92 500E for sale (maybe) need advice. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vcci · #1 10-30-2003, 01:44 PM

I am seriously considering selling my 92 500E. Many of you are familiar with it but for those who are not here is a little bit of information on it.

92 500E
Black Pearl/Black leather
Custom painted(to match) bottom moldings.
18" 2 piece SL AMG style wheels including spare with brand new tires.
Lowered with H&R spring kit.
ASR defeat switch.
Remus exhaust.
Custom front bumper (one piece molded).
Front cross drilled rotors.
Custom painted grill.
European headlights.
Clear sidemarkers.

The car is very clean and runs very strong. As of right now I am only considering selling it and don't have an asking price. If anyone is interested let me know. Otherwise I would like to ask some of you 500E pro's what you think a reasonable price for my car is?
Thanks in advance.
vcci

400E_FAN · #2 10-30-2003, 01:51 PM

How many miles on the clock? If I didn't see it after reading it twice pardon me

vcci · #3 10-30-2003, 02:01 PM

OOOOOPS....

It's got 120,000 on it. Very well maintained.

need2speed · #4 10-30-2003, 04:38 PM

Not even a year and the bloom has faded from your rose?

-fad · #5 10-30-2003, 05:11 PM

really hope you get what you want for it....

being in the car business....as you know- - the (very subjective) perceived market value can be a moving target based upon:
>buyers (+/-) value of the mods
>maintence and repair and accident history of the car
>current overall state of the car taking into account its a '92
>overall wear and tear on the car/ life left in the car
>etc.

Ballparking
>Kelly private ~$14.5k
>Autotrader '92's ~14.5k-$25.5k(new motor and trans in it)

Although the overall used MB car market appears to very soft in pricing and abundant in inventory, I've observed no reduction of interested prospetive 500e buyers/owners.

hope this helps and let us know what turns out
-fad

vcci · #6 10-30-2003, 08:28 PM

need2speed the bloom has anything but faded from my rose. If I do end up selling it I would being buying a much prettier and better rose. As I said I have not yet decided to sell it yet and am not sure if I will do it or not but that 03 E55 is just calling my name, I hear it loud and clear..lol

fad thanks I know exactly what you mean. I was thinking to put it in the market around $20k. I think It'll bring that on eBay but one never knows. I will let you all know what I've decided to do and the results.

Thanks to all...

MBlovr · #7 11-01-2003, 10:35 AM

You can try but I doubt that it will bring that amount on eBay. Check the completed 500e sales to see what I mean. Max bid on a '93 with 71K was $18K.

yhliem · #8 11-03-2003, 01:22 AM

it's a soft market right now. hold on to the car and enjoy it a little longer while you wait for things to firm up in the marketplace.

Fangio · #9 11-06-2003, 05:20 PM

I have to agree. Used-car prices overall are very soft, and I attribute it to the last 3 yrs of 0% financing and OEMs practically giving new cars away. It's all about the deal right now, and not even highline cars like the 500E are immune to it.

I shopped for my 500E for almost 3 yrs from 97- 2000 and they were always around the $30-$35K mark. I paid $31.5K for a gorgeous 92 with 48K miles and thought I had paid a little below market, based on AutoTrader prices. Prices seemed to hold around there until early 2002, and now they seem to be in the low to mid-$20s. Sorry I didn't wait a little longer, but I have enjoyed the car for almost 3 yrs...

Anyway, it's definitely a buyer's market right now, and I can't see things getting any better for some time.

Kirk
1992 500E
Pearl black/gray leather
60K miles
17-in AMG wheels/Pole Position S-03s

gsxr · #10 11-06-2003, 06:34 PM

When I can snag a 94 E500 for ~$20k, with under 100k and maybe some goodies (wheels, ASR defeat, Y-pipe, etc)... I may just have to cough up the dough. We're still a good $5k away from that right now (oh, and I'm picky about color too.)

suginami · #11 11-06-2003, 07:01 PM

I'd like to concur with the others in that the market is very, very soft for used cars due to many reasons: 0% financing, rebates, lease returns, etc.

