Opinions on used car values - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

thornton · #1 01-05-2012, 09:35 AM

Yeah another what are they worth thread.

I'm in the market for 2002 W210. I'd prefer an E430, but am looking at an E320 at lunch today. Very familiar with the 210 as we have had a 99 wagon for 8 years.

Its this one

Cars for Sale: 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 Sedan in Reynoldsburg, OH 43068: Sedan Details - 311002959 - AutoTrader.com

I've always found Edmunds appraiser to be fairly accurate and they value it at $8800. KBB says $12K, and Clearbook $10,800. The car has some recent maintenance, so I'm told in brakes, rotors, tires although I haven't been shown the receipts as requested. One or both of the cats were recently replaced and I'll get clarification on that later today. Looks clean but we'll see. If you look carefully at one of the pics you can see it has a service reminder active on the dash. A few red flags from the seller that I'll be checking out which seem all too typical in my experience when used car hunting.

I'm mostly interested in opinions on what the collective have found lately in the market with regard to used car values. $13,500 for this car seems crazy high to me, but what do I know?

Pavka007 · #2 01-05-2012, 09:50 AM

Well, as you know market is different in different states, however... I would say $10500 top. Why the owner selling the car they just bought 5 months ago? (according to Carfax)
As you have written, check the red flags and make your offer. Cash is a king

Good luck and keep us posted.

thornton · #3 01-05-2012, 10:15 AM

Yep, it'll be a cash offer so I've got that on my side. Also, this will be a third car in the family so I'm in no hurry. My oldest got his license recently and we're planning on him doing his driving in my beloved W124, and I'll drive what I buy.

His story on the sale (red flag) is that it was a friends car that he bought at an "estate auction." The car fax notes that title is held by a dealer, and he's not a dealer. Says a "friend" who's a dealer has it titled under his name. I suspect he's a flipper that bought it at wholesale auction, and he and his buddie(s) pool purchases under one dealer license giving them access to the auctions. Whole story was concocted I believe to assure buyers that he knew the car and its maintenance history.

The car had been serviced in Canton, and this guy lives outside Columbus. Whole thing just screams for caution.

I'm in Cincy and he apparently works at a small airport here and commutes back to Columbus on the weekend. He brought the car down and I'll be seeing it at noon.

I should note any car I buy locally will be seen by my trusted MB mechanic at Precision Motors.

Zacharias · #4 01-05-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thornton

His story on the sale (red flag) is that it was a friends car that he bought at an "estate auction." The car fax notes that title is held by a dealer, and he's not a dealer. Says a "friend" who's a dealer has it titled under his name.

Too many plot twists for my taste.

Watch your butt.

The Clk Man · #5 01-05-2012, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

Too many plot twists for my taste.

Watch your butt.

How can he watch his own butt? wouldn't he need some mirrors or something?

dubadaddy · #6 01-05-2012, 12:12 PM

Just bought a W210 E420 with 150k miles for 5K cash in So. Cal....good car, well taken car of and will last forever...they are great cars.....

TylerH860 · #7 01-05-2012, 12:58 PM

BS story. He's trying to make $4000 on the car. I wouldn't even bother looking at it. Just looking at my dealer wholesale I see a 2001 with 20,000 miles for $10,000, (about 2k overpriced for wholesale IMO, but not a bad retail buy) and a 2002 with 60,000 miles for $7000.

I don't have the slightest clue where Edmunds and the others get their values. None are reliable IMO. Actual dealer auction sales tell the story.

Recent sales of comparable E320s

2002 48k 7600
2002 81k 7200
2001 70k 6650
2001 80k 6000
2001 10k 10300

Figure 3-4k markup to account for reconditioning, overhead, and profit, and you've got a retail figure asking price.

If you're looking for another W124, I have a 95 E320 sedan with 80,000 miles on it that I would let go for $6,000. Wiring harness replaced, no head gasket leakage, and cold AC.

C280 Sport · #8 01-05-2012, 01:21 PM

That red E320 is not a bad price however keep in mind this seller needs to price it high to leave room to have it knocked down. Also keep in mind if that work was actually done to the car(Get those records!) then the seller will not give it away for nothing. If you could pick it up for say $10,000 or in that ball park and the condition can justify the price its a nice deal. Get a PPI at a indi shop and have it checked over. It looks decently optioned too. Not stripped down but not fully loaded either. Keep it in mind but do shop around.

