I have a 2020 C43 lease ending June with a $35500 buyout, wondering how should I start with the planning. 15000 miles right now.

First of all the car had an insurance claim, someone hit the rear bumper and light, so i am unsure if it shows on Carfax but I havent pull a report just yet, also it has a cracked rim that I know the tire is leaking slowly. But other than that the car drives fine w/o an issue.

Now, 1) If im not keeping it, am I able to trade the car in with another brand, Macan S is on my radar.
or 2) if I'm keeping it, I would like to explore the possibility to bargain with MB Finance directly with the corporate to negotiate the buyout price, that I have heard some pal posted this idea here, and hopefully if they would consider the car's current situation with an accident record and a cracked rim.

Can I have some advice if my plan sound or doesn't.

Thank you all.

I thought after the lease term was over if u didn’t choose to buy it, the dealer took the car back. No trade in value for you. I don’t know how the pricing goes if the person leasing wants to buy. Did they give u what they would sell it to u for when u signed lease?
they will prob want to sell it CPO so rim will be fixed

The buyout is already written on the contract, i was hoping a possibility to negotiate if I am buying it, wishing the accident record and rim crack could be a little bit of leverage or chips kind of. Regarding the trade-in i was hoping another brand can purchase the car for me and use the equity towards my future lease/ finance with them?

Certainly can’t hurt to try and bargain. Or see if they will make it CPO for u, not sure what the contract says.
But will all depend on what the market is like in your area.

Our experience with a MBFS lease was a little more complicated. First, the buyout is the residual number in the lease plus a fee, in our case $150 plus tax and registration. We had a problem getting it bought out directly from MB and ended up having to buy it through the dealer. Part of this seems do be due to Florida specific issues.

The most important issue you will have is with the value of the car. Without any accident, the values still seem to be higher than the residual. Even with the issues you note, it may well be that MBFS is not going to budge as the kind of damage your report might not reduce the value that much.

Good luck

Thank you for answering, you reminded me that my buyout clause is probably directly from MBFS already too, i might have to ask both and check who can get me a better quote to go with. Hoping the report doesnt damage the value as much.