S211 E55 Estate Opinions?

[rockits]

I have been contemplating this one seen not on Ebay but Pistonheads. Anyone viewed it or know anything about this one?

Used 2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 AMG for sale in Worcestershire | Pistonheads

Has missed services under the current owner for a bit although it hasn't done much mileage under this current owner. Seems honest enough and although not high spec I am not too bothered about that.

Just hard to value it at 151k miles with the last few years worth of servicing a little missing.

Any thoughts?

 

[Andrew W]

Nock him down a bit , buy and enjoy, its always
going to be worth £6/7k imo .

 

[rockits]

I agree on both fronts. It seems more like £6k-£7k tops to me rather than £7k-£8k.

 

[E55BOF]

It was last serviced 12K miles ago. I don't see any great problem there unless that was some time ago.

Regarding the price, mine, also a seven-seater, less mileage, a year older, less good spec, went for less than £7k. Admittedly it was for sale at just about the worst time of year to sell a car, but I put it on Gumtree, and on eBay as a classified ad, and the best credible offer I received from either was £6250. That's fact. Some people (yes, even on this forum) have an inflated idea of the value of their cars in a private sale...

I wouldn't pay more than £6.5K for that one at the moment, but it will be worth more in three months' time as the market picks up. Whether the seller would take a low offer depends on how badly he wants it gone now; he's probably hoping for £7.5K.

 

[Will]

I think your old car was probably a bit of an exception price wise Dennis.

Generally E55s seem to bottom out at around £7k which from what I've seen seems to be mainly saloons/very early cars with issues, usually a little unloved, low spec, high mileage/owners or a combination of the above. Normally the estates command a premium, and/or they seem to sell quicker. I am pretty sure you could have got a bit more for yours but then I don't know what it needed to make it A1 or how keen you were to move it on etc. As you say, a few days before Christmas probably isn't an ideal time to sell!

Of course, you can get lucky and pick up a peach for a bargain price, but I don't think that one unusually cheap or expensive example sets a benchmark for all others.

The PH car to me looks really decent. Only negatives for me are the spec is fairly 'low' in terms of optional extras, but then all E55s have a decent standard spec anyway - and if you don't want the extras then I guess it's less to go wrong. Still, it's got seven seats, COMAND and a sunroof which is nice

I really wouldn't worry too much about the mileage - to me the car looks well cared for and genuine. Interior looks almost new - seats unworn, clean and tidy throughout - even the stainless trim for the load area is unmarked. Bodywork looks excellent, so do the wheels. The fact it's only had two owners from new and has full main dealer history to 139k (12k previous) with one specialist since is a pretty good sign that it's been cared for - likewise premium tyres, generally a good sign

If I didn't already have two I'd be tempted to take a look myself. Not too sure on what grounds you'd chip the price down for as it's amongst the cheapest out there and seems in very good condition. Obviously if it needs work or is in much poorer condition than expected - negotiate. But as a seller I think I'd be thinking - find a better one for less money, and I don't see any of those myself at £6k or £7k

 

[rockits]

It was last serviced 12K miles ago. I don't see any great problem there unless that was some time ago.

Regarding the price, mine, also a seven-seater, less mileage, a year older, less good spec, went for less than £7k. Admittedly it was for sale at just about the worst time of year to sell a car, but I put it on Gumtree, and on eBay as a classified ad, and the best credible offer I received from either was £6250. That's fact. Some people (yes, even on this forum) have an inflated idea of the value of their cars in a private sale...

I wouldn't pay more than £6.5K for that one at the moment, but it will be worth more in three months' time as the market picks up. Whether the seller would take a low offer depends on how badly he wants it gone now; he's probably hoping for £7.5K.

Thanks. I think you are spot on in that the seller is hoping for £7.5k but for me at the moment I can only see it at £6.5k. It has been sale for a bit and not sold. It isn't a great time of year to sell but maybe to buy.

It looks decent and honest enough but I don't need it, I am not desperate so £6.5k seems about right to me.

Generally if it was desired, wanted, decent & cheap enough it would normally have sold by now. That surely tells a story in itself.

