Haffster

First time posting here - have used the forum to read up.

I have a 2009 C300 which has been trouble free and hope it stays that way!

Want to get into an E350 (to replace my Honda CR-V, which has served its purpose). Looking for a car that has under 30,000 kms, about a year or so of original warranty. Would prefer a CPO.

Issue is that I am finding a huge difference in (asking prices) prices between autotrader and CPOs (almost 6-8K on average for comparable vehicles). That wasn't the case when I got the C300 2 years ago - at the time the difference was more like 4k and I brought it down to 2.5k. I will be test driving 2 CPO vehicles this weekend - like both on paper, will have my mechanic check them them if I like them. But would appreciate any insight into what a good price should be.

Thanks

Mud

Personal opinion is that CPO's are over-rated in pricing under the premise of dealer maintenance records and the additional 1 yr warranty. I found CPO versions of my E350 that were at a minimum of $8K more than my non-CPO vehicle. And I'm talking comparable equipment and miles. I bought mine (from a third-party dealer) that had a maintenance history and was still under OEM warranty till Nov 2015. I will be buying the MB extended warranty to 7yr/100K miles for about $3200. Even with that cost I wind up with a covered vehicle way under CPO "value".
I didn't need a warm fuzzy from the dealer I just wanted the best bang for the buck.

Haffster

Thanks Mud - that's exactly what I'm finding (difference of about $8k on average). I'm going to try to negotiate that down to a more reasonable figure and see how it goes. My preference for CPO is also based on experience at the dealership with my c300, plus the CPO finance rate from MB Financial (0.4%). I have to finance the car, so a higher rate (say 5ish%) would erode that $8k difference by about $6k).

Mud

Understood, good luck! I know that the dealer makes a difference after the fact as well. I'm very pleased with service at the dealer I've used.

DerekACS

You should be able to negotiate selling price on a CPO. Dealers generally have far more margin on pre-owned than on the new cars. Good luck !

Suggest that use the MB Canada website for finding the widest selection possible for 2012-2013 E350.

Alex.currie44

Have to agree with Mud.
I bought 2 W124s, 1 C208 and 1 W211 as used cars and not CPOs in Toronto and Burlington all with about 30000km except the C208 which had 10000km on the odometer. The C208 was 10 months old and the others 14-17 months old and ranged from 23000km to 31000km on the second W124.
I never had great problems with any of my cars.
Having said that I dealt my purcahsed new W211 E350 Wagon back for personal reasons. I bought the current W212 E350 wagon new and while it has been generally good it is not as bullet proof as the W124s including the last one I had for 8 yr and put 270000 on top of the 31000km it had when I got it.
I just put my car through a B service including transmission service and brake fluid change. Since the warrant expired on 1/22 at 55000 km I bough their 3 yr 45000 SecureDrive Plus warranty.
If you can find a clean car under 30000km, under 15 months old with a clear accident record, and you can document all the service to the date of purchase has been done (service records and book up to date by dealer) forget about the CPO route.
Buy it where ever you find it.

MBSebas87

+1

Haffster

Test drove the car today. Quite liked it. Is nicely optioned as well - will start talking on Monday and see what I get get them to bring down.

One question. It had a "blue efficiency" badge on it. I think that means it has the the new direct injection engine they introduced in 2012. Correct?

Wig

Correct

Alex.currie44

So when is delivery date? Time to boogy and enjoy.

MBSebas87

Haha seriously!!! Going from a C to E makes a huge difference!!

Alex.currie44

Exactly MBSebas87. He should be getting it on!!

Haffster

Thanks all - I'm going to walk away from this one. Nice as it is, I just cannot justify spending an extra $5-6k for the CPO (dealer dropped price by $2k - I haven't counter offered). Spoke with my mechanic (well versed in German cars and very reasonable) - he said the same thing: find a nice car with a year or more in original warranty, he will help me check it out thoroughly and then buy the extended warranty from MB. Makes a lot more sense to me.

