FastAMG

So I'm looking to buy an SL55. I've found a really low mileage SL55 but am not sure what it's really worth. All of the low mileage cars seem to be going for more than KBB value and the current owners think they're worth a fortune.

I've come across a 2007 Sl55 with 17,000 miles in Iridium Silver with black interior. It literally has every option available. It has the P030 performance package, carbon fiber trim, panoramic sunroof, keyless go, distronic cruise, and rear spolier. It is for sale by the original owner and he claims it is perfect and on driven on nice days. All original paint work and no accidents. The original MSRP was around $153k I believe.

I can look at book values all day but they don't really mean a whole lot when there aren't any other cars to compare it against.

What do you think this car is worth and how much would you comfortably pay for it?

FastAMG

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Sir-Boost-a-Lot

iTrader: (1)

Just like any used car, its worth whatever someone is willing to pay regardless of the book value or the owners percieved value. What do you plan to do with the car? Keep it stock? Modify it for better looks/performance?

I'm going to guess he/she wants 42-52k for it? It sounds like a beautiful machine , especially with the 030 package on it!

FastAMG

This is true... However, I would like to make a rational buy and not an emotional buy. If for some reason I needed to sell it a year from now, I wouldn't want to automatically lose $15,000 because I overpaid for it. The seller has the upper hand here as there are not a ton of low mileage 07's for sale. Normally I would have the advantage since it is the middle of winter and not a lot of people are looking for 500hp convertibles. But the seller has the attitude that they don't care if it sells, which means they won't budge far from their price.

The asking price is $48,000 and the KBB price in excellent condition with all of the options is only around $41,000. I am now starting to see some SL63's creep down into the high $40k range which I would assume have an affect on the SL55 prices as well.

FastAMG

The only modifications I would probably do to it would be lowering links and a different set of wheels.

Viper98912

If you like it, buy it. Luxury cars are always emotional buys, if not you'd be buying a base model Corolla. If he's not dying to sell it, then your buy price is his sell price.

BlownV8

$32 to $35k tops.

Smalone01

Retail its a $40k car and i think that would be top dollar for it. A 19k mile brought $36k wholesale back in october and since convertibles tank this time of year.....

chuck z

An 07 with 030 package and only 17k miles at anywhere near these numbers would be a huge great deal for the buyer and way under sold by the seller.... Assuming it has a good history of course, the number should be at least $10k more.

chuck z

Not sure I buy this one.... Convertibles don't tank in the winter.... I haven't seen prices "tank" in the last couple months? Has anyone? Perhaps in the northern states on lessor cars and bf it became really easy to buy one anywhere in the country and transport it to somewhere you can use it this time of year. I had mine out last peek with the top down....

Depending on the year, condition, colors, history of the 19k mile (SL55?) should prolly list retail for more like $47-48k. Costs money to get it from auction (again, since there are few details provided so, assuming it was an auction somewhere...) it had to be transported? Reconditioning, repairs, detailing all added costs too.... Not many dealers could survive on $3400 per car, at least not a dealer I'd prolly buy a car from.

BlownV8

That's SL65 money. No way it fetches anywhere close to $48k. I have seen low mileage SL65's struggling to get a good price. The SL's values are sinking like a rock. You may want to see what they are actually fetching.

chuck z

Show me a 19k mile SL65 that sold (retail, wholesale maybe....) anywhere close to $48k.... Higher mileage, cars with stories maybe.

I just bought my 19k mi 55 few months ago so I know what's out there, what's been out there and what's actually sold. Recently, a 08 55 with ~15k miles sold for $45k in a matter of days bc it was priced below the market. I'm not denying the values are dropping but to say they are sinking like a rock is a bit exagerated. Also, the values simply aren't as low as you stated for a 17k 55 with the 030 package..... assuming there are no bad or suspect stories to go with the car.

cnterline

FASTAMG if you love that car then buy it this thread could go no for ten pages ,you can be driving that car before it ends . I saw mine on eBay like 3 years ago did the car fax and three days later was driving it .

Smalone01

[QUOTE=chuck z;6281747]Not sure I buy this one.... Convertibles don't tank in the winter.... I haven't seen prices "tank" in the last couple months? Has anyone? Perhaps in the northern states on lessor cars and bf it became really easy to buy one anywhere in the country and transport it to somewhere you can use it this time of year.

What do I know??? I only buy 1000 plus cars a year...

Smalone01

But I agree, if you like the car then buy it!!

