Worth the wait

I am currently searching for a 2005-2006 E55 and could use a little help from the membership.
I have narrowed my search down to non-cpo vehicles that were more than likely purchased at auction from re-sellers. The premium the Mercedes dealers attach to CPO is, imho, not worth the additional costs.
I do plan on getting an extended warranty through Chrysler, or Fidelity and have access to Car Fax reports. Ideally I would like to find an 06, one owner car, with at least a few months of original warranty left.The car will be modded.

My questions revolve around acquiring the additional information that would allow me to bargain intelligently, while insuring I am not chasing any cars that I don't really want (as I am searching up to 500 miles from my home- DC Metro area).
So if I have the VIN number:

1. Is there any way to find out what the car sold for at auction?

2. Is there a way to tell what options the car had from the factory? The resellers sometimes have a less an informed idea regarding options; I am pretty sure they all came with paddle shifters and power seats...lol.

Any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Brian

Karlson

Yes, but you will need access to the auction sites for that. Good luck finding good car in DC area, i searched for 6 months last year without success, had to fly to Columbus to buy mine. Most DC area dealers are selling E55 in pretty bad conditions.

Worth the wait

Learning that first hand!
I am pretty much resolved to the fact that I will have to fly to another part of the country for the car I want. I just want to make sure it's worth the trip...lol.

Anybody have access to auction web sites that might be willing to investigate a particular car (or two) that I want to buy????

TTMotorsports

Send me the VIN's and I will get the data cards for you.

Full Throttle

I have a dealers license and have access to all Manheim auto auctions. With that said when it came time to purchase my car, i found that most examples were not in the best condition in this region at Manheim. I also found that large Mercedes Benz dealers were unwilling to make a deal even when told i would be paying cash. To be 100% honest your best bet would be to buy from a distressed private owner, and this is from someone who buys cars auction relatively often. With the current state of the economy a large percentage of auction inventory is what we consider below average and will require some reconditioning.

emoving

If you do have a dealers license and you do sell cars, then you would realize weather you pay cash, check or money order, it is all the same crap! Who cares if you are paying cash? Or maybe you just want everyone to know you paid cash.

Worth the wait

Thanks for the offers and advice guys! I will be hitting you up soon.

Saw another "clean" pos, abused E55 today...lol.
This may turn into one of those "ignorance is bliss"type deals. I should just say **** it and buy the next car I like....forget the carfax, the auction price,the history. If it LOOKS good, buy it.

Naw, I'm not discouraged...I want this car to bad to get my spirits dampened. Besides this just gives me more time to aquire mods
Just pulled the trigger on the Eurocharged Stage 1 package...sweet sale.

Keep the advice flowing...

Benz-O-Rama

Now, if you only had a set of wheels for her.....oh wait, nevermind.

emoving

LOL Cheap sales plug!

Benz-O-Rama

Yeah, he's the new owner of my beloved VIP Modulars. My man bought the wheels before he bought the car! Now that, my friends, is dedication.

Worth the wait

...Or insanity

Full Throttle

Cash deals are often more attractive than buyers trying to find financing. This allows many sellers and dealers to be more willing to come off their asking price in this economy cash king. Please go find a clue.

Worth the wait

Haven't been here long, but already figured out you like to follow up your advice with some kind of a douche bag comment towards a member...

Oh wait did I just do that too....lol.

emoving

Most people around here just pay no attention to him. He ads no substance to any thread here and hides behind his computer typing insults. I can gurantee on thing, I bet if he showed up to some meets he would not run his mouth in person.

Full Throttle

And you should join them.

Shadow5501

Three words - Russian VIN Site: http://daimler.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

Put in the VIN of prospective cars; it'll pull up the data card and give you colors, options content, etc. You'll have to google up some of the option codes; it doesn't correctly identify every one. Doesn't work on every VIN, but it's reasonably reliable. Also helps detect fraud - if the car doesn't match the build sheet for the VIN, stay away.

Worth the wait

Thanks!
I will give it a try.

emoving

Did you look at the one Christian just posted. That car is hot!

Worth the wait

Yes, I have sent him a pm. Thanks.
I am hesitant about an 04, and wanted a few more options...but it is a sweet ride. Maybe we can work something out.

milepostnate

I live in the DC area and bought mine from a MB dealer in Greensboro, NC. One thing about the smaller dealerships in outlying areas - they seem to deal more since there are not as many buyers local to them who buy expensive used cars.

Worth the wait

Here is a 2006 with 17k on Ebay

The good: Low miles, 18 months of warranty left. No accidents. Seems very clean. right color (for me...lol).listed as one owner.

The bad: Seller states he is "selling it for a freind",who has only had it a little while a driven it about 5k miles. Options listed do not match photos. No nav, very limited factory options.

He is looking to get "mid 30's"

2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E55
VIN: WDBUF76J46A953868

Car fax and listing on Ebay:

http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=en


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...item3357e6eb1d

Benz-O-Rama

No Keyless-Go, even though it's listed as an option. And no vented seats....FYI.....

BTW, the vented seats are pretty much worthless in our cars. However, I love the drive dynamic seats. Mine are bad-***. Can't tell if that car has the DD seats, but it appears to have multi-contour, at the very least.

emoving

Also, I am pretty sure Nav became standard on the 06! If not, I have never seen one without it.

Shadow5501

No, it was not standard - I have an '06 without Nav.

Worth the wait

Thanks Clayton, good info.
While no one option is a deal breaker, my Speed6 has the keyless feature and I really love it.
You got me with the seats, I know the DD's (although haven't tried them) but what are the multi contour...were they part of an option pkg?

As far as nav goes, the seller says "it's wired for it but the electronics are not in the trunk". Don't know what to make of that.