Thinking about looking at a c43 coupe with ~13k miles. Its a 2018 and the price is close to 48k. Seems to have the options I am looking for but the carfax shows and accident report with some rear and front damage (looks like a rear end with a push forward into another car). No airbag deployed and still a clean title. This is at a (large) dealer but not a MB dealer. Would it be advisable/possible for the dealer to disclose where they got the repairs done? Should I ask for a pre-purchase inspection from a MB dealer? Also wondering how much wiggle room that leaves me to negotiate because of the accident or if this is something to steer clear of.

Thanks for any advice in advance. I really appreciate all the help I've received from these forums.

 

i personally wouldn't take it... but thats just me. you will never know the full story of what happened and what got damaged. and the also probably do the most minimal work to get it back on the road. you never know what underlying issues come with it. for a car that expensive, i personally wouldn't want to deal with it... yea, like a $5,000 beat up old rust bucket that had your damage. you take your chances.... i wouldn't on a 2018 Mercedes. might as well lease a brand new one for not that much more, knowing its prestine.

 

Damn, I never knew it affects the sale so much haha. Mine has a rear bumper damage for a 7k claim. Got it repaired from Mercedes Body Shop, and checked everything with my own hand to see if it was done properly. Like they assembled everything infront of me. I guess from the buyer's perspective, he/she will never know. I was planning on buying out mine. But damn, if people are so nervous to see an accident, am I better off just returning the car?

 

Thanks for the responses. I guess that is why I was checking to see if a pre-purchase inspection at a MB dealer would come up with any inconsistencies and be able to tell me more information or verify the repairs were done correctly.

 

There is a subset of people who won't buy a car with ANY accident damage showing on the CarFax or CarProof, and that's their prerogative. However in the real world, small fender benders and bumper cap taps happen, and when properly repaired wouldn't negatively impact the usability of the vehicle. These days, you can get to a pretty significant repair bill just replacing a bumper cap. I had an Aerokit Cup front bumper cap replaced on my 2011 911 GTS (no other damage at all) and the bill was north of $10k. With 2,000km on the odo, had a minor hit and run on the rear bumper of the C43, which also put about a 2" surface gash on the rear quarter and damaged a wheel and tire...total repair bill at a MB-certified body shop was around $7500. In the U.S. it's relatively common for owners to get "diminished value" compensation but to my knowledge it's not at all common in Canada, and may require taking an insurance company to court. Maybe worth it for a $300k 911 GT2 RS, but not for an $80k AMG.

FWIW, Carfax and CarProof are NOT the definitive source of info on accidents. The above 911 repair didn't show up on either, even through a police report was filed and it was an insurance claim. I disclosed it in my ads when selling the car, and likely because it was repaired at a Porsche-certified body shop the buyer didn't care. When a car is for sale that has had minor repairs, my experience is that some folk will try to use that as a bargaining chip. I tell them to go shop elsewhere...my cars are NOT garage queens and live in the real world. IMO, there is a point where people become SO afraid of any body damage that rather than owning the car, it effectively owns them.

So...if you love your car, buy it out. Then drive it without worrying about the next little inconsequential bump.

 

my logic is based off experiences. brother had a tundra that had ZERO body damage in an accident. but his steering and 'feel' of the car was never the same.... minor accident (the wheel was hit). something in the alignment got thrown off. they replaced dozens of parts even after complaints. it never drove the same and always 'felt off'. not sure how it was listed upon selling, he traded it into a dealer for something else, but again, from a buyers perspective, you never know. body was in perfect shape.

this is all personal opinion based off that experience. you could surely get a car that has been in an accident and everything is repaired and the car drives fine for the rest of its life.... i feel like my perspective has been skewed since that tundra experience though. gives me piece of mind knowing if something craps out in a newer car, its due to a faulty part that gets replaced under a warranty - not from some accident that just becomes my problem.

 

PPI is a good idea, body damage or not. A dealer should be able to advise whether the repair was done to accepted standards, and also do the other checks you want done.

 

Is it inconsequential though that is what I would like to find out. A 10k hit during selling my car sometime in the future, I do not know if I would be okay with that. I was going to return the C43 and get the C63s next year, but then they announced that w206 will be all wheel drive. Considering i would never buy the first year of a new model, if I buyout my C43 and drive it for two more years, I would be in a great situation to grab the 2nd year of the w206 C63s. But OP's first post and skim450's reply got me thinking if I am making a mistake.

 

I expect that a dealer would give you WAY less on a trade than you could get privately for a well cared for C43, even with a cap replacement. On a car that's still new (like a year or less) a small hit might be more consequential to a buyer than on a 4-year-old car (which yours would be). In reality, smart used buyers are shopping more for condition, mileage and maintenance history, and would discount a small incident. For reference, the 911 I mentioned above sold in less than a week with 4 serious buyers lined up (two in Canada, two in the U.S). Because I disclosed it, the repair was done at a certified shop and every maintenance detail of the car was meticulously tracked and presented, not one of the 4 folks that wanted the car thought it was an issue. The trick is to make YOUR car stand out as special compared to other C43s when it comes time to sell. Used buyers in the wild will put a premium on a good car; the dealer doesn't care...he'll give you as close the BlackBook as he can get away with.

 

Makes complete sense. Thanks a lot for the advice. I did keep all the receipts and I documented everything very clearly. Not to sell the car, but I am just a very **** person in general. My car will be 3 year old this December, and you will have a very hard time telling that considering how it looks. I have installed screen protectors on all the black chrome buttons so there is no scratch, steering wheel always had a cover, so it is not shiny with sweat either. In general the car is still mint. I just hope someone somewhere will realize that.

