New owner? - buy / lease
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 297
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2009 E350 Sport
New owner? - buy / lease
Hi all,
I have an opportunity to get a 09 e350 sport at a good price (i think) - $34k
I would like to get your advice on a couple of things
1) If I buy, I would likely own the car for a minimum of 3 yrs (put 30k miles on and sell to someone with a yr of warranty remaining) OR own the car for 6-8 years. Is it possible to own a w211 for 6-8 years before the repairs become unbearable?
2) What is the build quality on the 2009s? I remember the w211 started off badly but has it improved enough to own and not lease?
3) Are these cars too complicated for DIY repairs (I do my own work on the 2001 BMW and the 1998 Lexus)?
4) I can get the car basic (no leather, no options) or with most options (PI minimum). if I buy the basic car, is there a buyer out there that will actually buy my 3yr used e350 without leather?
5) If you were me, what else should I know / ask now before buying?
6) I believe the 3yr residual is 48% (at 12k/yr), this seems too low for a lease to make a lot of sense. Your thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
I have an opportunity to get a 09 e350 sport at a good price (i think) - $34k
I would like to get your advice on a couple of things
1) If I buy, I would likely own the car for a minimum of 3 yrs (put 30k miles on and sell to someone with a yr of warranty remaining) OR own the car for 6-8 years. Is it possible to own a w211 for 6-8 years before the repairs become unbearable?
2) What is the build quality on the 2009s? I remember the w211 started off badly but has it improved enough to own and not lease?
3) Are these cars too complicated for DIY repairs (I do my own work on the 2001 BMW and the 1998 Lexus)?
4) I can get the car basic (no leather, no options) or with most options (PI minimum). if I buy the basic car, is there a buyer out there that will actually buy my 3yr used e350 without leather?
5) If you were me, what else should I know / ask now before buying?
6) I believe the 3yr residual is 48% (at 12k/yr), this seems too low for a lease to make a lot of sense. Your thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
$34 f&*king K?? Are you serious?? That's simply insane. I still see '07-'08's listed at $30+K Used? 
At that price I'd go ahead and buy, but I always prefer to buy my cars as I tend to grow attached, sometimes I think I should go for the Lease, but I dunno....
About the Leather, or P1, etc. don't worry about that, most people don't even know, nor care that it's Vinyl, most E-Classes are Vinyl anyway. Also, it comes standard with an AMG Package, which is still rare for W211's even considering it was no-cost for '09, so a buyer will see that as a huge plus.
The W211's got solid and reliable (by M-B terms) by '05-'06, and an '09 will be as dependable as it'll get for the car. Especially without Airmatic, I think you don't have much to worry about at all.
At that price I'd go ahead and buy, but I always prefer to buy my cars as I tend to grow attached, sometimes I think I should go for the Lease, but I dunno....
About the Leather, or P1, etc. don't worry about that, most people don't even know, nor care that it's Vinyl, most E-Classes are Vinyl anyway. Also, it comes standard with an AMG Package, which is still rare for W211's even considering it was no-cost for '09, so a buyer will see that as a huge plus.
The W211's got solid and reliable (by M-B terms) by '05-'06, and an '09 will be as dependable as it'll get for the car. Especially without Airmatic, I think you don't have much to worry about at all.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
06+'s are way better quality wise.
Ya, I've never even seen a 07+ 350 with leather out here in LA. Very good deal IMO, you should get it.
The only options I would really get are pano roof and AMG package. You can add Xenon later without having to get Premium 2.
Ya, I've never even seen a 07+ 350 with leather out here in LA. Very good deal IMO, you should get it.
The only options I would really get are pano roof and AMG package. You can add Xenon later without having to get Premium 2.
Last edited by gaazmon; Jul 28, 2009 at 08:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 297
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2009 E350 Sport
I would love to get Xenons without forking out for P1 and P2. Are you talking about putting in aftermarket HIDs?
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
Must be, because MB doesn't include them without P2 on the '09's.
...oh yeah, I'd say get the car... that's a ridiculously good price (especially if it has P1)!
Member
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From: Upper Marlboro, MD
2006 SL500/2006 Porsche Cayenne S Titanium
For that price, there must be a catch. What did Carfax say and what did Autocheck say about the car? Is this a dealer purchase or a private sale? What state is the vehicle registered in, I ask because there are some issues with certain states and washing of the title.
The price seems to good to be true, and theres an old saying about if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Before you buy it if you are buying from an independent dealer is to have it thoroughly inspected.
You would hate to get stuck with a $34 anchor. Oh and don't forget to have the history run on the vehicle by a MB dealer. It's vin specific and should give you a good idea of what you're looking at.
Last thing, if you don't plan on keeping the car, LEASE IT. Less money up front and you have an out once your 3yrs are up. IMHO of course....
Best of luck to you....
The price seems to good to be true, and theres an old saying about if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Before you buy it if you are buying from an independent dealer is to have it thoroughly inspected.
You would hate to get stuck with a $34 anchor. Oh and don't forget to have the history run on the vehicle by a MB dealer. It's vin specific and should give you a good idea of what you're looking at.
Last thing, if you don't plan on keeping the car, LEASE IT. Less money up front and you have an out once your 3yrs are up. IMHO of course....
Best of luck to you....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Or you can go OEM by getting the BiXenon headlights that turn and auto level. It is a little complicated but very doable. You can then sell your halogen projector headlamps.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 297
Likes: 2
2009 E350 Sport
For that price, there must be a catch. What did Carfax say and what did Autocheck say about the car? Is this a dealer purchase or a private sale? What state is the vehicle registered in, I ask because there are some issues with certain states and washing of the title.
The price seems to good to be true, and theres an old saying about if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Before you buy it if you are buying from an independent dealer is to have it thoroughly inspected.
You would hate to get stuck with a $34 anchor. Oh and don't forget to have the history run on the vehicle by a MB dealer. It's vin specific and should give you a good idea of what you're looking at.
Last thing, if you don't plan on keeping the car, LEASE IT. Less money up front and you have an out once your 3yrs are up. IMHO of course....
Best of luck to you....
The price seems to good to be true, and theres an old saying about if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Before you buy it if you are buying from an independent dealer is to have it thoroughly inspected.
You would hate to get stuck with a $34 anchor. Oh and don't forget to have the history run on the vehicle by a MB dealer. It's vin specific and should give you a good idea of what you're looking at.
Last thing, if you don't plan on keeping the car, LEASE IT. Less money up front and you have an out once your 3yrs are up. IMHO of course....
Best of luck to you....
Thanks, the catch is that the e350's don't come with leather and that the new model is 48k base...so the effective discount is really 14k not 20k
The deal is from the MD dealer for a new e350 so unless he packs in some killer BS dealer fee I think it is on the up up...we will see!
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 297
Likes: 2
2009 E350 Sport
Hi guys,
These deals are in CA. In my post, the MD dealer should be MB dealer. Sorry!
That said, most of the promotions / rebates / hidden dealer money on the e350 is nation-wide. Most dealers are starting at 38K before bargaining. I've heard of additional discounts thru credit unions as well...
The inventory on the e350 is low (1/2/3 cars at the dealers I've dealt with) so I wouldn't wait too long.
Good luck
These deals are in CA. In my post, the MD dealer should be MB dealer. Sorry!
That said, most of the promotions / rebates / hidden dealer money on the e350 is nation-wide. Most dealers are starting at 38K before bargaining. I've heard of additional discounts thru credit unions as well...
The inventory on the e350 is low (1/2/3 cars at the dealers I've dealt with) so I wouldn't wait too long.
Good luck
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
