E53 Lease deals
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
BMW 540i
E53 Lease deals
I currently have a G60 BMW 540i and am open to the idea of going to an E53. Curious what the ballpark is or what I should be shooting for from a lease standpoint.
The my MSRP comes out to $112k on the MB website.
Appreciate any feedback provided.
The my MSRP comes out to $112k on the MB website.
Appreciate any feedback provided.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 308
Likes: 76
2024 E350
The best thing to do is contact a few local dealers and ask for quotes. Then use the quotes to negotiate a lower price. In general, if you can get the monthly lease payment for a 36 month lease to be 1% of MSRP then that's very good, but that wouldn't include taxes or fees. So if your E53 comes out to $112,000 then 1% would be $1,120 + taxes & fees per month. That's just a ballpark. Hopefully others who recently signed an E53 lease can chime in with their deals.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
The best thing to do is contact a few local dealers and ask for quotes. Then use the quotes to negotiate a lower price. In general, if you can get the monthly lease payment for a 36 month lease to be 1% of MSRP then that's very good, but that wouldn't include taxes or fees. So if your E53 comes out to $112,000 then 1% would be $1,120 + taxes & fees per month. That's just a ballpark. Hopefully others who recently signed an E53 lease can chime in with their deals.
Assume MSRP $112,000 with a 8% discount, a 52% residual and a MF of .0025 (6%) for 36 months: that comes to $1647 a month + sales tax and bank fee - (lease acquisition fee) + plus motor vehicle fees. This assumes zero down.
see: https://www.leaseguide.com/calc_begin.htm
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 540
From: Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2025 E53 Hybrid
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
You have to be careful and read the entire offer: an offer of $1k per month usually requires a substantial down payment AKA a "cost cap reduction" in a lease.
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 534
Likes: 224
From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Yes it does:
However, most of us are over income: $150k adjusted gross income for an individual and $300K adjusted gross income for a married couple.
If you are over income the only way to get the FTC is to lease.
You will note that in my lease calculations I included an 8% discount,$8,960 which is greater than the FTC of $7500.
If you received the 8% discount and the dealer puts in the full $7,500 FTC into the lease, the monthly payments come to $1421 + taxes + bank fees + motor vehicle fees.
If you go to https://www.leaseguide.com/calc.htm, you can change the residual and money factor to see how it affects the monthly payments.
Hope this helps
However, most of us are over income: $150k adjusted gross income for an individual and $300K adjusted gross income for a married couple.
If you are over income the only way to get the FTC is to lease.
You will note that in my lease calculations I included an 8% discount,$8,960 which is greater than the FTC of $7500.
If you received the 8% discount and the dealer puts in the full $7,500 FTC into the lease, the monthly payments come to $1421 + taxes + bank fees + motor vehicle fees.
If you go to https://www.leaseguide.com/calc.htm, you can change the residual and money factor to see how it affects the monthly payments.
Hope this helps
Super Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 534
Likes: 224
From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Yes it does:
However, most of us are over income: $150k adjusted gross income for an individual and $300K adjusted gross income for a married couple.
If you are over income the only way to get the FTC is to lease.
You will note that in my lease calculations I included an 8% discount,$8,960 which is greater than the FTC of $7500.
If you received the 8% discount and the dealer puts in the full $7,500 FTC into the lease, the monthly payments come to $1421 + taxes + bank fees + motor vehicle fees.
If you go to https://www.leaseguide.com/calc.htm, you can change the residual and money factor to see how it affects the monthly payments.
Hope this helps
However, most of us are over income: $150k adjusted gross income for an individual and $300K adjusted gross income for a married couple.
If you are over income the only way to get the FTC is to lease.
You will note that in my lease calculations I included an 8% discount,$8,960 which is greater than the FTC of $7500.
If you received the 8% discount and the dealer puts in the full $7,500 FTC into the lease, the monthly payments come to $1421 + taxes + bank fees + motor vehicle fees.
If you go to https://www.leaseguide.com/calc.htm, you can change the residual and money factor to see how it affects the monthly payments.
Hope this helps
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
If you go back to the legislation, the reason for exemption when leasing, the thinking was that businesses usually lease.
Hope this clarifies.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 48
Likes: 19
From: Gulf Coast
There's a thread over at the Edmunds forum where they'll share the lease incentives, residual and MF for your zip code and lease terms if you ask. Once you know those all you really need to do as a customer is negotiate discounts off of MSRP and make sure they're not marking up the money factor. The incentives/residual/MF should be the same across all dealers.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
There's a thread over at the Edmunds forum where they'll share the lease incentives, residual and MF for your zip code and lease terms if you ask. Once you know those all you really need to do as a customer is negotiate discounts off of MSRP and make sure they're not marking up the money factor. The incentives/residual/MF should be the same across all dealers.
In my experience, over 40 years of leasing, while the incentives which usually last for 90 days and are accurate on Edmunds, the MF and residual are often out of date.
If you are leasing from Mercedes Benz Financial, highly recommend because at the end of the lease, MBF does not "nickel and dime" you, both the residual and MF are set by MBF: Unscrupulous dealers will try to mark up the MF.
Hope this helps!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 395
^ Edmunds participants provide accurate information in the leasing forums as of the day requested. It is an extremely valuable resource for anyone leasing any type of car.