What I believe is finally hurting the 500E's is that many new cars have reached a performance level that meets or easily exceeds this car, at least from a 0-60 mph perspective. Heck, even some regular mid-sized family sedans beat it, such as the Nissan Maxima and the Infiniti G35. It was also in the rarified group of sedans with horsepower in the mid 300's. Nowadays, nearly every car company's V8 produces similar HP ratings. Even the V8 in Nissan's new full-sized truck produces similar hp. It goes without saying that most of the current AMG models can spank it in performance.

The W124 500E / E500 has probably the best chance of any Mercedes in the past 20 years of becoming a true collectible, but I believe it's going to be a long, long time - surely 10 years or more - until we'll see some, if any, price appreciation.

-fad · #12 11-06-2003, 08:31 PM

...certainly the used car market is very soft and new cars offer an increased performance capacity to the appropriately skilled operators in those precious moments

however, the 124.036 is what it is
...it appeals and satisifies on a broader level (imho- reverently different) ......'of a time when MB didn't build to a price point, when engineers did run the company, coinciding when the goal became to build the safest most robust sport/touring sedan in the world...surely no Maxima or G35 in sight will ever claim such a platform

I have concurrently owned more current, less current, and various other makes of automobiles....and will continue to do so (life offers many splendid choices)

however the 124.036 is quite a special piece of machinery that wasn't born for the masses in its production run from '90-'95 ...and today- such a vehicle still isn't for the masses

In any case, the 124.036 does not appear to be alone in being affected by the effects of time (depreciation), use (wear and tear), advances in tech and manufacturing (more robust vehicles).....ie M3, M6, M5, 928, 930, 935, 959, Carrera's, Rolls, Bently, Italian Exotics....the list goes on and on ...heck- even the '94-'95 W124 Cabriolet's, W140's w-V12's asking prices are on the basement floor!

Great discussion- keep it up!
-fad

shanta · #13 11-07-2003, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by -fad
W140's w-V12's asking prices are on the basement floor!

Don't worry, I will be cleaning up that basement real soon

yhliem · #14 11-07-2003, 03:24 AM

While I certainly agree with Paul's comments re: new cars having reached a performance level meeting or surpassing that of the 500E500, it's hardly surprising that that is the case. I mean, really, the technology in the 124.036 is mid '80's at worst and early '90s at best (remember, there's a couple of years worth of designing that goes into the car before it ever sees the asphalt).

that having been said, i agree with fad: the 124.036 is what it is and it's heritage being that of a collaboration between MB and Porsche makes it that much more special a car. it may not be the fastest car around, or the most expensive or the most exclusive, but it is something special.

the 201.036 (190E 2.3-16) is in very much the same vein. it's old tech, not particularly fast, nor that easy to find performance parts for, but it has an established "cult" following. it's still a desirable car. not for it's speed but for what it offers as a whole package and the history of the car.

both of these cars are for particular tastes. they were not meant to appeal to the masses. Seriously, how many people would pay $80K+ for a 4-door sedan in the early '90s? enough to make a decent market for the car, but certainly fewer than the number of people that bought Chevy Caprices.

the W124.036 was designed as a dual purpose car that could allow the driver to cruise the autobahn with authority while offering all the acoutrements of a high-end luxury vehicle. the competition from Munich was the old E34 M5...a 6-banger that didn't have the same level of fit and finish or the quality of materials as the 124.036.

though the M5 may be more of a driver's car, the 500E500 is still a head turner...and in my experience, more so than the M5.

placo1 · #15 11-07-2003, 11:27 AM

Just one more angle to add to this already great discussion.

Many would-be 500 customers can be turned away due to finances. Getting a loan on a 12 year old car is difficult and commands higher interest rates due to the risks for the lenders. That takes a huge chunk of 500 buyers out of the picture IMO. You either need to have the $$ or take a hit on the financing if you want the car. Then you have to deal with aftermarket warranties or no warranty. Definitely requires some thought and dedication especially if the car is a daily driver. Worth it IMO but maybe not to others.