jcanabal

What will be considered an "OK" price to start seriously thinking about an '04 E55 with 2,400 miles? I don't know the options on it and haven't seen the car.

I don't know too much about the E55 resale value etc, so please help!

Dealer asking $84,995 (personally think it's a bit high for an used car!)

Opinions?

Juan

cte430

Well, like you said you really need to know what options it has. For $85k it better have everything under the sun! Seriously, I am always amazed whenever I go to the dealer and see what they are asking for used cars. You may as well just buy new. with the options in my sig. (minus the steering wheel and radar of course) my car stickered out around 87.3.

cschow

I've seen someone advertise a very well equiped 2004 for 88K, which I think originally stickered for about $92 (I forget exactly and I misplaced the fax of the original sticker). Keeping in mind that the new car buyer has to pay the 1-time only Federal Gas Guzzler tax ($1700) and MB destination charge (~600), the offer price amounted to essentially the same price as the owner originally paid. This despite the fact that the car is now missing 1 of 4 years of new car warranty and has 2K miles on it.

On this car I called my credit union and asked them what the maximum loan value would be. They asked only for the mileage and VIN number and told me $77,650, which is the base price (i.e., zero option) 2004 E55 before gas guzzler and destination. Apparently, option level is irrelevant in determining maximum loan value. Regardless, if the credit union wouldn't loan more than $77,650, then the car, as far as the credit union is concerned, isn't worth more than $77,650 either. Its quite possible a MB dealer might be able to arrange a higher loan via MB credit, but I'd take the credit union's assessment as a better indication of the value of the car.

While the price of a new 2005 has gone up vs a new 2004, it seems to me when you're in the mid80's it makes more sense to order a new 2005.

Childish///AMG

I would go with the "Credit" unions value for the car. Have you tried a private owner yet?

ima55r2

I've checked with my credit union and banks before and they have pretty much the same loan values because they work out of the same books. The dealer has the same info and will try to squeeze you for anything over the loan value in the name of a down payment. The number and value of the options will only help someone decide if they want this car or that car available for the amount of bucks involved.

My dealer jacks up the price of popular preowned car tens of thousands of dollars. Just make an offer you can live with. Let him counter. Tell him its still too high and ask how long it will take to order the car, When he says 2 to 3 months, tell him you are going to check with other dealers and that you will get back to him....then see how long it takes for him to call you back.

Blk04AMG

Wow $87,300! The dealership here was asking $91,000. Pretty much the same options that you had, so I decided to pass. Might drive the S for a little longer, and invest into the E65 AMG.

cte430

That $87.3 was sticker. Was the $91 for an '04 or an '05. Either way, you should not be paying over sticker.

Beowulf

Which is exactly what I did. I looked at both a low-milage '03, as well as a local '04 (still listed on e-Bay, last I looked - local linK): http://www.selectluxury.com/inv_info.php?stock=5387

In the case of the '04, bottom line became the diff on a '04 5K pristine Lexus LS 430 Modern Luxury, Zaino'd to death, with all the bells & whistles. The salesperson tried to convince me that I was getting a steal by showing what they paid for the used E55 and I wouldn't bite. When I asked to speak to the previous owner, they told me he was a local dealer, who trades every 3-4 months and does not accept phone calls or inquiries.

Red flag: Feedback says dealer owners often care less about break-in or mileage vs. real world buyers. Heck, they're not going to be around long enough to care! The saleserson pursued me into the parking lot as I was leaving, saying they were trying to get in touch with the owner for a better deal. I said "no thanks" and drove directly to the closest M-B dealer, where I got the trade-in I wanted and drove out the door with my '05 E55 an hour later.

The '05 choice sure worked for me - just looking for excuses to pile on mileage to get through the 1K break-in period!

pilot20

I thought that the break in period was 1500 miles for the 5.5 L AMG engine. That's what my S class manual says anyway.

Beowulf

1000 miles or 1500 KM in my '05 E55 manual.