Looks like I have to sell it, I need opinions please
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
2010 E350
Looks like I have to sell it, I need opinions please
My wife and I just found out we are having our third child 
my kids are 11 and 13 but adding a car seat to the mix doesn't really let me keep my C as my wife has a Prius. It looks like I'm going to be moving into a GL350.
I need you opinions on what I can sell my car for. The dealer has made me an offer as is, this includes my rare Brabus IV wheels that I spent months restoring, finding original and near perfect billet center caps from Germany and even brabus valve caps. They also want me to leave my H&R coilovers, my Euroteck rear diffuser and front lip and HID kits in the low beams and the fogs in the car. It has 44k miles and is in immaculate condition. It's a 2010 C300 sport RWD 6 speed manual car. It has audio 20 and the iPod cable in the glove box and is a pretty base C300 other than the mods I've done to it. It's black on black. Other mods done are a Sprint booster, every bulb in the car is AZN optics 5000k LEDs, 30% tint all around and K&N filters.
I feel they are low balling me, as most dealerships do on a trade in. What do you, the members, think its worth? Thanks for the help.
my kids are 11 and 13 but adding a car seat to the mix doesn't really let me keep my C as my wife has a Prius. It looks like I'm going to be moving into a GL350. I need you opinions on what I can sell my car for. The dealer has made me an offer as is, this includes my rare Brabus IV wheels that I spent months restoring, finding original and near perfect billet center caps from Germany and even brabus valve caps. They also want me to leave my H&R coilovers, my Euroteck rear diffuser and front lip and HID kits in the low beams and the fogs in the car. It has 44k miles and is in immaculate condition. It's a 2010 C300 sport RWD 6 speed manual car. It has audio 20 and the iPod cable in the glove box and is a pretty base C300 other than the mods I've done to it. It's black on black. Other mods done are a Sprint booster, every bulb in the car is AZN optics 5000k LEDs, 30% tint all around and K&N filters.
I feel they are low balling me, as most dealerships do on a trade in. What do you, the members, think its worth? Thanks for the help.
Last edited by Cleanbenz; Jul 14, 2013 at 09:41 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
07 Acura Tsx, 2009 C300 L
where did you get that front lip from?
Going back on topic, honestly its hard to sell something thats been modified, no matter how much work you have done to it and the time spent. You will never recoup that value, personally I would sell all your aftermarket parts (the major ones) to help offset the depreciation price. Keep your AZN in there as its not a big thing, but sell your suspension and wheels and lip you'll make off a lot better
Going back on topic, honestly its hard to sell something thats been modified, no matter how much work you have done to it and the time spent. You will never recoup that value, personally I would sell all your aftermarket parts (the major ones) to help offset the depreciation price. Keep your AZN in there as its not a big thing, but sell your suspension and wheels and lip you'll make off a lot better
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
2010 E350
They actually want the car to stay the way it is, we kept talking about me putting it back to stock but they insisted I trade it with all mods intact. I know my wheels alone are worth $1800-2000 bit the other stuff I could care less about. I've sold lots of modified Audi's and VW's so I know I won't get any of the Mod money back. They are offering me $21k for the car as you see it in the pics.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
2010 E350
where did you get that front lip from?
Going back on topic, honestly its hard to sell something thats been modified, no matter how much work you have done to it and the time spent. You will never recoup that value, personally I would sell all your aftermarket parts (the major ones) to help offset the depreciation price. Keep your AZN in there as its not a big thing, but sell your suspension and wheels and lip you'll make off a lot better
Going back on topic, honestly its hard to sell something thats been modified, no matter how much work you have done to it and the time spent. You will never recoup that value, personally I would sell all your aftermarket parts (the major ones) to help offset the depreciation price. Keep your AZN in there as its not a big thing, but sell your suspension and wheels and lip you'll make off a lot better
They are telling me they want the car as it is and are discouraging e me from putting it back to stock before trading it. They are pretty much saying either trade it modded or sell it privately. Kinda weird actually, most dealer want it back to stock
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 377
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From: Orange County
'10 C300
That is weird. KBB Trade In prices are around 19-20k, so imo they are not giving you much for the mods. Do you have stock parts? i.e. wheels, stock suspension, etc I think you should part out wheels, coils, Euroteck diffuser/lip, sprint booster and bring it back to stock. maybe try carmax if you have one around your location?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,056
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
That's a ridiculous low offer. The trade/market value for my 2008 C300 with P1 and 56K miles was $21K in Florida 2 months ago. If they want the car with the mods they definitely need to compensate for the difference. It sounds like someone there wants the car.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 130
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From: Montreal
2016 C450 AMG // 2015 ML550 // 2014 911 Carrera 4
That is a ridiculous offer. Do not take it unless they discount the hell out of the GL.
