david_101

Well, it's finally time to part with my beloved 2005 designo graphite SL65.

It's still under extended fender-to-fender (unused) warranty with 37,500 miles, new tires, clean and purring. But we need a 4-door with 4 real seats in the garage - don't ask.

Would someone be kind enough to post recent auction prices, so I can have a leg to stand on when talking with the S FL dealers?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

Benz-O-Rama

That warranty will be worth it's weight in gold, when you list it for sale. Completed eBay auctions, of cars that actually sold, are a good place to start, when looking for wholesale numbers.

Good luck.

mptolomey

2005 SL65 Manheim Results:

3/18/2011ST LOUISRegular $60,075 29,567AboveSilver
3/17/2011NEVADALease $40,000 52,469AvgBRI SIL
3/24/2011RIVRSIDELease $45,500 53,953AvgBRI SIL
4/7/2011RIVRSIDERegular $42,500 63,891AvgSILVER
2/2/2011BAY CITIRegular $39,300 63,891AvgSILVER
2/10/2011RIVRSIDERegular $36,250 86,507AvgPEWTER

david_101

In case you know of anyone, this is a pretty good description:

>>>
Today, I decided it was time to part with my 2005 designo graphite SL65, with 37,500 miles and gray interior.

All options, plus bluetooth puck, less Distronic.
Extended warranty remaining (and never used).
Leather warranty and wheel warranty (both never used).
Always garaged.
Always parked away from other cars when out.
Always MB maintained.
Only MB washed.
MB spec tires at 80%+. (Only MB SAs do tire pressures ~ every 3 weeks on SATs.)
MB oil services more frequent than FSS.
No accidents.
No dents.
No painting.
Never street-raced, but the GF drove it 3 or 4 times. Grrrr.
(She flew this morning, and already is racing BMWs in SC. Of course, I passed.)

I'm looking for a reasonable number and a good home. Nothing more.

Thanks.
David

alx

Your trade in is 50-52k.

Good luck

david_101

Thank you.

Would you know where to take it in S FL, meaning Miami, Broward and Palm Beach?

alx

I do not know. If I was you I would try to sell the car privately and price it for a quick sale. List for 55k sell for 53k.

The reason I say this is most dealers if you just want to dump the car without buying another one from them will lowball you to a point you will consider it insulting. Think 45k or less.

david_101

You're right, and doubly so in the case of any AutoNation store.

I appreciate your indulgence. Being that I haven't privately sold any car since my 1982 BMW 320i - and that was to a good friend - what do you advise as the best way to go about doing so?

David

mptolomey

I do agree with the 52K number... The dealer will hit it at 3K less than wholesale and wont really care about any warranty.

Your best bet would be to write a detailed eBay ad with an accurate, detailed description with great pictures. There are many buyers out there, but everyone is looking for a great deal right now.

You should have no problems getting 52K with the warranty

Benz-O-Rama

Autotrader.com, cars.com, eBay.com, mbworld.org, benzworld.org, luxury4play.com

That warranty will be the selling point. Getting harder and harder to warranty these cars....

david_101

So, for the sale, how many years of warranty do you think should remain on the car for the next owner?

alx

i would say 6 months to a year and 10k miles is what most folks would accept as a minimum. 2 years, 30k miles or so is optimal in my mind.

my take is your car with its warranty will not depreciate significantly in the next 2 years. so... enjoy it for another 2 years or so and then sell it for few grand less than it is worth now. cheap entertainment.

david_101

That sounds fair and reasonable. Thanks.

Well, there are a number of interested parties already. On top of any individual inquiries, a dealer is supposed to look it over in our garage today or tomorrow, and a consignment fellow from the forum sent me some docs for review.

Some time this week, I'll take it over to MB for an inspection and a thorough cleaning.

Thanks again to all for your thoughts, advice and good information.

allenjdmb

I think Alx is on target, thought maybe just a touch strong (we usually agree as we're both in/around the business). Caveat is this: if the warranty is MB CPO or MB extended warranty, it is dead the minute that any dealer touches the title. Gives you an incentive for an individual buyer, but that is getting more difficult by the month.
I wonder, has everyone forgotten how much difficulty our fellow boarder had selling his incredible black 65 3-4 months ago? Arguably one of the best equipped 65's out there, I think with less miles than this car. It did not reach 50 on ebay after 3 attempts...
Wish I could own it. I'm in the ATL area, if you want to PM me. Good luck...

david_101

alx, just as you suggested, I considered keeping the SL65.

Even today, as I was about to respond to an inquiry, I paused. But, ultimately the only sensible thing to do is part with it. For a few reasons, I should have a sedan. Parking here is extremely limited. To keep the 65 would mean to lease space in an office building across the street, itself with extremely limited parking.

Having decided again to say goodbye to it, I had to arrive at the number I would settle for. I took into account the Manheim data, the several estimates, some experience and then which car should replace the 65.

I think this time I might do the unthinkable - get a BMW. I know... But almost the entire MB MY12 range is notably new or updated, inside or out, or both. It would be too difficult to wait for the MY12s, and MB, once you get talking with the sales team, hasn't been too generous in the incentive department. BMW is offering some decent deals and I wouldn't mind giving them a try after about 25 years.

Back to the number for the 65... I believe the best way to get value out of it in trade would be at MB. If I don't buy MB, then pricing should be in the trade-in range. And if I must buy an additional 1 - 2 years of warranty, then the pricing should begin at the lower end of the trade-in range, net of warranty cost.

Does this sound reasonable?

allenjdmb

just me probably, but unless you're at a really knowledgable, specialized store (and you may be if you are in miami, FLL, palm beach), I don't think a Benz store wants this car. They are not happy with the new updated SL's that they have that they already can't sell, and 09's that the bottom is already falling out of. You will just have to search for the right guy. Hope it works out.

david_101

The MB stores in S FL, generally are high volume dealers. (Delray I believe is the exception.) I see SLs, SLSs, Maybachs and everything else readied to go out the door on any given day. And SOLD tags in windows of AMGs are common.

I think it was last year, one store offered to buy the 65 outright. This year, I think it's trade-in only to get acceptable value out of it.

alx

i think your sentiment is correct.

the best course of action is trying to sell it privately at the numbers i posted before or thereabout.

the dealers (again as i mentioned before) do not like those cars and generally dont want to touch them especially 05s as they cannot do the financing (dealers deal with banks and banks do not deal commercial loans (to dealer) for 6 year old cars... so the dealer potential customer base on that car is very very limited.

there is nothing wrong with the bmws.. for one i personally think of them to be slightly more reliable than mercs while audis are inconsistent (production variances and phase of moon can make one car perfect and the next car produced (same model, same assembly line) a disaster.

david_101

Shame about the Audis. We went out in the new A8, which we quickly decided was superior to MB inside the cabin in most every way. Outside, it was just boring. Performance, handling, turning radius were all very good. But the last thing we need are headaches from undependable machines, especially when we can rely upon undependable people for that sort of thing.

Well, I'm confident the 65 will bring a reasonable number some time soon. But if not, then I could just as well stick with MB and trade it in. Overall, I'd prefer private sale to avoid travel from dealer to dealer.

david_101

I learned that two dealers inspected the car yesterday in the garage, and the soft offers were surprisingly strong from non-MB guys. Your guidance has been particularly accurate. Thanks.