BlownV8

No affiliation. Here is a 2007 Sl55 with 19,000 miles for $29k.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...77415973&Log=0

2007 SL55 29k miles for $38k
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...83994376&Log=0

2009 SL63 22k miles for 49k.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...81888555&Log=0

2007 SL65 37k miles for $49k
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...84201396&Log=0

These are all asking price. You can get for less.

chuck z

[QUOTE=Smalone01;6282098]....good for you, guess I was supposed to know that. While I haven't bought 1000 plus cars this past year, I have bought and sold 70+ in the last 20 years (all retail). My point is, you make a pretty general statement and I just don't see it with this particular car. Nor, do I see it with other higher end autos, not just convertibles "Tank" implies a significant drop in price..... Do they really? Some may sell faster at certain times of year, I just don't buy that cars "tank" this time of year nor, has it been my experience. Sorry, I just don't see it.... I'm sure some lessor makes/models have more of a fluctuation; perhaps you could share some numbers that verify your claim as it relates to this or similar cars? When you say prices on convertibles tank (what is tank? 10%? 20% drop????) and do prices recover in springtime? If I'm selling my SL right now, I don't price it lower now because it's January vs. 3 months from now (with the exception of normal depreciation perhaps?).... I price it the same no matter what time of year it is. Just sayin

chuck z

NICE TRY.... I COULD GO THROUGH THE ADS AND PICK OUT THE HIGHER PRICED CARS TOO BUT, JUST DONT CARE THAT MUCH..... THESE ARE NOT EXACTLY COMPARABLE TO THE 17k 030 CAR POSTED BY THE OP.....

cnterline

You could be driving it by Friday lol

gotthebenz?

A message to the OP. I'll try to stay on track here unlike a handful of these other guys.

I personally wouldn't consider the prices of a used SL "dropping like a rock" however the SL55 has to be one of the ones that retains it's value the best.

People stating "you can get a 65 for this cheap or a 600 for $xx" obviously haven't owned one. I had a 600 at one time and the maintenance costs are outrageous. This is why the V8s command more money then the 12's unless they're brand new or close to it.

I completely understand where you're coming from, it sounds like you don't mind paying for quality, but don't want to grossly overpay or get gouged. The cheaper SL's one of the people posted before, most of them are accident, or salvage cars, hence the cheap price.

Getting back to your question; I use a handful of online resources to tell me about how much a car is worth. KBB alone is a good one, but a lot of the times they can be off on one side or the other. I think high 40's for that car is quite a bit. I think for a little more you (maybe 10k or less more) you could pick up a low mileage 63. While people debate the 55's vs the 63's the big difference is updated technology and reliability. If you really don't mind shooting the guy an offer substantially lower than he's asking that falls in line with other prices then go for it. This car sounds like a creampuff, and while someone might just have to have it, the seller will find out (whether they care or not) that that one person is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Good luck!

gotthebenz?

First one is a salvage

Second one is at a used car lot (who knows the history)

Third is at "Thrift Auto Sales" who has additional fees + the car has frame damage as noted in carfax

Didn't even bother looking at the forth; although someone in the for sale area here has a little higher mileage one in the 30's

SL55_Forever

I beg to differ, I've owned both a SL55 and now a CL600TT and the maintenance cost isn't outrageously more with the 600TT. The kompressor motor has more "moving" parts that need to be replaced while the twin turbo parts tend to last longer before replacing.

BlownV8

With the exception of the coil packs, the biturbo 12's have fewer issues than the supercharged V8's. The ABC systems will both start to have failures as the miles and time goes by.

V12TTenthusiast

Eh yes and no, the ABC is gonna be shared on both cars so that wont matter, Coil Packs, is one thing, but when it's time for engine mount job your gonna be looking 3-4k. Also brakes on a 65 are way more than 55/600s. I'm trying to think if there's anything else on the car that's V12 related and I can't think of anything besides the coil pack job and the engine mount. But that alone will run up 1800-2600 for coil packs, another 300-500 for spark plugs and the close to 4 grand engine mount replacement.

Everything else I experienced such as the vacuum pump, abc pump, front struts and valve block could of happened on a 55. Having owned a 04 SL55 and upgrading to a 06 SL65 I prefer the 65 even if it has a few maintenance procedures. But was it worth it? Yes 100% I picked up my 06 2 years back with only 32k miles on it, paid 3900 for a 4 year / 50k platinum warranty and just the engine mount job alone paid back the warranty.

Idk if these r230 like to sit in a garage all the time. I personally think the need to be driven somewhat. But what I can tell you is look for cars that have been kept up with maintenance, with the required ABC flush every 2 years, or ABC components being swapped out. But if you want ease of mind you can opt for a higher mileage car, get a full bumper to bumper warranty from fidelity and have piece of mind if anything that happens to your car, you will be covered. Best thing I did when I picked up the car, the warranty pretty much paid out almost 3x and I still have 2 years 23k miles to go.

gotthebenz?

To address the last few posts; I think the OP was discussing SL's, I'm not keeping in mind CL or S V12 models. The big reasons I say the maintenance is outrageous was touched on by V12TTe; the motor mount job requires the entire motor dropped out of the car and for a part that runs less than $100; costs several thousands in labor. Now if you have an extended warranty there is not a big reason to discuss reliability. The other thing that costs more is if you have a V12 AMG, regular wear parts ie brake pads/rotors are significantly more expensive. There are a ton of other things I haven't touched on but I stand by the fact that 55's resale values are better than 600/65 cars because of reliability and maintenance costs.