Pntblnk

Picked up my E350 Bluetec 12/30 and have had second thoughts on the E550's V8 ever since. The diesel is a great little engine, but the 550 is just plain sexy. There is a E550 in South Atlanta and sticker is $67,040. The Bluetec was $58k. E350 has 500 miles on it and the stickers still on the floor mats.

What do you think would be a reasonable trade difference or am I nuts?

MCF

I considered this. My sticker was $58k. Got it for $51k. With 2000 miles I was offered $44k on trade. Not worth the loss.

clmulli

Doesn't hurt to try. See what they will offer for your trade but I'm sure they wont give you near $58. Also Try Mercedes of Buckhead, they have better service.

Pntblnk

I know it is a long shot so not holding out a lot of hope. I am willing to write a check of $10k for the difference. More than that it isn't worth it to me. They are going to call me back in the mornings so we'll see.

MCF

Let us know. U was willing to write a check to make up a difference also but mo dealer is going to take a loss on a trade. The car depreciated $10k the minute u drove it off the lot.

DNAPoPo

First of all, I am calling you crazy. Is the E550 a 2010 leftover or a 2011?

RNBRAD

Thing about it is they won't give you more back for your car than the FTD price, which I'm guessing (blind guess) is around 50k give or take. It's still a one owner unless you have not tagged it yet and that could be a plus, if you haven't. So whatever the actual FTD is they will probably subtract maybe a grand or two and that's what they will give you for your car and this is why cars drop so much as soon as you drive them off the lot. The profit MB made off the sale you will not get back. So it wouldn't surprise me if that price was around 48 to 49k. They may drop off a few grand on the 550 to maybe around 64k, who knows. So you may be looking at 16k to trade. Way too big a hit IMHO. That's sometimes the price we pay for not getting axactly what we want to begin with.

Pntblnk

I know...I know. It is killing me but I just keep looking at the 550 with envy. Doubt anything will come of it but had to try.

BPhillyBenz

I've thought about the same thing. Gonna hold off for two years and buy the new engine when it's been proven and when the initial year of hype is over (and mark downs will be easier to find). Hang in there. By trading it in this early, your gonna get hosed. Keep it for a few years and take a less percentage loss and get the new engine. Woo-hoo.

ngerstman

Same thing happened to me. I bought an e350 on November 30 only to trade it back to the dealer 3 weeks later for an e550! The e350 had a sticker of 63000 and I paid 56000. The e550 had a sticker of 73000 and they sold it to me for 66000. They gave me 52500 for the e350 in trade. It cost me but if I waited it would have cost me much more six months from now. It's hard to know how much it truly cost me because I may have been able to get a better deal on the e550 without the trade, who knows. I'm satisfied that they did what they could for me. They have to sell the e350 as a used car now with 800 miles. I would go and talk to the dealer and see if they will cut their margin on the e550 to bare bones to satisfy a customer. Regards. Ned

ngerstman

PS. I bought the e550 because I decided that the pay up for the v8, leather seats and most importantly the airmatic suspension were well worth the pay up, especially considering how much more all those items would have cost just a few years ago. Regards. Ned.

scfishnman

Based on my experience of trading a 2011 BMW 535i in on my 2011 E550, I would think you could make the trade you want for around $12K if the dealer wants your business. Good luck.

WGB

Go for the 550 if you can.

The new 4.7TT coming might be technically better and easier on gas but what can be more classical than a reliable well proven twin cam four valve per cylinder V8 that goes way better than anyone expects and is so quiet and nice to drive.

If you keep it it must be cheaper to maintain in the long term than a motor with two turbos on it.

Bill

K-A

Crazier things have happened. I think if they are really interested in helping you out, and really working with you on this (taking some sacrifices on their end), you might be able to come out of it without getting taken to the cleaners too much. If they do it by-the-book, you're gonna get hosed. Then it comes down to the ole' "is money an object when it comes to my happiness in this lifetime?" situation.

220S

I did something similar. I got rid of a brand new E350 within 7 months to get a brand new E63. I did sell the E350 to a relative and let them make some payments to me over time, but I still took a hit. Haven't looked back since. It was worth every penny.

fromthebeginnin

, you'll love the 550 if you make the move!

MCF

I like this train of thought. Let the 2012's come out with the new engine in a couple months. Then in September/October of 2012 (assuming the new engines and tranny have no problems) trade the 2011 in on a new 2012 that MB is offering dealers incentives to move becuase the 2013's are already out. Anything wrong with this train of thought?

Pntblnk

Ok I got the call this afternoon. They are offering to do for $12,500 difference plus fee's of $600 with 1.4% financing. This leaves me paying ~$1,500 in depreciation on my 350 for 500 miles of use. Seems like a very fair offer and now have to decide if it is really worth it to me.

The 550 has all of these features my 350 doesn't.... AMG wheels,,P2 package, Pano roof, Avantguard line, massage ventilated seats, 115v plug in rear, power rear shade, power trunk, keyless go and xenon adaptive headlights.

As a first time MB buyer this was all stuff I didn't know I wanted until I started reading this forum...now almost have myself convinced I can't live without it!

MCF

Based on your numbers above, you are taking a $4100 hit. Original car was $58,000. New car is $67,000 - that is a difference of $9000 (550 is $9000 more than your current car). If they wanted $9000 it would be an even swap, which they would never do. They want $12,500 + $600. $12,500-$9000+$600 = $4100, unless I am missing something.

Pntblnk

Your math is correct, it is mine that is off. I went back to check the sticker and it was $56.3 and they added the spoilers which I automatically bumped up to $57k in my mind. $58k posted above was wrong should have been $57k. They are telling me since the spoiler was dealer added it doesn't give the car any additional value for trade. I hadn't added the $600 in fee's as I kinda figured that was part of doing business anytime I trade.

No matter how hard I try to justify the deal it will cost me $2-3k to get what I want. Now just need to let the head and the heart fight it out to make a decision. Thank goodness I have a very understanding wife that said do whatever makes you happy.

ngerstman

And in addition to the v8 engine, the most important addition might be the airmatic shock suspension with sport and comfort settings. The airmatic suspension is a meaningful upgrade. If you can spare the change, go for it. You'll have a car with way more toys and better performance!! Regards. Ned.

Pntblnk

The dealer just sent me a copy of the numbers discussed over the phone. I need to find out what the other "taxes & fee's" are.

$60900 Selling price of our 2011 E550
$48000 trade in on your 2011 E350 Bluetec
$12908 Difference
$599.95 Dealer fee
$13607.95 total plus taxes and fees

AMGTTV8

Man, even if you don't get the car, you still come up positive with that!

Nice work!

Pntblnk

Is the airmatic suspension standard on the 550? The sticker shows adaptive suspension - speed sensing steering / auto leveling.

vinrun

What did you pay for the 2011 E350 Bluetec?