Do you know how to spot an Ex Rental MB???

[MSG2004]

Hi

I have my new, 07 plate C Class delivered tomorrow.. chaned from a 53 plate which i had for 4 years & 42k on the clock.

The dealer told my that cars with the 'k' reg at the start usually indicated they belonged to a hire comp - ie, Hert/Avis/etc & usually registered to MB finance House.

If you search through MB dealers web sites & particualrly MB directsite - you will note the vast majority of cars have a reg strting wth the letter 'K'!!

Would you guys agree with me?

 

[The Dent Guy]

Mine starts with a "K" and was supplied by Mercedes Direct in B'ham and was sold as ex-demo 6 months after the date of registration.

So it appears its not necessarily the case that the "K" means it's ex- Hertz or Avis etc

 

[Rory]

I got mine from MB Direct and it starts with a K. I believe it was owned by some sort of MB regional manager (COMAND had the locations of serveral local dealers stored in its memory). It was registered to him at his home address though, not to MB.

I've read elsewhere that all the Mercedes management cars start with K (but the same may well apply to any car leased by MB).

MB Direct were a bit vague about the car - they would only confirm that it hadn't been daily rental and hadn't been returned early due to any fault. Strange really - I would view an ex-MB Management car as a good thing.

 

[TomTanderson]

I am not an expert in this but speaking from what I have observed and filled in the blanks.

Dealers get allocated a block of registrations in advance that that they then use as required. If you buy a new car you can 'choose' from these allocated numbers.

Presumably Mercedes themselves get a large block pre-allocated to them for cars they sell direct (including into the rental channel). All these cars will start with the same region code because that is how they are allocated to Mercedes (possibly related to where there head office is located).

 

[Aletank]

If a registration starts with K, It means it was first registered in either Luton or Northampton .

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/inf104.pdf

 

[jpwilliams]

My Jan 03 W210 starts with a K and was an ex MB management car uesd in Milton Keynes.It was 6 months old and 7,000 miles when I got it and has been fine...now 103,000 miles and smoother and quieter than ever.
You will have the balance of the 3 year warranty with it...just don`t pay too much for it.

Regards
John

 

[MSG2004]

Mine starts with a "K" and was supplied by Mercedes Direct in B'ham and was sold as ex-demo 6 months after the date of registration.

So it appears its not necessarily the case that the "K" means it's ex- Hertz or Avis etc

Yes, you are right. But, generally,they are hire cars from what I can see.
Mine,the one they've taken in p/ex is a 'K' plate but the guy said it belonge to one of their mone/finance guys @ MB - but i beleive it was a hire car, but served me relatively well apart from when i first got it, problem after problem with the suspension - the facelifted one is better from what I've read & have driven for many weeksyears ago as mine was in the garge for several weeks.

 

[MSG2004]

If a registration starts with K, It means it was first registered in either Luton or Northampton .

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/inf104.pdf

Agreed, but just look at the MB & escially the MB direct site - you will note that most C class cars are parked in what looks lke a car compound, which they tell me is an airfield. & about 97% are 'K' reg.

 

[MSG2004]

I got mine from MB Direct and it starts with a K. I believe it was owned by some sort of MB regional manager (COMAND had the locations of serveral local dealers stored in its memory). It was registered to him at his home address though, not to MB.

I've read elsewhere that all the Mercedes management cars start with K (but the same may well apply to any car leased by MB).

MB Direct were a bit vague about the car - they would only confirm that it hadn't been daily rental and hadn't been returned early due to any fault. Strange really - I would view an ex-MB Management car as a good thing.

Ths time I've not bought from MB direct but MB Leeds who will deliver car - reg starts with 'M' - it's one ownner but I did not ak if it was an individual as I think he answer would have been one to win me over. If I'm not more than 97% happy wth the car tomorrow - i will refuse to buy.