 

Sounds like it was improperly repaired, and tracking down the cause of things like that can be a nightmare. My MO is to ALWAYS take it to the repair facility with the best reputation, regardless of the cost (not an issue if insurance is paying as you have the right to get a repair anywhere) and how long it takes to get into the repair queue.

 

You're the kind of owner EVERY buyer wants to get a car from. With a car in great condition and the repair fully documented, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Good info and kind of what I expected. Everyone thinks different and of course is based on the info I can find on the accident. Think I'll go check this weekend on the car and find out the details and where it was repaired.

 

My 2017 C43 which I also purchased from a large non MB dealer had similar reports on the carfax. It stated it was NOT in an accident but there was damage reported to the front right bumper and wheel. I looked up the carfax followed the paper trail, it said it was services and repaired (mechanical just the wheel they stated) at one of the MB dealers. I called the MB dealers asked them the extend of the damages and what was replaced and also asked if they noticed anything else damaged during the inspection. I then followed up to call the body shop which the vehicle was repaired at. They told me they replaced the grill and front left fender and thats it. I asked if their was any other damages they said no. I inspected the car itself and compared it to my friends 2018 c43, couldnt find one thing out of place/different.

I recommend you follow the paper trail, on carfax they should have the name, location, and number of the shop it was at. Speak with the shops that the vehicle visited. Say youre thinking of buying the vehicle and want to know the extend of the damages and if it was properly fixed. The friendly you are the more inclined the shops will be to help you.

My 2 cents

 

Hi there, I am a professional detailer in sydney and mainly do euro and high end cars.

No panel beater on this planet can get the exact match when it comes to colour and/or clear coat quality and texture to factory.

Cerami clear (oem paint, high solid anti scratch) is very expensive and most body shop/ refinishing shops use cheaper clear. This has a chance to fail over time, easily scratched and your resale will be effected.

I offer an inspection service for my clients. I have rejected a number of "new" cars as alot are damaged and then repaired from transport.

My suggestion is to contact a local detailer or panel shop who can accompany you with a paint match light and paint gauge to inspect the repair and measure the paint.

Here is an example of a "MB approved car" 8000kms GLE350D for 100k. What you can see is the whole car apart from the roof was painted for some reason. Horrible paint job with cheap sh*t clear coat




I personally would stay away unless you know its just a bumper that might have been scratched etc

 

Are the free Carfax report found on Autotrader the same full report you get if you were to pay for one? I am not seeing the body shop work there or any info.

 

I'd stay away too. I'm following a guy on instagram who was involved in the accident, the car had so much damage but insurance gave him a check to fix it, he basically put a new bumper cover to hide the damage on it and sold it to carvana. Too many shady people and things are out there

 

Probably not. PM me your VIN ill run it and send it to you, I have a buddy who owns a dealership and they are able to check the carfax for free (well not free, they pay a monthly fee). I just looked at the carfax for my car and did not see the body shop information. I called the MB dealer which the wheel was repaired at and they were able to give me the body shop contact information.

 

Absolutely return the car. high end cars like this take a huge hit if they have an accident, no matter how minor.

 

Thank you so much for the offer. Went and saw the car today and will be passing. Noticed what seemed to be a paint bubble on the roof and condensation in one of the tail lights. Didnt have a good feeling on it. Oh well, back to looking... I wish more seemed to be a available in the midwest!

 

How huge are we talking?

 

10 - 15% easily. Depends on buyer and quality of repair.

But if you're leasing you'd be doing the dealer a favor. lol

 

10 percent of the value during sale? Or the original MSRP value of the car when it was bought? I can live with the former not the latter. The repair was done perfectly. I painfully made sure of that. Its just I would love to get two more years out of this car, given its condition. Also most of the 2017 C43 are still in the 50k zone with my mileage. May be the car would drop another 15k in value. To me it just makes more sense to keep this car and enjoy it for a while, knowing its entire maintenance history and everything.

 

According to what this guy paid even if the car is not in an accident you take a huge hit in depreciation. "Just picked up my 2019 C43 coupe yesterday. Been shopping around for a bit and set up a search engine on Autotrader and got what I think is a really crazy deal. 2019 C 43 coupe in polar white with AMG 19" twin-spoke 5-star wheels, natural grain black ash wood, cranberry red leather, AMG performance exhaust, Multimedia Package, AMG Night Package, Parking Assistance Package with the 360 camera and park assist, heated and ventilated seats, 12.3" digital instrument cluster, wheel locks, illuminated star, 64 color ambient lighting, NFC wireless charging. The car had only 1575 miles on it with a clean carfax! I got it for $49,290 (MSRP was 68K)! It's in pristine condition without so much as a blemish on it."

 

My personal experience with two of the last leased cars I had with minor damage (which I sold privately at lease end) is at odds with that statement. A bumper cap respray may not materially impact the resale value of the car at all, depending on the quality of the repair, how well the car is presented and marketed and the tolerance of the buyer for minor repairs. Someone in Munis's situation would be smart to look at the buyout on the car when the time comes, and determine the delta between that number and what they could get selling it privately. In almost all lease situations it's better to sell privately and pocket the difference between the residual and market value than give it back. Of course, many people aren't motivated to sell privately for one reason or another and choose to let the dealer have all the upside at lease end.