As the title States, why do u guys think people are getting around 8k (+/- 2k) for w123 at BaT but when you see a 300d posted on CL for 4k-5k it just sits there for months on end until the seller gives up and drops the price to 2k and eventually accepts a 1700 dollar offer??? (I am the king of the run-on-sentence btw)

This seems to be true with all of the old school benz's on BaT, not only w123.


I also wonder how BaT actually works and how many of those sales actually happen at the price shown...

I could imagine a buyer coming to pick up the car and bartering down the seller a little more, or just getting cold feet in general and flaking on the purchase all together...

And another thing I'm confused about is do buyers on BaT get to take a test drive of these cars? how is the info the seller is stating verified what-so-ever? As far as I can tell the buyer just has to trust what the seller says and look at the pictures and the video of the car running.

This is what makes me think that the BaT sale prices are inflated... Because when the buyer actually goes and sees the car in person I'm sure it's hardly ever as great as the seller describes it to be which inclines the buyer to offer a lesser amount than the original auction final sale price.


I think it is very apparent that the value of the MBZ's of the "W123 Era" has took a nose dive in the past 3-5 years or so. How is it that BaT avoided this? Or have they really not?

Is it really that their sale prices are inflated for the reasons i have stated above?

Are some of these outrageous sale prices (30K for a 300td, 17k for a 300d, etc) not actually happening when it comes time for the buyer to pay up?

And lastly, how come some sweet looking cars with low miles and minimal imperfections end up selling for less than 3k but then for no apparent reason a similer car with more miles and more imperfections will sky rocket to 10k bucks??

What is going on over at Bring a Trailer?

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Audience and condition. BaT has the collector market pretty well cornered, where customers actively seek that venue across the country/world. Your local Craigslist is diluted by heaps of junk, and typically only reaches your local audience.

Craigslist usually lists it cheaper because by and large, the cars are in much crappier condition. Some folks may THINK they have a 5k car, especially after a quick search to BaT but in reality it's rusty with non operating vacuum stuff or ac and a split dash. BaT listings are often extremely detailed and offer plenty of hi res photos to show off the car.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Yup I agree with everything that you just said and defiantly thibk that plays a MAJOR role in the situation.

Can I ask you if you know if the buyers on bring a trailer get to test drive or see these vehicles in person before buying? Are they obligated to buy after that have won the auction? Is there a return policy if car arrives not as described? Etc

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$8000 for a W123 diesel sounds very high, even for a rust-free CA/AZ car. Everything would have to be working perfectly (incl. climate control and even the trunk lock) and the paint and interior pristine. Rare to see all those. Sounds suspicious since I don't think the market is there, but haven't seen the cars you reference.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Man I know thAts what I'm saying. Hoto bringatrailer and look at past auctions... Some wagons are going for 15 to 30 grand and sedans 10.

And they really aren't all that special

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If you are prepared to have your car scrutinized out the ying yang, then BAT is a decent spot. If it's a wagon and rust-free, you are in great shape there. If you are bold and put a decent w123 up with no reserve, you can get lucky. I think CL w123s are usually in poor condition throughout, with years of deferred maintenance, or they are in decent shape and over-priced.

Also, and this is key, if you are in the northeast for example, you aren't going to find many local CL w123s without significant rust. BAT's community of well-meaning know-it-alls provides the collective vetting that ebay lacks - and I think it is a generally safe place for a remote buyer because of that.

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Andrew
Montclair, NJ
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1982 300D Turbo
120k
Petrol Blue Green

The moral of this story: Buy cheap on CL, and sell for big bucks on B.a.T.

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

With a little spit and polish I’m convinced that our w123 would bring $8,000 at auction. Especially after the �� I went to see on Craigs List that was supposed to be nice according to the sellers. Lying basta.....

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.