killatee18

My lease ends 2/21/09. Is it best to negotiate the buyout price on the month that it matures?? For example, on my 07 E350 with pano and wood wheel I was quoted $34,761 in November, then $33,670 in December (both prices include tax and buyout price in the original contract is $39K). So is it safe to say I will get the best price in February when the lease matures?? Thanks!

Barry45RPM

Well... the car IS older, so it should be worth less later. Also, you will have made payments which knocks the balance due down too.

mjsbenz

MB Fin does not want the car back. They are overloaded with E Classes coming off lease. They will continue to reduce the buyout as your end of lease date approaches. My pricing dropped on our 2006 4matic from $34,300 to $29000 to $25900 to $22900. The last price as two weeks prior to the lease end. Be patient and do not hesitate to give them a low number for them to noodle on.

sosh

My very recent experience is that MB Credit has become very inflexable and arrogant. My 05 E lease expires Feb 1st. They offered me a thousand bucks off of the residual of 29K (and some change) which is about 7 grand higher than the retail value of the car, in addition for a years extension of the lease they wanted the same payment I have been making since the car was new. I do not need any miles for that year and they were unwilling to remove the mileage factor from the lease. I even ran the numbers and confirmed that if I did continue the lease for another year they would come out better. I do not think that they should be paid the same lease payment for a car thats worth half or less than it was at inception. In fact the woman and a guy I spoke with were arrogant and rude. Never had this situation before with them and did not ask for anything they had not done for me with prior leases. Guess what, they will get it back Feb 1st.

A C

It may depend on who you deal with. On my car they are $10k back of buyout already (which was $40k). However they are getting hammered at auction. A 2 yo MB E350 is worth only 40% of retail.

'07s are going for $23k-$24k. I told MB I really do like my car and would like to buy it, but not for $30k, $24k.

We'll see what happens, 2 months to go.... Maybe I will just lease an M3 4door!