20 years ago my wife was charged something like $650 by MBFS for a missing owners manual. I would absolutely be prepared to be 'nickel and dimed'.
20 years ago my wife was charged something like $650 by MBFS for a missing owners manual. I would absolutely be prepared to be 'nickel and dimed'.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
^ Edmunds participants provide accurate information in the leasing forums as of the day requested. It is an extremely valuable resource for anyone leasing any type of car.
20 years ago my wife was charged something like $650 by MBFS for a missing owners manual. I would absolutely be prepared to be 'nickel and dimed'.
20 years ago my wife was charged something like $650 by MBFS for a missing owners manual. I would absolutely be prepared to be 'nickel and dimed'.
Your incident of $650 for a missing owner's manual I suspect was one of kind. Did you pay it or was it waived.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Just checked Edmunds: FWIW, the MF is .00261 (6.26%) and the residual 52%.
If you go my post #3, pretty close to what I estimated! MF .0025 (6%) and residual of 52%.
Again, both residual and MF are reset every 30 days.
see: https://forums.edmunds.com/discussio...rcedes+E+Class
If you go my post #3, pretty close to what I estimated! MF .0025 (6%) and residual of 52%.
Again, both residual and MF are reset every 30 days.
see: https://forums.edmunds.com/discussio...rcedes+E+Class
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 395
Just checked Edmunds: FWIW, the MF is .00261 (6.26%) and the residual 52%.
If you go my post #3, pretty close to what I estimated! MF .0025 (6%) and residual of 52%.
Again, both residual and MF are reset every 30 days.
see: https://forums.edmunds.com/discussio...rcedes+E+Class
If you go my post #3, pretty close to what I estimated! MF .0025 (6%) and residual of 52%.
Again, both residual and MF are reset every 30 days.
see: https://forums.edmunds.com/discussio...rcedes+E+Class
Never heard of such a thing: when you turn in your car MBFS permits scratches up to the size of credit card, one per panel, dings in the wheels, etc. As long as the tires have more than 3/32" tread life you are good. no cuts in upholstery you are also good.
Your incident of $650 for a missing owner's manual I suspect was one of kind. Did you pay it or was it waived.
Your incident of $650 for a missing owner's manual I suspect was one of kind. Did you pay it or was it waived.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Based on a MSRP, putting the FTC of $7,500 into the lease, with no further reductions in price, the monthly payment 36 months, comes to $1,560 + sales tax + lease acquisition fee + motor vehicle fees.
The sales tax in NY is on the total of the monthly fees and would be about $148 a month. That would be $1708 a month plus lease acquisition fee.
By way of comparison, the monthly payment on my 2019 E450 with a MSRP of $70,250 was $908 a month including the lease acquisition fee and sales tax. Backing the lease acquisition fee out, $698, the monthly payment would have been $890 a month. Based on what I paid for my E450, a comparable lease on the E53 at $112,000 MSRP would be $1408 a month vs. $1708 as calculated above.
I will let those who intend to lease the AMG E53 decide if the lease is attractive or not.
Hope this clarifies.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 48
Likes: 19
From: Gulf Coast
Aside from interest rates being much higher now than in 2019, E-class residuals were much better then, too. What’s 52% now was around 59% then, making 2025 17% worse than 2019 before even discussing interest/MF. MFs back then were mostly equivalent to about 3.5-4% on the E450 sedans, but 1% on the E450 coupes, cabriolets and wagons. Did you pay MSRP when you leased it, or get a discount?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
As compared to prior leases on Mercedes this is not a good lease.
There are three primary reasons:
- Prior leases were supported: the residual on my lease was 60%, 36 months 10K miles per year. The present leases have residuals of 52%
- Interest rates are now above 4%. Other manufacturers are offering 0% financing for 4, 5 and even 6 years. When I leased the interest rate was under 3%
- In prior years the E Class was heavily discounted
I have no idea if the 52% residual will leave you equity in the car. I strongly suspect that it will. If that is the case, where at lease end you have equity in the car, then this transaction is a lease in "name" only. With equity in the car, what this transaction is, is nothing more than a deferred payment plan: With equity in the car, rather than leave it, a lot of people will just buy the car at lease end.
However, the only way for most of us to capture the FTC is to lease and to make the best deal possible.
Just my $.02
Last edited by JTK44; Jun 25, 2025 at 10:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
BMW 540i
I appreciate the help above. Personally $1,700 seems too expensive for the car. Years ago my dad leased a well optioned M5 $125k MSRP for under $1k per month for 12k miles 36 months. Seems like those days are long gone.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 48
Likes: 19
From: Gulf Coast
How many years ago? $125k in 2015 is $172k in 2025 dollars; inflation is a *****
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 905
From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
What has happened since Covid are two things:
- Residuals on Mercedes for 36 months, 10K miles per year has gone from 60% to 52%. That means the depreciation component of the lease has gone from $50,000 ($125,000 less $75,000 60% of MSRP) to $60,000 ($125,000 less $52% of MSRP), That difference of $10K, divided by 36 is an additional $277 per month.
- Interest rates have gone from 3% to 6%. 3% on 125,000 is $312 per month. 6% on 125,000 is of course double that, $624 per month, which is an additional $312 per month.
When you add these two together, the monthly payment, because of the reduction in the residual and the increase in interest rates, has increased by $589.
Hope this clarifies
Last edited by JTK44; Jun 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM.
