How can I value and sell a very low mileage E500 estate?

[MikeInWimbledon]

I am NOT selling this car today, but this summer I want to sell my 50k miles 2004 E500 Estate, which is immaculate and essentially one owner.

If you looked for one, you couldn't find it. They just don't exist.

Would really appreciate input. Should I do a deal with a dealer? Try some kind of specialist forum? Just jump into the usual autotrader / piston head solution?

And how can I begin to price it?

To be clear: I don't want any approaches, privately or from dealers today.

I'm just looking for advice on how to sensibly sell an immaculate, low mileage, high spec 11 year old car.

 

[merc85]

some pics would be nice lol

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Understood.....

But I'm not trying to sell the car today.....

Just trying to chew over how to sell it when I do...

Mercedes Enthusiast magazine?

Brilliant silver, black premium leather, sunroof, all the toys. 50k miles. Always garaged. Bought by an 80 year old PLC director and owned for 10 years.

 

[merc85]

Looks lovely i had luck with Pistonheads and Car and Classic when ive sold my previous mb's

 

[whitenemesis]

We just like pictures of Mercs

Offer it on this forum.

Check prices for the saloon and add a percentage (10-20%) premium for being the estate?

 

[renault12ts]

But I'm not trying to sell the car today.....

Just trying to chew over how to sell it when I do...

Mercedes Enthusiast magazine?

Brilliant silver, black premium leather, sunroof, all the toys. 50k miles. Always garaged. Bought by an 80 year old PLC director and owned for 10 years.

Nice...how much are you selling it for?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

But how do I price it?

But where do I find a price for an immaculate, high spec, 50k miles, essentially one owner 2004 E500?

They don't exist.

Oh, and what's a realistic price, as opposed to "someone's put in an Ad but doesn't have a cat's chance of ever getting it" price....

(BTW Don't panic MB Owners, I'm not leaving the fold, I've just switched to a similar SL500)

 

[MBDevotee]

I would look on eBay and Autotrader.

Remember the rule - if a car is not on Autotrader, it's not really for sale - and I think that's pretty much true.

Get yourself a Glass's guide (beg, borrow, ask someone for a looksee) and get the retail price (which will be based on around 10k per yr for a car like that.

Then, work out what it's worth to you.

Pay for a really really good valet - £70+ job where they clean EVERYTHING.

Advertise it 2 months before you ACTUALLY want to sell it, asking £1500 more than you really want for it.

If it sells, brill (you can hire a car for the 2 months you didn't really want to sell it in.

If it doesn't sell, re-list it at what you actually want for it (plus a tiny bit of wriggle room) and wait.

Remember, not everyone wants a 5.0 car now, so be prepared for it to take a while.

What figure do YOU have in your head for it?

What will hit you hard is that it looks pretty basic spec (I can't see a heated seat button for eg) and "plain jane" alloys - someone buying a E500 will want all the toys and fancy alloys at a minimum - however what you need is someone who wants a true "sleeper" - what they used to call a "Q car"....

 

[whitenemesis]

Is that a picture of your car's interior?

No Distronic, no heated or ventilated seats, no Comfort seats? No exclusive leather? No Keyless Go?

 

[merc85]

I think around £6,999 seen ones with around 100k for £3,500 -4k, there's a gold one on the bay atm at around £5,500 thats done 154k.

 

[whitenemesis]

TBH I'm not sure low mileage on a car that age commands much of a price hike. Different for a relatively young (3-4yrs) car

A 10yr old car that has sat in a garage most of it's life, or worst still only done very short journeys is potentially more troublesome than a well maintained regularly driven high miler. IMHO of course...

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

All good advice.

Yes, Plain Jane Spec E500 Elegance: heated, electric seats, perforated but not ventilated leather, standard 17 inch E500 Elegance wheels. No need to valet it, it had a proper £250 detail last winter, and has always been garaged.

But it's not really about glass roof, folding mirrors, or Avantage versus Elegance... I think.

It's how do you value a 50k car, with 12 MB main dealer service invoices in a two inch thick history file?

