att234

Hi guys,

I recently registered here and I really like the informative posts and all the insight. What is everyone's opinions on buying a CPO GL350 which carfax shows was titled as a rental vehicle?
I am looking at 2 that are relatively close to me, both are 2016s, both had MSRPs of 76K, currently listed for 65K, and both have about 10,000 miles on them.
Were those real rentals? Loaners (which I doubt)? Fleet? I feel like I should stay away from them, but how much damage could be done to them in 10,000 miles? Would you buy one?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Time4mybenz

A) ever heard ride of ride it like you stole it? Many drive rentals really hard and it really will impair the longevity.
b) only 10k off msrp from a new one? You should be able to get a brand new one around that price easily.
C) unless you can get a steal of a deal do not buy used. Especially a former rental
D) if you have your own business/corporation look at tax friendly buys. Not sure if gl450 qualifies bit it might. Gross weight has to be 6000 lbs or more. Gross weight is not the same as actual curb weight. Go online and search section 179 eligible vehicle list and read. Again this is a huge tax savings if you have your own business and use the vehicle mostly for business. 50% or more of the actual miles have to be for business. Oh and the tax savings are much higher for new vs used. Sobit eill actually be cheaper to buy new
just my 2cents.

att234

a) I hear you. I just wasn't really sure that these were real rentals. They are both in the same dealership, bought the same time, returned the same time, listed for sale as CPO at the same time.

b) There are no new BTC's to buy right now

c) Because of b), I can't buy new, and coming off a diesel car, I won't be able to easily stomach the 13mpg on the 450 or 11 on the 550.

d) can't take advantage of any tax breaks...

THANK YOU for the opinion. I really do appreciate it. This is a great message board and I do enjoy people here. Hopefully I stay long-term.

Mike450

The price really isn't inline with the risk, imo.
The fact that it's a diesel and a rental would only add to my concerns. They seem to be problematic with this platform and it tends to revolve around oil change intervals and fuel used.

As a diesel family myself, I understand your want to stick with one, but I'd keep looking.

Also, is the factory warranty still in place on a previous rental vehicle? I thought things like that got scrapped in commercial type use scenarios?

Good luck, welcome. Fantastic truck you are considering.

att234

Thank you, Mike. All valid points. It really pisses me off that we have nowhere near the options that they have in Europe when it comes to diesels, especially this year and last. Time is running out for me and I'll have to make a move within a month or so... Hope the right one shows up.

I'll keep looking and I also contacted the dealer to see what the real deal with these cars is.

jlim

Since you are looking at 2016, which means it is the turbo V6, you should be able to easily get 21mpg on the 450. Not sure where you got the 13mpg figure from?

I've the 2014 GL450 and while driving in this morning on 11 mile commute (local roads), I'm getting ~19mpg. Since getting the car and putting down roughly 8000 miles (mostly local with 3 long distance vacation trips), it is showing 17mpg. With the 2016, rest assure your MPG will improve. Of course no where near the high 20s you will/should be getting with the diesel.

att234

OK, dealer just called. They stated that both car were demos, one driven by their roadside assistance person and one by somebody else.

Does this make a difference? I agree that prices seem high, but I'm sure there's some room for negotiation.

Thanks again.

pjw1967

Ask to see the VMI. Vehicle Master Inquiry. We looked at a '14 ML350 CPO that was supposedly used by the sales mgr's wife. The dealer could not tell me anything about when it was serviced so we started to leave. The salesman got the VMI to show us. What a mess. All kinds of things happened and were fixed. Wheels, sun roof, and other issues had happened with the car. Went on the MB website and found a similar ML350 that was 130 miles away. Asked to see the VMI which they emailed to me. Only thing on VMI aside from regular service was the windshield had been replaced. In Texas that's nothing new. Bought the car and still very happy. BTW the first dealer's crew had completely slathered the engine room with something akin to Armorall to make it look "new"? What a turnoff.

att234

Thank you, pjw1967. They have VMI, carfax, all of that right on the dealer's website. However, the VMI only goes back to 7/16 and only lists options installed, but no service records. Carfax doesn't show much more either, but the car was only titled in May and offered for sale in December, so I can see why there's only a few records.

https://www.autoipacket.com/packet-s...85DD8AFAACC2F3

jlim

Sorry .. no lightning package .. no go for me... and most people. The most essential and crucial package ... since 15 years ago to have at min HID lights. LED headlamps are the most preferred one now.

att234

I didn't even catch that. True.

pjw1967

That Carfax is a little bizarre. It sits from Dec 2015 to May 2016. Then it does 2,000 miles per month till Oct 2016. Then it sits for another 3 months?

att234

OK, I gave up on those two... Can somebody offer their opinion on this one?

http://www.autoipacket.com/packet-sh...0176434#Carfax

I really like the options, but this carfax is also a little weird. Sold with 9K miles at auction, before ever being registered? There are also two lines on the MSRP list that seem bizzare, 003 Factory code - Production test manually controlled
006 Press Car Code (Inspection). Anybody know what those mean?

thaks a ton!

cadetdrivr

Sounds like a factory registered press fleet vehicle---these are the vehicles are provided to reviewers.

att234

Cool, thank you! It doesn't sound like a car that I should stay away from, right?
Also, would the warranty start at the time when it was first registered to a private party or before that?

anothercar

Very well equipped. A bit high on the mileage. I think $50k is a good price. PM me as I might know someone at Ft. Mitchell.

att234

Awesome, thanks for the input! PM incoming.

vroooom

@att234

Just curious about Diesel models...what is it that you love about them?
and what are the differences between gas & diesel makes? any difference in drive? maintenance?

att234

To me it's the low-end torque and the gas mileage. I currently drive a diesel, it's 254 or 258 HP, I cruise at 80-85 mph and I get 35mpg. I drive 500 miles + before I need to stop at a gas station.
I have never been close to EPA estimates on anything gas-powered that I've owned.

Mike450

Yep, if you do frequent long distance driving, the range is fantastic.

My wife's TDI will regularly do 550-600 miles to tank. That was 3 fuel stops for her Honda Pilot.

anothercar

Most people tell me "I'd never guess that it was a diesel unless you told me so".

att234

So, after much deliberation, I bought this today. Let's hope it's a long and stress-free relationship. First MB, after a range of BMW's, Infinitis and other crap.

http://www.prestigemb.com/certified/...9208d68a2d.htm

Edited to add build sheet.

pjw1967

Good luck. Looks like Prestige was the orig selling dealer and then got it back after the stay in Fla. OK so how'd you do on the price?

att234

Yeah, it used to belong to one of their customers, who buys a crapload of cars from them and spends time b/n NJ and FL.
Not much discount off the price that you see on the website, but I think it was relatively fairly priced to begin with, and it had almost everything that I wanted.

jlim

Hmm.. something doesn't look right. The web link shows a GL with the appearance package (20" rims and chrome bits) and it says Halogen projector lights.

But the build spec sheet PDF says 19" 5 spike rims (which is the base rims) and it has the lightning package.