Alex.currie44

I don't know what city or dealer you are working with but it depends on how much inventory they have of used cars. Lots of cash tied up.
My dealer seems to be suffering a bit. Their new car sales are off and one of the sales people seemed over the moon the other day when she sold a really good W124 for $6000.
I think it depends on how long you plan to keep it.
The CPO warranty gives you two additional years and 120000km in Canada over the base 4 yr/80000.
It cost me $3200 tax in for 45000 km and 3 yr beyond the base warranty when my car came out of warranty last month. So I get an additional 3 yr and 100000 km for my money. Normally I would not buy this but I have read about transfer case and transmission issues with the 7G that I was concerned. If the transmission has to be replaced out of warranty that is a $10000 hit so I figured good insurance and if something serious does go wrong and my premiums will be worth it.
I would take a shot at maybe up to $1000 to get the CPO warranty before I walked if you plan to keep it beyond 2016 and 80000km.
If you are going to turn it over before the warranty is up then sure, find a good well serviced and documented car privately.
They will sell you the warranty on an non CPO car I am sure. My dealer waived the inspection cost. The plan they use is SecureDrive. I bought the Plus.

MBSebas87

Wise buyer! buy only if you're 100% satisfied!! I know i said jump on it but in all seriousness you made the right decision

CarolinaBluetec

I have never purchased a "used car" as a primary vehicle since my teenage years. The primary car is used by my wife and we usually keep them at least 6 or 7 years since we always seem to have at least a couple of others that I primarily drive. I decided this time to go the CPO route if I found the right car. I ended up buying a 2013 CPO car with 15K miles. The most attractive part was it still had two years remaining on the original warranty and an extra year as part of the CPO. I am going to buy the two year extended warranty which will give me a total of five years. I am intimately familiar with the cost of MB service and a high quality Indy is really not that much cheaper in my area.

Haffster

I'm also considering a different route - still working the numbers, but it seems to me that getting the 2012 CPO for say $47k, after paying about $55k over 3 years (including interest and tax), at the end of it, I'll be owning a car that will be 6 years old and worth about say $20k. I keep it for another 3 years (car will be 9 years old by then), so it will have cost me just under $10k per year (excluding repair/maintenance costs). I'm thinking, why not just lease a new car - over however many years, I'll be paying more or less the same amount per year, but have a new car under original warranty. Still working the numbers but this is begining to make more sense to me.

1guitar

I don't know where you are located but if you want a truly great 2010 E350 that's loaded I'll sell you mine for $30,000 USD. I have a creme puff that just turned 24,000 miles and has been serviced by the dealer only. I even had the engine block heater which is not even an option in any country in North or South America, I had it sent in from Germany and the dealer installed it. The car has P1 and P2 plus a bunch of other options, even the factory heated steering wheel. So, if you really want a gem that will go on and on considering it has about 2 years worth of mileage on it let me know. Even if your in B.C. the cost or trucking it to you would add about $750 to the cost of the car. Lastly, my car has never been machine washed, I've been using the same detailer to wash and wax my car for the last 15 years and he only washes by hand and he only uses Zymol and always clays the car before each wax which is twice a year. So, if you want more info I'll give you the VIN and you can get yourself the CarFax.
Good luck!

Alex.currie44

I have had 7 MB cars in my life. Two were new.
The youngest was a 2001 CLK 320 with 10000 km on the odometer 10 months old.
The first W124 had 23000 on it and was 15 months old, the second 17 months old and 31000 km. The first W211 16mo and 28000 km. The oldest is the SLK at 12 yr and 61000km when I got it in 2013.
Were the brand new cars more reliable than the used ones?
The second W124 needed a new transmission under warranty at 38000 km and went to 298000 km when it left. The only major repair other than that on that car was new sprockets and chains in the timing gear at 240000 and I changed the engine wiring loom while it was apart because the insulation was cracked.
The others have all been good except the SLK which dumped my by the side of the road last fall for a failed CPS. Othewise they have been as good as the new ones. The W212 has had two air pumps and two sets of air bags in the rear suspension under warranty.
So, there is lots to be said in my experience for getting a low mileage car with 2-3 of warranty left on it AND full service records and clean Carfax.

KEY08

^ listen to this guy. Speaks volumes

Haffster

Thanks - still mulling over a couple of things. I know I want an E-Class and my decision (of old vs. new) is more of a financial one.