The local dealer & others on the phoe were paying me 6k p/x - but Leeds paid me 5500 = which is low but I;'m past selling privately - done 42200 mls & mot's until 01/09/2009 - next service is 'A' @ 2000 miles.

 

[MSG2004]

I am not an expert in this but speaking from what I have observed and filled in the blanks.

Dealers get allocated a block of registrations in advance that that they then use as required. If you buy a new car you can 'choose' from these allocated numbers.

Presumably Mercedes themselves get a large block pre-allocated to them for cars they sell direct (including into the rental channel). All these cars will start with the same region code because that is how they are allocated to Mercedes (possibly related to where there head office is located).

Spot on!

I've never bough a brand new Merc but London reg's are LX, LD, LM/etc - bought several new cars but pre new stye reg & even then you had area reg.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The easiest way is to look on the registration plate, as it will very likely say it's an MB/DC Management car. If it doesn't the V5 will.

"Management" cars are hire cars in all cases I've seen - despite claims that it's someone in dealership or MBUK management.

Second find out where it was serviced, and ask for a copy of the invoice - you'll see who paid the bill.

 

[DC_insider]

MBUK register in the region of 16,000 cars themselves each year. This is roughly 20% of the total number of Mercedes-Benz cars registered.

With very few exceptions these cars will be registered at the Northampton DVLA office so will be issued with a registration number starting KM to KY.

These cars can either be:

1. Ex-company cars. Usually swapped at 9 months or 9,000 miles whichever comes first.

2. Ex-employee loan cars. Employees have the opportunity to lease a car for 9 months at advantageous lease rates. The maximum mileage of the lease is 9,000 miles. Unlike company cars if you go over the mileage limit you cannot return the car early you have to pay an excess mileage fee. I think that this scheme also extended to employees of MB franchises.

3. Ex-daily rental cars. MBUK supplies cars to the big rental companies (Hertz, etc) directly.

4. Ex-project trident cars. A version of the employee loan car scheme was offered to employees of city banks. I think the cars were leased for 2 years.

5. Ex-press fleet cars.

6. Ex-lease cars. I think that MBUK dealt with some of the leasing companies directly. Can't remember who.

All cars are returned to MBUK with the exception of cars leased to employees of dealerships. From recollection if a member of staff at a dealership leased a car then their dealership had the right to buy it at the end of the lease.

When the cars are returned they are inspected (ex-staff cars certainly were and you were charged if any work needed doing).

MB Direct have first pick. They probably buy something like 8-9,000 cars a years from MBUK. They will take the best stuff.

The next best stuff goes to dealer only auctions.

The stuff nobody wants goes to general auctions.

 

[MSG2004]

Hi

You would not know re MK reg - car is being delivered from Leeds to SE London/Greenwich

 

[travelininstyle]

What a fascinating thread.I recently purchased a KY Plate C180K Sports Coupe,from a MB Dealership in Manchester,whom had acquired the car from MB Direct.It appears to fit either categories 1 and 2.The car had approx. 11000 miles on what was a 55 plate - this suggest to low a millage for a 2.5/3 year old car,but would conform to category of an ex-MB Employee car,or 9000 miles/9 month car - as the car was pretty immaculate and the previous owners name on the V5,lived within short radius of MB Manchester Dealership(s) that would make sense.I was at first alarmed by this revelation - but slightly re-assured again,as the MB Dealership suggested,as your thread states,that MB Direct are particularly picky over the cars they source,so I feel slightly better I guess - I presume that they will also look at previous service and warranty issues also when selecting these cars so that they do not end up trying to offload a potentially problematic car - but should they be up front and explain this K/KY phenomena to customers before they buy ?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

If the car is well maintained, does it matter whether it's an ex-Management (hire) car or not?

They're not all ragged to within an inch of their life, and are normally purchased by the second owner with lots of manufacturer warranty remaining.

I had a look at a Management car only last night. Nice colour, low miles, surprisingly good condition, albeit very light on spec. Very good price though.

