Mohammad Saud

Hey guys. ,I am thinking about purchasing a 2017 certified preowned Mercedes Benz E-300. How much does it cost a dealership to certify a car? I know it’s $1600 to enroll the car into MERCEDES certify program. But how much in total does it really cost?

rewillia

No clue. Where did you get that figure of $1600 to enroll a car in the CPO program. Sounds like that something a person with a automotive dealer license could pursue but not a private owner. Curious.

Mohammad Saud

I just looked it up on google. "The fee that a dealer pays to MBCPO to enroll a car is exactly $1,600.00. To enroll a car, it can't have any major accident history or obvious cosmetic flaws, except minor scratches and rock chips" I work at a dealership and the finance manger at my dealership used to work for Lexus. He said if a car needs tires it would cost the Dealership $900 for high end tires, $700 for new brakes and a max or $200 to detail a car. So if it cost $1,600 to enroll the car, I would assume it take about $3,400 to certify a car.

Mohammad Saud

I just looked it up on google. "The fee that a dealer pays to MBCPO to enroll a car is exactly $1,600.00. To enroll a car, it can't have any major accident history or obvious cosmetic flaws, except minor scratches and rock chips" I work at a dealership and the finance manger at my dealership used to work for Lexus. He said if a car needs tires it would cost the Dealership $900 for high end tires, $700 for new brakes and a max or $200 to detail a car. So if it cost $1,600 to enroll the car, I would assume it take about $3,400 to certify a car.

rewillia

Point being the buyer pays, not the dealer selling the CPO.

cetialpha5

Well it'd be more accurate to say that it costs the dealer at least $1600 to certify the car. It's possible that a lease turn in could already have new tires as maybe the previous owner had worn tires and replaced the tires before lease turn in so they wouldn't be charged. I believe tires have to have a minimum amount of thread on it to be CPO. You also hear of stories where the car was supposed to meet CPO standards, but the dealer didn't do it and the owner complained afterwards. Maybe that works for some dealers, sell it as CPO and then hope the buyer doesn't notice, I'm sure a certain number slips though.

Basically that's why it's better to buy a CPO at a dealer. Means it didn't have too many issues for the dealer to bring to CPO status. If it costs too much to make it CPO, they wouldn't bother and sell it without a CPO.

Camaroguy72

Currently shopping for a CPO and I'm finding the delta around $3k. Assuming the $1600, you can ask dealers for a copy of the service record for the work done. I've seen as little as brakes replaced vs one car with less than 6k miles with the rear bumper replaced and repainted as well as both front and rear skid plates.. plus others. Depends on the condition of the car, which is why they don't send them to auction or trade among dealers. So yeah - I'm finding a CPO priced ~3-4k more than non-cpo currently and it's worth it to me for the extended warranty and not needing to spend money on the car in the immediate future as it's been reconditioned. One car I'm looking at was even detailed fully (got a copy of the report from the detailer for what was done).

TPAbnz

My CPO came with new tires (at 11K miles) which the sales manager told me MBUSA paid for as part of the CPO process. Yes, you can ask for the CPO report (which I received) that notes everything including replacement of glove box door, refinish one wheel, etc. My car was delivered looking like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

2012 merc amg

I was surprised when I bought my S550 Certified the dealer refused to fix a couple of door dings and did a mickey mouse touch up painting of a chip in the rear quarter rather than repainting it. Then again I drove a pretty hard bargain on the trade in of my 2012 AMG Wagon. I think though the amount varies to certify a car depending on the model, a AMG is more to Certify than a C class.