 

[Will]

Thanks. I think you are spot on in that the seller is hoping for £7.5k but for me at the moment I can only see it at £6.5k. It looks decent and honest enough but I don't need it, I am not desperate so £6.5k seems about right to me.

Generally if it was desired, wanted, decent & cheap enough it would normally have sold by now. That surely tells a story in itself.

Not trying to be funny but why would a seller care if you needed it or not? He doesn't seem desperate to sell either so I don't follow how your circumstances make the car worth less in value terms?

At the end of the day every car is unsold until it does sell. For this time of year I don't think it's unusual for cars to take a while to move. I think it's more a case of people wanting to feel that they've got a bargain rather than actual value for money. If he priced it at £8995 people would be offering £7/8k and would be happy. Or would people rather buy a dog for £6k with cheapskate tyres and no history with ££££s of hidden expenditure on the horizon?

 

[rockits]

I get your point and as a seller I would not care either if a potential buyer were desperate or not bothered to buy. Only reason I mention it is slight mind game comes into play. Some people try their hand at a heavy discount when they really want the car. Some sellers cave in and agree then some say no. Then the buyer says OK then and buys at the higher price anyway.

All I was saying is I would be intesested in this example at £6.5k but less or not interested at £7.5k. Plenty of cars out there that would suffice for the same money.

 

[Will]

I think anyone who's genuinely interested in an E55 Estate would see this car as decent value, although I guess people will have some stigma regards the mileage. That's why it's £8k not £12k+ though.

The fact that you say you don't need one or are even interested at buying it close to the (fair) asking price has little to do with it's value or appeal to others. Bearing in mind the good service history and very low number of owners - and apparently good condition for the age/mileage, why would the seller need to drop £1.5k off the asking price?

Have a good look around, but I doubt you'll find a better example than that anywhere for less money. In fact, I think regardless of mileage/spec (or asking price) I don't think you'll find many others for sale - seem to be a small handful per year that turn up. That one has only had two owners since 2004 so kind of ties in with that - they're good useful cars and most people tend to hang onto them for a good while

 

[michaelk3289]

id pay this guys asking price if i was in the maket for a car like this, which i am (well at least in my dreams i am) i may be looking for a second car to do family taxi stuff, mostly football related with my son, training etc, practical and powerful, can't be too many cars out that can match it, other than fuel economy etc

i would love this but can't justify it financially at the moment, gutted

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Price-wise I'd think nearer £7k is realistic, the big problem for me would be how long it's been stood because that can cause multiple problems.

Either way, say £7k purchase price then budget at least £2-3k then you'd have a sorted one of the best all round cars for less than £10k which in the grand scheme is a bargain. The estate is such a rare car Dean that it is hard to gauge real values.

My E55K estate was a lot better at getting the power down than the saloon I had, I could boot it off a roundabout without worrying where the nearest hedge was. I'm in the market for another 211 AMG estate but the 6.2, if not, I'd have definitely given this a good chance.

 

[E55BOF]

I think your old car was probably a bit of an exception price wise Dennis. I am pretty sure you could have got a bit more for yours but then I don't know what it needed to make it A1 or how keen you were to move it on etc. As you say, a few days before Christmas probably isn't an ideal time to sell!

Spot - on. My priority was to get it off my drive, not the price, or I'd have kept it for a few months and sold it when the market picked up. I was quite surprised by how low the offers actually were, though.

A member on here recently sold what sounded like a decent one which was in the forum classifieds; if he reads this thread, he might like to give us some idea of how much his sold for.

 

[DavidL]

If it has history of big things being replaced - SBC, airmatic struts/pump and general good maintenance then that's worth the money.The mileage will put some people off and by the time you have run it for a couple of years and the mileage is up at 170k then moving it on could be fun.
At this time of year if it needs to go anything over £7k would have to be acceptable. Give it 3 or 4 months and closer to the asking.
If it were me then £6.5k would get a very firm no.

 

[E55BOF]

My E55K estate was a lot better at getting the power down than the saloon I had, I could boot it off a roundabout without worrying where the nearest hedge was.

Now that's interesting. I've wondered why I've never lost it under power, and assumed I simply wasn't trying hard enough. Maybe it isn't just for that reason...