Very tempted to just have it - I thought I'd sleep on it though as it was 5 minutes to closing time, and would be unlucky for it to sell.

I had a last peek through the drivers window and jumped out of my skin when the central locking activated. Another family made very positive noises about it, so maybe it found it's new owner afterall. It's time had come to be sold.

 

[MSG2004]

What a fascinating thread.I recently purchased a KY Plate C180K Sports Coupe,from a MB Dealership in Manchester,whom had acquired the car from MB Direct.It appears to fit either categories 1 and 2.The car had approx. 11000 miles on what was a 55 plate - this suggest to low a millage for a 2.5/3 year old car,but would conform to category of an ex-MB Employee car,or 9000 miles/9 month car - as the car was pretty immaculate and the previous owners name on the V5,lived within short radius of MB Manchester Dealership(s) that would make sense.I was at first alarmed by this revelation - but slightly re-assured again,as the MB Dealership suggested,as your thread states,that MB Direct are particularly picky over the cars they source,so I feel slightly better I guess - I presume that they will also look at previous service and warranty issues also when selecting these cars so that they do not end up trying to offload a potentially problematic car - but should they be up front and explain this K/KY phenomena to customers before they buy ?

Hi

As you may have noted my exisitng MB, C Class is a KY reg = 53 plate bought in 2004 - loads of probs, this was due to faulty suspevsion - the lighter li would vot close easily and passenger side tyre excessively worn - the local MB were very good &i got weeks of driving CLKs - C Class & E Class Avntgarde models - so if tre is a problem & car is still under warranty, it will be fixed. BTW i demaned two tyres to the front to match - ball joints or omething like that repalced- lazer trackd - car still pulls to the left slightly but no uneven tyre wear!!

I avoided the K re, but have to agre with you other than the bad eperience i had for years ago when i bought the 53 plater over the phone & vo p/x.

This time my 53 plae MB is p/x for the 2007/07 C Avantgarde - bought over the phone - did not see pic as the stick up ny ic on their stes - the bloke said the carlooked great... I had to agree but point out it was a desile and not the c180k petrol i was buying

 

[SEM]

My 53 plate c220 cdi was a K plate it was in top not condition as it was the managers own car at MB Balsall Common. My New 57 plate came 3 months old from the Marketing Directors office out of Milton Keynes...again via MB Direct. even had all her MB contacts in my Comand system from just about every department at MB. This car was showroom condition... not a spot on it.

 

[Dieselman]

. even had all her MB contacts in my Comand system from just about every department at MB. This car was showroom condition... not a spot on it.

How do you know who had the car before you, and I would have thought Mercedes are having the Command directory reprogrammed, if not from a sales enhancement point of view, then for data protection of previous drivers.

If a car went out with a private individuals destinations programmed in there could be a problem if their house was burgled.

As Bobby Dazzler has already pointed out, loads of MB Management cars end up on hire fleets. The term MB Management means the car is part of the Managed fleet, not a MB Manager has been driving it.

 

[Rory]

If a car went out with a private individuals destinations programmed in there could be a problem if their house was burgled.

The BT directory has lots of addresses in it - doesn't mean they're all going to get broken in to.

 

[Rory]

I had a look at a Management car only last night. Nice colour, low miles, surprisingly good condition, albeit very light on spec. Very good price though.

Mine is pretty good spec - C270CDi Avantgarde SE Estate auto with COMAND, phone prep, leather, heated seats. Would have liked Parktronic, although I gather they're often troublesome as the car gets older. I particularly wanted a light colour interior and mine is light grey so that was perfect and I didn't want Sports suspension which most of the ex-MB cars seemed to have.

The car was 5mths old and had done 6000 miles - it looked brand new, apart from a very out of place deepish cut in the centre console, but that was repaired invisibly. Mrs R reckons no-one had ever sat in the back.

It would have listed at about £34K in Oct 04 and I paid £23,500 (they had it up for £26,995) in March 05. It's probably the only car I've bought where I felt happy with the deal.