test drive a 151k mile, 06 model this afternoon. I am considering trading the wagon in on it.

t walgamuth · #73 03-03-2015, 03:40 PM

I usually try to negotiate.

It has been my experience though that if you are buying a very nice example and its just what you want sometimes you must pay more than retail.