'04 e55 sedans with 30K - 48K mileage could be had for around 29K - 32K. Find a broker you trust and let him do his work or find a seller who needs to off theirs quick. Someone here can paste the latest MA prices for verification, but please note that one can never tell the condition of the cars sold at auction just by looking at the prices. Also, prices very per region. Essentially, we have a perfect storm: Credit market, Real Estate, Recession/Deflation, Job Security, Gas (not so much now), and Green movement are killing the resale market for high end gas guzzling luxury cars.

06 e55 Wagons used to sell at low 60's 7 mos ago. Now, they are selling at mid to high 40's. That is a $10k/$15K hit. The depreciation rate has never been so steep. That is what's happening folks. Most of the sellers are chasing the market down.

Here are the current #'s from Manheim. This is for an 04' and 05' E55. Pretty great time for anyone that wants in.

Bluebook is worthless in this market. They only publish revised figures like every 6 months, so almost immediately after they update their numbers they're already behind.

High-end cars are depreciating 3%-5%+ a month in this market, and KBB just can't keep up. The real value is mid $30k's, assuming the car is still under warranty, and even less if the warranty is expired.

I wouldn't use bluebook to value anything right now, or you're guna be sitting on that sucker for awhile.

nail on the head, you are right.

however, possibly, the storm could be clearing soon...

the worse is yest to come. more people will default on their homes and many will be looking to get rid of there toys. throw in the economy and it is a perfect storm. yes the depreciation rate will slow, but the majority of damage will be done.

About time for me to step up from the W210 to the W211. I don't buy cars for their value a year or two from now. I buy them to enjoy them, do what I want to them, and especially drive them the way I want to.

I think we may be seeing prices level off a little bit, but the majority of the damage is done.

So, all that being said, since the prices are unusually low, will they ever go back up?

With w212 style coming up soon.. I really doubt that they will go up.

speaking of which....has anybody seen the new w212?

Isn't Manheim, dealer auction only? How would a non-dealer like myself get in on that action?

edit: Sorry, just realized I've taken this way off-topic....if anyone can help, PM me, I'm ready to buy!

The auction prices are more of a guide for figuring out what your dealer paid. The dealer normally wants to make as much as possible, but it's pretty safe assuming that they will be happy with a $2k or $3k per unit profit. So the auctions are helpful to help you figure out what to offer them.

NO. This is how bad it is and I'm not even listing half of the stuff that is coming to mind:

Dealerships have excess inventory - both new and used

Money supply is tight even though the Feds have 'injected' over 1 Trillion dollars into the financial industry recently as a result of the 'Sub Prime' crisis but in reality 'Sub Prime' is being used as the scapegoat.

Chrysler is in dire financial trouble and the majority of their dealers (which includes Mercedes) are being asked to pay early on their flooring plan, but the dealers can't sell cars because the funding is simply not there. If so, then you better have a FICO >700.

Approx 40% of the population have a FICO < 700 so the number of cars being sold has been cut in half if not more - especially big ticket, luxury gas guzzlers

Even Toyota's profits declined 3rd quarter - first decline in profits the last 7 years - so the market is crashing BIG TIME

GM has 20B in cash and burning through this at 1B a month - Chrysler is worse and there is talk of a Gov't bailout or face Bankruptcy

Even if there is a bail out, many jobs will be lost do to restructuring

If Chrysler declares bankruptcy, then so will GM and Ford

More people are getting laid off as the days go by and people lose confidence so they don't spend. Instead, they hoard cash

Increase in supply of new and used cars puts downward pressure on price to move them, but there is less demand so we go into death spiral. At this point we've moved past inflation into DEFLATION

In October, no (ZERO) credit card backed securities (Bonds) were purchased which forced companies like American Express to go to the FED - the FED is buying up commercial paper so these companies can stay in business

Just look at the classified section and count how many cars have been posted for sale compared to the same time last year

Thanks again everyone for commenting. The dealership offered me $39000 for my car. I didnt want it at first but im gonna take it. The only problem is I personally dont think the 63 compares to the 55. But at least it will be a brand new car.

Reality bites huh?? Sorry you had to take a $10 K hit. Why not just keep her, modify her a bit more and enjoy her.

Was the $39 trade-in value towards another car? They did not just cut you a check for $39k did they?

i will not pile on..

but goes to show how its a bad time to sell anything.. house, cars, boats, bikes.. ects.

its better to let the bank take it..

If you need to off it, take the deal. That price works in your favor but was $39K cash? Or as another member asked was the $39K put towards another car? It seems pretty high, but take it if they are serious for sure.

very exotic setup.... this car gets more looks then my Lambo Murc!!!

https://mbworld.org/forums/c219/269038-pics-my-cls55-cool-ass-car-sale-also.html

Very nice looking CLS. So you will take $41K then?

Sold yet?

Please - These cars just are not moving at prices worth selling for. To think I kept my baby in the garage, treated it to 6 very expensive oil changes in 16,500 miles, drove it only when the sun was shining, kept it shiny and clean. For what? Well, I have an extended factory warranty that will keep it covered for another 3 years and another 60k miles. Either someone is paying me $42k for it or I am just keeping it. It isn't as though I can find anything remotely as fun (or as fast) and well-maintained for that price to replace it. And with all the money I am spending on my house, $30k (net of balance of car loan) really is not going to make that big of a difference.

I will put it on Autotrader next week and see where it goes.

I was referring to retardedmonks post - just to clear anything up if needed

Clear to me. Sorry the quote did not capture everything.

Dealers will often give you a high-trade in value, but will sell you the other car at a premium to make up for it.

I doubt the dealer took out the checkbook and wrote him $39k for the car alone.

These crazy pricings are simple economics. There is a huge supply on the market right now and low demand, thus the prices. When the supply and demand change, so will the prices. But in this market, it may take a while.