Selling our cars

[chris clk320]

Gents,

I need to thin out my car collection so the CLK320 convertible will probably go, whilst I know everyone says that they have a good one. Mine is pretty good I think.

1 owner 65000 miles lots of extras unmodified full service history. No rust at all.Silver with Blue roof Grey leather.

I have been recently following the Historics at Brooklands Classic car auctions seems a bit of a Bonhams/COYS for normal/modern classics

Historics at Brooklands - Specialist Classic and Sports Car Auctioneers - Homepage

Any thoughts on putting a "future classic" into such an auction. Of course you can put a reserve on the cars but still needs to be at a sensible level.

So whats the best way to get sensible money?

Ebay, Auto trader, Forum, Auction

I want reasonable money and clearly just want to get the best I can.

 

[jamesfuller]

Ebay is good for picking up bargains but selling on there its 90% chance you wont hear from the winning bidder! If you do they will try and bargain after the auction. don't waste your time!

Get some good pics and advertise on the forum and any others you go on. Also Merc enthusiast magazine!

 

[Ten elena]

Haven't sold on there, so don't know what that's like, but when looking for a car, Autotrader is my personal first place to look.

 

[Will]

Use eBay but do a classified advert - £15.00 and just advertises the car with your contact details rather than an auction.

Better exposure than autotrader - let's be honest we all look on eBay at cars

You can put better/more pictures on and a better description - plus your feedback helps reassure people who they're dealing with

IMHO of course

 

[jamesfuller]

I'm always browsing, usually it starts on ebay, then sometimes a look on ph or a look through various other forums. I have never looked on autotrader. I just assume anything special/interesting or very nice will be in that type of forum or for a quick bargain sale on ebay. I have always assumed auto trader was just for the average Mondeo/Insignia stuff.

 

[mabz]

I once had a car advertised on pistonheads and got no victims whatsoever so I tried ebay and no word of a lie it was sold within 10 minutes for full asking price. autotrader can be good for hidden gems as you get old duffer's using it (bit of a generalisation and no offence) so there's a few rarities amongst the plastic ice cream tubs on wheels. at the end of the day there's pond scum on every site that you use however if you go down the route of taking 30-50 decent pics of the car paste a photobucket link of the pics and write a detailed description of the car that filter's many knuckle draggers out.
also the market is drowned with a lot of modern cars so people can be as picky as they like that's why you have to lure them in with a decent ad imo.
best of luck with the sale sounds like a nice low miler

 

[EClassy]

Please can you put a few details on here and price. Is the one owner you?

 

[chris clk320]

Hi

Thanks for the responses, I will deffo avoid ebay auction as I just wont give it away for 2-3k

I wanted to attract the enthusiast so thought about the historics auction but have emailed them and todate have had no response!

I am the second owner of the car so its a 1 previous owner.

Attached is a pic its not a very good one it was dirty as being parked under a tree!

Few more details
its a 2000 plate facelift CLK320 W208
got a few optional extras like power fold wing mirrors and park sensors etc...
The wheels are original ronals but refurbed in gun metal grey. Controversial they have been a talking point! been approached in the carpark to discuss!! Still I like them.

Everything works except the dash pixels which I have a kit to repair or I will get it repired.

I think ebay classifieds might be the way forward with as you have said a photo bucket link to a lot of good photo's.
Ideally I would Like £4.5k I know its top end for it really wont let it go 2-3k that the ebay auctions seem to get.

I need to concentrate on my W124 that has been relegated to the garage.

Always welcome your thoughts and wisdom.

 

[Will]

You can ask whatever you like for a car - but ultimately buyers dictate what they're worth!

It sounds okay, don't like the wheels at all tbh. It's a 2 owner car btw, new buyer will be the third registered keeper..!

65k miles pretty low - what's the service history like? When was it last done - plugs/discs/ATF etc?

Have you had any paintwork done? Most CLKs go rusty so they've normally been resprayed.

IMHO - get the wheels repainted in silver, fix the instrument cluster, get it properly cleaned up and do a proper advert. It's the right sort of weather to try and sell a convertible which should help :thumbs:

Start at £4.5k but maybe keep an eye on prices of others and listen to genuine offers

 

[chris clk320]

I cant see any signs of rust when I bought it I cleaned out all of the arches and gave them a massive coat of wax under the lips so no bubbling there or on the boot.

Even had the plastic sill trims removed and cleaned out the crud underneath as I learnt is a rot spot from my W124.

