I am planning to sell my 1990 560 SEL and am trying to arrive at an asking price.

It has always been garaged, and taken to the same midwest MB dealer all the time for any servicing work. The radio stopped working and the dealer wanted $500 to fix it that's when I decided the time had come to part with it. I think it is in great condition with less than 64,000 miles, and I am the only owner.

KBB says private party price is around $6,500 while retail is $8,500. NADA site says that low retail (poor condition) is around $8,500 due to low mileage, mid retail is 10,500 and high retail (cream puff) $12,000.

Hence the confusion. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I would set an asking price of $11,500. I would also suggest you upgrade the radio so when you sell the car, everything works and the buyer(s) will be happy.

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2001 E55

2001 E320 Sedan

2001 Subaru Legacy

2006 SLK280

2016 Subaru Outback 3.6

Leave the radio as is... better keep it original than put in an aftermarket radio.

The 1990-1991 560SEL's with ultra low miles sell for the minimum of around $10,000.. most in the $12-14k range(50-75K miles). A cream puff, fully documented black/grey 560SEL recently went for $18k and it had around 70k miles on it. A member once had a 560SEL with 20k miles on it... sold for $20k.
The more original the car is, and more documentation you have of the car.. the more its worth.

E-mail me with what you have - I'm in the market for 560. Photos would be nice.

btt@houston.rr.com

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Snibble,

Just curious, is there anything different between '90-'91 SEL's and '86-'89 SEL's ?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I believe 89 and later have the updated interior. In 91 (last year of the W126) traction control was added.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

The 1986 model had the two horn button in a different spot.

1987-1988 had the old style interior, net in back of seat,

1989-1991 = new style interior

1991- the antenna button is removed, ASR was an option.

However, from my observation... the 1990 and 1991 bring more $ than a 1989. Don't know why... might be the "1980's vs. 1990's" thing.

Thanks for the advice.

What are my options for replacing the non-functional radio with a MB radio other than taking it to my regular dealer service shop and paying them over $500? The tape portion is working. Would I have to replace just the radio or the entire unit? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Also, how do I post a picture as part of a message thread? Is attaching the Jpeg file the only option?

Thanks,
Ken

For the radio, if you're looking for a whole unit, you can search around on ebay among other places for a similar fully functional unit. Going this route, you'll have a fully functional radio that you can just pop in and go. If you find one, odds are you will get it for substantially less than the dealer cost. Best of luck with it.

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2004 Chrysler Crossfire

I was told that you need a code to install the radio. without the code the radio will not work, even when re-installed in the same car. Is that code specific to a given radio?

Thanks,
Ken

The code can be found at the dealership... if you call them up on the phone, they may be nice enough to give it to you. I think the code is 4 digits. You'd have to provide them your VIN number, thats all.

I would keep the stock radio in the car. For a car with so little mileage as yours and condition... the radio will not kill any value. A replacement radio can be bought on ebay in fact.

In all honesty, your car should have lots of interest. I've had a few people ask if my car was for sale, even a note left on the window at a parking lot. If you are not rushing to sell any time soon, I wouldn't be surprised if you get mid-teens for the car. An enthusiast had a black 1989 560SEL with 80-some thousand miles on it, A1 condition and absolutely mint all around and it got a large sum on ebay.. I think $18k if I remember correctly. Documentation and service history are BIG items that determines if you have a $10k car or a $15k-18k car.

Good luck, but I think you will be missing your car if you do sell. I have the same car, 1990 560SEL with similar mileage and I wouldn't part with this car even for a new car

Also, if I am not mistaken, passenger side airbag was optional beginning in 1989, with the "updated" interior?

All the V8's had the passenger airbag as standard equipment in 1989. I saw some diesels(350's) with no passenger airbags, and I believe I saw a 300SEL with no passenger airbags. However, all 560's had passenger airbags starting the model year 1989 for the US market. Foreign markets still had it as an option(but driver's was standard).

Snibble:

You mentioned about documentation being very important. I had kept all my documents from day 1, right from the sales document onwards. End of last year we sold my wife's Navigator and I asked my office help to keep the last two years of documents from that car's folder and shred the rest.

Well, you can guess what happened next! The young lady did so from all the car folders!! I was livid but could do nothing. Since I had been taking the car to the dealer from the start, I called up my service advisor (for the past 15 years) and he was able to get me the records from 2000 onwards. He's trying to see if the 1996 -2000 records were archived in their system and can be retrieved. Prior to 1996 they were on a paper based system and don't have any records.

I have wondered if it'll help to get copies of my credit card statements that show the dollar amounts spent at the dealership for the earlier years. Your thoughts?

Thanks, Ken

Where is the car located and have you thought of a asking price?