Caveat Emptor — AEG Motorsports / Bring a Trailer — 2014 ML550
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2014 ML550
Caveat Emptor — AEG Motorsports / Bring a Trailer — 2014 ML550
I recently purchased a 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML550 through Bring a Trailer from AEG Motorsports (Saint Cloud, FL). I want to share my experience with this community as it develops, both as a warning and as a record. They sell a LOT of Mercedes vehicles, and I took that as a message of reputation and integrity of both BaT and AEG Motorsports.
The listing: bringatrailer.com/listing/2014-mercedes-benz-ml550-7
What the VMI report — published by AEG in their own listing — shows: Repair Order 297131, August 31, 2018, at 30,065 miles: coolant system defects identified. Customer advised of repairs needed. Repairs declined. The vehicle was sold at 91,222 miles. That's 61,000 miles and nearly eight years later with those defects never addressed and never disclosed.
What I found within days of delivery:
Where things stand: A formal demand has been submitted to AEG Motorsports. I will update this thread as the situation progresses.
I have no interest in sensationalizing this. The facts are what they are, and the VMI document is right there in the listing for anyone to read. If you are considering a purchase from this seller, do your due diligence.
The listing: bringatrailer.com/listing/2014-mercedes-benz-ml550-7
What the VMI report — published by AEG in their own listing — shows: Repair Order 297131, August 31, 2018, at 30,065 miles: coolant system defects identified. Customer advised of repairs needed. Repairs declined. The vehicle was sold at 91,222 miles. That's 61,000 miles and nearly eight years later with those defects never addressed and never disclosed.
What I found within days of delivery:
- Low coolant level warning on first startup — reported to AEG in writing four days after delivery
- Active coolant leak confirmed on video — original factory water pump (A 278 030 01) never replaced in 91,222 miles, crystallized mineral deposits on housing consistent with a long-duration leak
- Suspension worn to the point of triggering the vehicle's pre-safe belt tensioning and crash avoidance systems over normal road surfaces at low speed
- Open NHTSA safety recall (Campaign 2023010002) — status OPEN in the VMI AEG published, never disclosed beyond that.
- Shipping damage to hood, rear bumper, headlight, and tow hook covers — delivered after dark, damage discovered the following morning
Where things stand: A formal demand has been submitted to AEG Motorsports. I will update this thread as the situation progresses.
I have no interest in sensationalizing this. The facts are what they are, and the VMI document is right there in the listing for anyone to read. If you are considering a purchase from this seller, do your due diligence.
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BaT began as an online auction for individuals wanting to solicite large audiences of buyers for specialty collector and exotic vehicles. Like everything internet, there are now people using the facility to make a living arbitraging merchandise. I'd be exceptionally cautious about buying any BaT vehicle being sold by a business or by any person who is clearly just flipping the car.
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2014 ML550
That is 100% true, and I appreciate you adding insights. I don't want to trash either the seller or BaT, but I do think it's important to really see things at face value.
I have purchased two vehicles on BaT, and the first was truly a great purchase. The first was an entirely different kind of vehicle (49K mile 1995 Honda Del Sol), it was from a private seller, and it was before BaT was acquired. It could be as simple as having drawn a short straw one time, and I want to give the seller every opportunity to make this right. I also want to make sure that as much as I can, I share my cautionary tale to prevent others from potential pitfalls. I did searches on the W166 to find common issues that I needed to ask about, but I didn't go deep enough, it seems. We'll see where this goes.
I have purchased two vehicles on BaT, and the first was truly a great purchase. The first was an entirely different kind of vehicle (49K mile 1995 Honda Del Sol), it was from a private seller, and it was before BaT was acquired. It could be as simple as having drawn a short straw one time, and I want to give the seller every opportunity to make this right. I also want to make sure that as much as I can, I share my cautionary tale to prevent others from potential pitfalls. I did searches on the W166 to find common issues that I needed to ask about, but I didn't go deep enough, it seems. We'll see where this goes.
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2014 ML550
Quick update. AEG has offered to help me some on this vehicle, but it doesn't even cover 100% of the parts costs. So far, I have replaced the spark plugs, coil wires, water pump, thermostat housing, turbo coolant lines, most of the hoses, and the serpentine belt.
When I changed the spark plugs, I used my borescope camera to check the cylinder walls for scoring. There is some minor scoring on 3 or 4 of them, but I with 92K miles, I really do think it's a pretty minor issue. Not sure if there is anything I can do to prevent further damage, but we'll see.
I replaced the rear shock absorbers and rear sway bar links. The shocks were sitting on the bump stops and the bump stops were crumbled away at the bottom. I didn't do the springs, as they don't show any signs of cracking or corrosion. I have to do the front struts as well, and I have some bushings to replace, and then I will see how it rides. It's coil springs, so no airmatic to mess with. My concern is that I don't know how long the shocks/struts were toast, and as such, I don't know what other damage could have been caused by them. I suspect that there will be more bushings and the like that need replacement after I get this first round done.
I am also doing a full flush of the transmission, and then it will be on to the diffs.
When I changed the spark plugs, I used my borescope camera to check the cylinder walls for scoring. There is some minor scoring on 3 or 4 of them, but I with 92K miles, I really do think it's a pretty minor issue. Not sure if there is anything I can do to prevent further damage, but we'll see.
I replaced the rear shock absorbers and rear sway bar links. The shocks were sitting on the bump stops and the bump stops were crumbled away at the bottom. I didn't do the springs, as they don't show any signs of cracking or corrosion. I have to do the front struts as well, and I have some bushings to replace, and then I will see how it rides. It's coil springs, so no airmatic to mess with. My concern is that I don't know how long the shocks/struts were toast, and as such, I don't know what other damage could have been caused by them. I suspect that there will be more bushings and the like that need replacement after I get this first round done.
I am also doing a full flush of the transmission, and then it will be on to the diffs.