A month ago when I went to buy a glk for my wife, the dealer tried to convince me to sell my c300 to them for the "soon to come" cla45. My c300 is a 2012 with 13k miles on it and modified like yours. They offered me 37k$ which is way more than what its worth.
In your case it's someone said... Someone at the dealer wants your car.
A month ago when I went to buy a glk for my wife, the dealer tried to convince me to sell my c300 to them for the "soon to come" cla45. My c300 is a 2012 with 13k miles on it and modified like yours. They offered me 37k$ which is way more than what its worth.
In your case it's someone said... Someone at the dealer wants your car.
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 929
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From: Silicon Valley, California
Factory ordered 2012 MB C350 w/Dynamic Handling Package
Interesting that you feel you need to have an SUV for the 3rd child. I have my rear facing child seat mounted in the middle just fine.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
2010 E350
There's no way my 11 and 13 year old boys will have enough room in the back with a car seat. We travel quite often and it just wouldn't be comfortable for them let alone room for suitcases and a stroller.
Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 85
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From: Northern Taxifornia
None
My guess is that there are two kinds of pre-owned car buyers (generalizing here). One wants a totally stock, low mileage car with no damage history whatsoever. The other wants a car modified like yours and is willing to pay something extra because he/she understands and wants the modifications.
I think the latter group is in the minority with the MB brand, not the same as boy racers who buy muscle cars. Minority, but still out there.
So, if I'm right, the dealer believes, right or wrong, that your car will be harder for him to sell on his lot. He might even send it to the dealer auction. I believe that modifying an MB with aftermarket parts diminishes its value. When I go to my local MB dealer and just eyeball his pre-owned MBs, I virtually never see any with a lot of visible modifications. He could have a different philosophy about this than other MB dealers. I wouldn't know.
I assume you've checked the usual sources like Edmunds for some indication of value? The trick with such sources is choosing the right "condition" when you investigate their values. Because your car is modified, even if it's pristine you should check a couple of their options for less than perfect condition and see what answers you get.
I think the latter group is in the minority with the MB brand, not the same as boy racers who buy muscle cars. Minority, but still out there.
So, if I'm right, the dealer believes, right or wrong, that your car will be harder for him to sell on his lot. He might even send it to the dealer auction. I believe that modifying an MB with aftermarket parts diminishes its value. When I go to my local MB dealer and just eyeball his pre-owned MBs, I virtually never see any with a lot of visible modifications. He could have a different philosophy about this than other MB dealers. I wouldn't know.
I assume you've checked the usual sources like Edmunds for some indication of value? The trick with such sources is choosing the right "condition" when you investigate their values. Because your car is modified, even if it's pristine you should check a couple of their options for less than perfect condition and see what answers you get.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 2
From: Berkley, MI
'09 C350
There's a tech at the dealer most likely that wants your car. Sell off your aftermarket parts and trade it in at a different dealership. Or list the car as is on CL/autotrader etc. for about $25k-$26k and see if someone bites.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
2010 E350
That's exactly what I'm thinking! Everytime I take it in for service the techs swoon over it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 2
From: Berkley, MI
'09 C350
That way the salesman doesn't wait to get his commission on the trade in from selling or sending it to auction. It happens all the time, everywhere.
I personally would NEVER trade a car as I can always sell it private value for more than the dealer would ever offer. But I understand there are people out there who like the convenience and are not that concerned with losing a few grand on the transaction.
