Hi guys:

Thanks for your previous help. Drove the '02 C240 again today. Unless hubby wakes up in the morning with an epiphany regarding the 325i, I think we'll go buy the MB tomorrow. Questions are this:

1) how much is the dealer installed CD changer?

2) regarding price, what do you think?

C240 Sedan, Desert Silver, Auto, C1, C2, C4

MSRP = $36, 570
Edmund's invoice = $34, 102

The first time we drove the car, the salesman said for that car, WITH a CD changer (how much?), he'd want $35,300.

The Edmund's site didn't indicate any factory-to-dealer incentives for my area (central IL). Can I still hope to get it close to the invoice (they still had a number of '02's on the lot)? Someone earlier said to ask for another $1000 off--is that reasonable or will we be laughed at?

Thanks for all your help!
Tracey

 

I got a great deal on my C230 K.

It listed out to 30700 with c2 c7. auto

I got it for 27000 even.

 

A great deal, but a different car than the one Tracey was talking about. $4K off is unreaslistic for the C240. The 2002 C230 at the end had at least a 2K incentive to the dealers because of the new engines for '03. Most people in the beginning of the cycle got $500-$1000 off.

I don't think its unreasonable to ask for a percentage point or two over invoice...the '03 240's are around the corner. Someone (sorry I can't remember who) posted a website that gives quotes for cars, I think it was www.invoicedealers.com.

 

my dealer asked 1,000 for the changer with install. but i got mine like 300 below invoice. 2500-3000 below msrp should be reasonable.

 

CarsDirect.com $34.6K for a 2003 with Auto, C1, C2, C4, CD

You can usually get a car on your own for about $500 less than CarsDIrect. I don't know how many dealers are in your area, but here in SoCal, there are plenty, so bargaining is easy.

 

I know it appears as though the C320 is a lot more expensive but if you get a loaded C240 with real power seats, Bose and automatic the difference is only about 3K. If you look at a used 2001 C320 vs. a C240, the C320 has much better resale value so you don't lose money. If you drive the C320 you won't want to get the C240, the C320 is soooo much more fun to drive.

 

Get the cd changer at ebay for about 300 or less (make sure u get the new one) and then have then install for $60 !

 

1) There is still a $1500 factory to dealer rebate on this car. I think it is supposed to run out nexr month.
2) Profit margin after deducting S&H is 7% of MSRP.
3) Initial holdback on the car after deducting S&H is 3%.
4) Bonus holdback is up to 2% depending on meeting sales goals and getting a high average customer satisfaction index.
5) Smythe in CA at one time was offering 02 C240s at $4500 off($3000 of 03s) MSRP + salestax, tags, dealer document fees. Search threads for more info.
6) Dealer have a special code to send back the 02 overpriced CD changers if favor of the lower priced 03 ones. If not get an AUDIO 10 CD indash HU. See threads on here.

Hope this helps for your bargaining.

P.S.
Have them show you the invoice because it'll tell you how long they had the car on the lot. All the above can be verified. Most of it is available thru cars.com.

 

Yes, the dealer incentives are still there, and I sure wouldn't pay the price in the original post for any '02 C240.

Our '02 C240 Automatic, with metallic pnt, C2 and an MSRP of $34.5k sold for $30k [the same $4500 off that was being advertised by Smythe] 6 weeks ago in Sacramento. The $1500 incentive made that possible.

ALL PRICING IS LOCAL. In Calif, the price in the original post would be considered outrageously high for any C sedan, '02 or '03, incentive or not.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jrct9454
[B]Yes, the dealer incentives are still there, and I sure wouldn't pay the price in the original post for any '02 C240.

By "price in the original post", do you mean the price the dealer offered us (as opposed to MSRP or invoice)?

Many thanks,
Tracey

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tracey
[B]I think you better look at my post and his again. The STEALER is trying to S**** you. No offense but let hubby do it and don't go with him. Make a copy of both posts for verification.

P.S.
I'm still fighting my STEALER and he agreed to $1900+ off on an 03 he ordered but now is backing off of the trade figure he quoted.

 

The CD changer is only cheaper if you have it installed from the factory. It is the same changer, but if you order it with one, it is $400 as opposed to $800-1000. So you can't exchange it. A dealer installed CD would still be $1000 whether it is on an 02 or 03. My dealer orders everything with CD now so that you have no choice but to buy it.

 

Thanks everyone......without your advice and info I found here, we wouldn't have felt very confident going into "negotiations".

Thought I'd update any of you interested in our quest: Anyway, I did all the "research" and gave it to my husband who doesn't have the time for it. He called the salesman today and offered $34,500 "out the door". The invoice price on this vehicle, according to edmunds.com, is $34, 102, BUT we wanted the CD changer installed. I figured that might run around $400, so I just added that to the invoice price and that became our offer. They accepted! The guy adjusted the doc fees, etc., to give us our "out the door" price. My husband simply said we wouldn't haggle since he actually wanted the BMW and we already had an excellent price locked in on that car. We pick it up tomorrow after they've installed the CD changer.

If you don't think this is a good deal.....please, don't tell me :-). I don't need any more buyer's remorse than I already have.

I read a thread about how different dealerships treat prospective customers and wanted to add my 2 cents.....We walked up to a salesman in the car lot last Saturday, hubby in jeans and flannel shirt, and we were driving my 11-yr-old Camry (still looks and drives like new, though!). We told him which model we were interested in, he went and got the key and tags to a loaded one, and we were off (with him, of course). We left there, went and drove the bimmer again, then back to the Benz place. We asked to drive it yet again, and this time they just handed us the keys and let us go......no license or anything that time or the time previous. They were very accomodating. Although, my husband said that he wouldn't want to deal with the others in the showroom because they seemed to have an "attitude" about themselves. He liked our guy, though. Anyway, that's our experience this week. Hope it goes as smoothly tomorrow. If not, I'm sure I'll tell you about it ;-).

Thanks again,
Tracey

 

Sounds pretty good to me. If you can afford it and you like the car, don't worry about it. Just be happy with what you're getting.

 

Tracey, in the end I think you got a very fair deal.

However, I might have missed it somewhere, but I don't think you mentioned where you are located...?

Pricing questions have to be considered in a local context. There are some hyper-competitive markets [SoCal is one] where a "paltry" $1000 discount is merely the starting point for serious negotiations. Elsewhere in the country, $1000 off MSRP is not an unreasonable deal because there simply isn't enough competition to drive prices lower.

"All pricing, like politics, is local."

I was trying to suggest in my original post that if you were willing settle for a leftover '02, there was a lot of room to maneuver; in the end, sounds like you got to the right place anyway.

 

Hi:

Well, we brought the new "baby" home today, and we just love it! Hubby isn't the least bit disappointed now that we didn't get the bimmer. We've had it out for a couple of spins, and I just may have to fix a cot in the garage for him to sleep tonight :-)

Only bad thing was that when they installed the cd changer, they roughed up a couple of spots where they must've pulled out the stereo. Replacement pieces are on order. It's not bad and barely noticeable, but it is a new car and not cheap. All I had to do was point it out and it was "taken care of". All-in-all, a good experience.

I'd recommend Sullivan-Parkhill Imports in Champaign, IL, to anyone. Ask for Tom Murphy if you're in the area.

Tracey