Servicing it was done on the schedule. discs look ok but must be getting close on the pads.

I have another set of the same wheels I might get refurbed as original to keep it standard.

I am sure you will see a link to the car for sale soon enough I think.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

...Servicing it was done on the schedule. discs look ok but must be getting close on the pads. I have another set of the same wheels I might get refurbed as original to keep it standard.

The spark plug change is important on these, so if you're looking for top money buyers would expect to see evidence of that being done.

Good idea on the wheels, I've got gunmetal AMGs only my W203 however a connoseiur is more likely to want the original finish.

Good luck with the sale, now the weather is getting brighter a great time to sell a convertible.

 

[MercedesDriver]

Ebay is good for picking up bargains but selling on there its 90% chance you wont hear from the winning bidder! If you do they will try and bargain after the auction. don't waste your time!

Get some good pics and advertise on the forum and any others you go on. Also Merc enthusiast magazine!

This is a myth. I have sold all my Mercs on eBay auctions and never had any issue with buyers. All of them paid deposit via PayPal immediately and rest on collection. No bargain no hustle.
Make an honest description, spend some time making good photos, give as much as possible service details and you will be happy with your sale.
Regarding forum and Merc enthusiast magazine ads I agree with you.

 

[Will]

This is a myth. I have sold all my Mercs on eBay auctions and never had any issue with buyers.

How does one persons experience (yours) invalidate those of many others?

It's not a myth. eBay is full of no-show buyers and sellers who don't describe cars properly either.

I've been selling cars on eBay since the early years and would be unlikely to ever auction a car on there these days. I would hazard a guess that I've sold a good few more cars on there over the years than most others (including yourself) and many of those have been Mercs too.

People bid on cars on eBay then don't proceed for a number or reasons. They either suffer buyer's remorse (wonder if they've overpaid, or see something else they might like instead), realise that they live miles away and can't be bothered to travel, get told by their partners that they shouldn't have bought the item, realise that the insurance is too much, or that they haven't enough cash, etc...

I've heard loads of excuses over the years. It's just the way eBay works, unfortunately there's not a lot you can do about it.

I now advertise lower value stuff on Gumtree and have been very impressed. Pistonheads is good for the more specialist/enthusiast cars. Both FOC for me as a private seller.

As I said already, eBay classified is ok, you get the same level of exposure as an auction without the hassle of timewasters. And at least the advert stays valid for longer (30 days) to reach a wider audience. Genuine buyers will just call up or email and arrange a viewing with a view to purchase.

Better for them too as they can see what they're buying before hand.

 

[MercedesDriver]

How does one persons experience (yours) invalidate those of many others?

And "others" is you?

I was just giving my view on subject and suggestions how to prepare ebay ad.

My humble apologies to "others"

 

[Howard]

My neighbour just sold his car ( w203 c320 in azurite with full amg kit and wheels ) on eBay eventually ...

6 messers ( my son clicked 'buy' , what is best price ( after they had won ) , hagglers , no shows and general idiots ) before he eventually got rid of it.

Nightmare

 

[Will]

My neighbour just sold his car ( w203 c320 in azurite with full amg kit and wheels ) on eBay eventually ...

6 messers ( my son clicked 'buy' , what is best price ( after they had won ) , hagglers , no shows and general idiots ) before he eventually got rid of it.

Nightmare

I saw that on eBay a couple of months ago. I was selling a W203 at the time too.

I sold mine through Gumtree in the end, I tried eBay as well.

 

[Will]

And "others" is you?

I was just giving my view on subject and suggestions how to prepare ebay ad.

My humble apologies to "others"

No, others is not just me. Have a look on eBay, there's loads of cars that are relisted time and again.

Obviously a good advert is important whatever medium you advertise on.

 

[chris clk320]

My original thoughts was using Histircs at Brooklands and look what has turned up at the June Sale.

I will be watching that one with a guide of £4-£5,500 I would be well chuffed with anything starting with a £4.....

They have a lot of Modern classics quite a few SL's of varying ages.

I think originality and service histy is key at these types of sale.

On ebay anything I sell from CD's to DVD players I always use a fixed price listing people either know they want it or they don't.

I think with auctions you get a lot of Red Wine encouraged buyers on Saturday night!! That's how I ended up with my W124!

 

[chris clk320]

Historics at Brooklands - Specialist Classic and Sports Car Auctioneers - 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Convertible

Opps here's the link