How can I compare it to a 150k mile car, with 4 owners and "patchy" servicing?

And what's the best way to sell it? MB Enthusiast? A fancy dealership?



Ps. Yes, with 300bhp and that 7 speed box, it's a Q car.

 

[merc85]

How can I compare it to a 150k mile car, with 4 owners and "patchy" servicing?
And what's the best way to sell it? MB Enthusiast? A fancy dealership?

Ps. Yes, with 300bhp and that 7 speed box, it's a Q car.

Imo id stick with £6,999 for not to much more you can get a e55k,

A remapped e320 cdi similar miles will have more torque and far better mpg than the e500 would also be available at around the £6,995 too

 

[gaz_l]

E500s are rare for a reason; most people don't want a 5 litre V8 and those that do will generally buy the AMG. This means your target market is small, so you can do one of two things - price it high and sit tight waiting for someone who really wants the car, or pitch it low and get it shifted quickly - everyone loves a bargain.

Dealers will offer you rubbish money for it for the reasons stated above, they won't want to sit on it until the right buyer comes along. Forums will increase your chances of finding an enthusiast who's in the market for something a bit different. I actually know someone who might be interested.

Good luck with the sale, when it comes to it - it looks like a nice car.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Fair point

It's not an estate car for an E55 or a CD320 fan. More a family car for an SL500 fan, or even a Bmw 550i fan.

It's all about smooth ride and petrol V8

Something for a Doctor, or someone horsey

All about the right person....

 

[Giantvanman]

It's not an estate car for an E55 or a CD320 fan. More a family car for an SL500 fan, or even a Bmw 550i fan.

It's all about smooth ride and petrol V8

Something for a Doctor, or someone horsey

All about the right person....

Hello! I've got quite a long face and I'll offer six hundred and ninety five quid and I can't say fairer than that.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

All about the right person....

Very clean example it looks like you have but that sentence alone hits the nail on the head; it's only ever really going to be an enthusiast that'll buy an 11 year old V8 petrol estate with walnut trim. The horsey types I know either drive 4x4's or the cheapest possible runner they can find.

Either way, if there is someone out there looking for a car of that kind in sure they'll snap yours up.

 

[Howard]

Yes, Plain Jane Spec E500 Elegance: heated, electric seats, perforated but not ventilated leather, standard 17 inch E500 Elegance wheels. No need to valet it, it had a proper £250 detail last winter, and has always been garaged. But it's not really about glass roof, folding mirrors, or Avantage versus Elegance... I think. It's how do you value a 50k car, with 12 MB main dealer service invoices in a two inch thick history file? How can I compare it to a 150k mile car, with 4 owners and "patchy" servicing? And what's the best way to sell it? MB Enthusiast? A fancy dealership? Ps. Yes, with 300bhp and that 7 speed box, it's a Q car.

If it's any help , I picked up a 50k mile one owner cls500 on an 05 plate for £8.5k last November

It's got all the toys , air shocks , immaculate , FSH , lovely.

An estate is a bit of a different kettle of fish , different market , but I would think you'd get £6k for it all day long , maybe a bit more.

 

[stumpy1]

We got 5.5k recently for a loaded (vented seats, the lot) 350 petrol estate with under 50k miles on an 05.

 

[gIzzE]

I went and looked at a silver E500 estate with 43k miles on it a couple of months back, it was on Autotrader for quite a while, it was an avantgarde and it was immaculate, it had been serviced every year on the dot at Mercedes, it had every MOT and every tax disc and receipts for all other work carried out, it was up for £6995 and I was very tempted with it.

I sold my ML to buy it, but in the end decided I couldn't personally live with the black interior, but I know many do prefer it over beige or grey leather so that is not a negative, just wasn't right for me. The guy selling it did call me back and ask if I was interested at £6k but I really wanted a black one with beige if going for one.

I do think those looking for a thirsty V8 might want heated seats etc. though.

But see how you get on at £7k, while the dreamers are out there asking £7k for a 150k mile one it will make yours look an absolute bargain!