C280 Sport · #9 01-05-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

BS story. He's trying to make $4000 on the car. I wouldn't even bother looking at it. Just looking at my dealer wholesale I see a 2001 with 20,000 miles for $10,000, (about 2k overpriced for wholesale IMO, but not a bad retail buy) and a 2002 with 60,000 miles for $7000.

I don't have the slightest clue where Edmunds and the others get their values. None are reliable IMO. Actual dealer auction sales tell the story.

Recent sales of comparable E320s

2002 48k 7600
2002 81k 7200
2001 70k 6650
2001 80k 6000
2001 10k 10300

Figure 3-4k markup to account for reconditioning, overhead, and profit, and you've got a retail figure asking price.

If you're looking for another W124, I have a 95 E320 sedan with 80,000 miles on it that I would let go for $6,000. Wiring harness replaced, no head gasket leakage, and cold AC.

I would be very reluctant to buy a Mercedes thats a 01 with only 10,000 miles on it. Mercedes do not make good garage queens. No reason why any 01 Mercedes should be that low of miles. I can see an exotic being that way but not an E320. Sometimes that can do more harm then good.

thornton · #10 01-05-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

BS story. He's trying to make $4000 on the car. I wouldn't even bother looking at it. Just looking at my dealer wholesale I see a 2001 with 20,000 miles for $10,000, (about 2k overpriced for wholesale IMO, but not a bad retail buy) and a 2002 with 60,000 miles for $7000.

I don't have the slightest clue where Edmunds and the others get their values. None are reliable IMO. Actual dealer auction sales tell the story.

Recent sales of comparable E320s

2002 48k 7600
2002 81k 7200
2001 70k 6650
2001 80k 6000
2001 10k 10300

Figure 3-4k markup to account for reconditioning, overhead, and profit, and you've got a retail figure asking price.

If you're looking for another W124, I have a 95 E320 sedan with 80,000 miles on it that I would let go for $6,000. Wiring harness replaced, no head gasket leakage, and cold AC.

Now that's the kind of solid info I was looking for. Agree his story is BS. I figure he bought it wholesale at the dealer auctions.

I saw and drove the car about an hour ago. Very clean, no body dings, just some road chips. Got receipts on brakes, rotors, and the cat, although the cat was way vague to certify as real. Does this model have one or two cats? He said he thought it was one. His "receipt" had cost at $1100 installed. Tires were practically new. Maintenance book was stamped from the dealer all the way up to 46K miles, regular maintenance, syn oil, coolant looked right, etc.

I tried to flush a number out of him without giving one but he wouldn't bite. I'll go in low and see how he responds.

Tyler-how about some pics of that '95? I'd be interested in another but my wife thinks I'm crazy. I'm not ruling it out.

Hatterasguy · #11 01-05-2012, 04:34 PM

Their is a 2001 E55 AMG for same down the road from me at a Land Rover dealership for $11k, looks about as nice.

Plus its an E55.

C280 Sport · #12 01-05-2012, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Their is a 2001 E55 AMG for same down the road from me at a Land Rover dealership for $11k, looks about as nice.

Plus its an E55.

How many miles? Any rust? $11k for a E55 is a good price even thou its a 210 and dated vs the 211 E55.

thornton · #13 01-06-2012, 01:39 PM

update: After test driving I told him I'd get back to him. I hadn't done that as I was stalling a bit. He just sent me an email telling me he found another car, and would let me "have" this one for what he has in it..........$12,250 plus $300 for some repair he put on it.

My reply? Good luck with that.

C280 Sport · #14 01-06-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thornton

update: After test driving I told him I'd get back to him. I hadn't done that as I was stalling a bit. He just sent me an email telling me he found another car, and would let me "have" this one for what he has in it..........$12,250 plus $300 for some repair he put on it.

My reply? Good luck with that.

I say let it go. Keep searching. I think you can find one for less in same shape and even more options. I said in my first post around $10k but it doesnt seem like he will be in that range. 210's are not that hard to come by but, thats my .02 cents.

thornton · #15 01-06-2012, 02:48 PM

Already have. Frankly I'm hoping for a clean E430 sport to show up.