cliverman

My car is a 2002 C32. Excellent condition. I'd eat off the brake pads. Why the hell is the book value so freakin' sh^tty. It's got 33K miles and it's dealer book is around 28K. Are they low ballin' me or what? A similar M3, is at minimum 10K more with the same miles. When I asked they said that the market is soft for C32's. Has anyone else seen the mystery? WTF?

d wig

you know what.. i know exactly what your talking about.. i was and still am in the market of getting a c32.. i was thinkin a 04' audi s4 also... but when i went to manheim auction and saw that the previous weeks the c32's were going for under 30 i was shocked... even the 03s were around 32 to 33k.. i couldnt believe it... so as you can see the price difference def. made me make up my mind and decide on a c32... now i just gotta find one there..

the thing i noticed last time i was at the auction is that people are not as educated on the c32 because when people usually hear amg its usually **55 amg... not only that.. c32s major competitor m3 was in great demand which im sure has something to do with the price drop too... but IMO i think the c32 will hold its value with time just because there werent as many made..but just wondering.. why are you lookin into how much you can get...a re u getting rid of it???

beemaze

Keep in mind it's also a Mercedes thing. Mercedes' reliability in general has gone down the tubes while BMW's hasn't gotten any worse.

Another prime example is the following: My sis' BMW X5 3.0i is worth around $10k more than my wife's ML430 on trade in. That X5 doesn't even have a Navigation system or heated seats. Sure the bimmer is a year younger, but the ML has gotten such a bad rap (from people like me) that book value on Mercedes' in general sucks. Buying a Benz and hoping you'll get something for it down the road is like a Catch-22....

My advice, keep the C32 and drive it like you stole it until the warranty runs out and then trade up for the next model.

d wig

good advice..

Vader13

thats pretty low, mine was appraised at 34 with 25K its an 03.
I even had an offer at 36 (if I got the GT3 at a couple grand off) temped bad by the p car devil.

SolidGranite

Has anyone considered the value on the C32 has declined so much because of the C55??

M3s have been the same car since 2001, hence no new model to hurt it's value. Not to mention, MB has improved quality a considerable amount in the 203 versus the previous model...

I really do think the resale price of E46 M3s will decline once the V8 becomes available...

derrick_lui

C55 values are falling fast as well!

life aint fair.....
M3 ppl not only are c o c ky (some)...
not only their names are well feared (hate it when ppl say "yea...heard M3s are so fast...btw..whats a C32?? Amg..huh?")..........

but they dont lose as much money as we do!!!!

Vader13

Yeah, but.....
We are driving MB's and also we are quicker (Stoplight)

naadp

60% residual on a 4 year old car is good by any standard. I don't see the issue?

cliverman

It not a true mathematical equation - that's the issue! It's a matter of opinion as to WHY but 60% of 52K is not the same across the board. If BMW and Mercedes were equal then a M3 with 34K miles would be the same price as a C32.

d wig

thats where the demand issue comes in... m3s are everywhere and everyone wants one.. if you go to a bmw dealership you will notice there is always a small selection of m3s used or new... but if you go to a benz dealership , at least around here, you never see used c32s and rarely see c55s... might be different where u guys are at tho.. but the bottom line is people rather have a car like a m3 over a c32 which makes them worth more because of demand..i did see some m3s go for only 1-2k higher than the c32s tho the previous weeks..same year and same mileage..

Trekman

I think When you buy a BMW you dont pay the MSRP, you pay the dealer mark up thats about 4 to 5 grand. I know my friend did when he bought his car (2006 BMW 330I) paid about $5000 to $6000 above the sticker.

ohh Plus BMW still has covered maintenance till 50000 miles. and its easy to extend the warranties on it not like MB.

ultraseven

That's because every mom and her cat want a BMW . But seriously, the fact of supply/demand and a C55 really shot down a C32's resale. If you want an MB that holds its value pretty well, go for a CLK.

Childish///AMG

Cars are just a "Shi%%y "Deal" Purchase a car as if you were going to keep it forever. That way you will not feel as bad about the drop in value I purchased my 95 Accord as a demo, and I still have it and I am happy with it

SolidGranite

Your friend got ripped off.

cliverman

This has been a good thread. Thanks for everyone's response. I feel better now. I just needed to vent.

Next issue for me. Tire prices.....holy sh^t!!!

-C

FrankW

i'm keeping mine for another 40k miles... but before that i'm gonna get a cheapo daily driver

FrankW

if you have stock 17s, ES100 are about $110 per tires and they are pretty good. If you run 19s like most us do...the tire price are indeed !$#^%#&!#%

AMGod

Seconded, except that the salesguy told me that if you trade with 6 months of CPO or original warranty left it is of higher value. Re-selling a car with warranty is an advantage to the dealership so they don't have to bottom out with a local wholesaler.

None

I agree also your looking at two different prices, what you are being offered by a dealer is wholesale book and BTW they are lowballing you on book, and what your comparing it to is what people are asking for BMWs that is retail market value, that is some of the difference and the market is always soft on what you have to trade and booming on what your buying just part of the game.
BMWs do bring more though simple supply and demand.

Trekman

Tell me about it! I told him that those cars are not worth it.... But a lot of people here in the bay area loves to drive BMW....

beemaze

Retail (or anything above) is for suckers.....

Childish///AMG

True "That" I am always looking for a discount. Plus your money will not burn a hole in your pocket

viper

The sad truth is that MB cars as a whole do not keep their value. They are no more reliable than other cars and they cost a whole lot more. Don't ever buy a MB as an investment since they are too common and depreciate very fast. Only Ferraris, Lamborginis and other exotics will hold their value.

Vomit

Say what? I am toying with the idea of purchasing a 1999 or 2000 Ferrari 550. Prices with less than 10K miles are in the $120K range. I think that retail was $240 or $250K. You feel bad cuz your 32 or 55 lost $20K. . . the purchaser of that 550 lost enough $$$$ to buy a house in most parts of the country.

There are actually only a very few of the Ferraris and Lambos that hold their value well (mainly the limited edition models, like the 360CS or the 550 Barchetta).