What's it worth: March 2000 W202 C220CDi Sport Auto

[420SE]

Hi guys,

Due to a lack of use and the fact that we have one car per person in the family already, I am thinking of selling our W202 C220CDi Sport. It's just ticked 80,050 miles, we have owned it since 2010.

Now, with a modern vehicle, it is typically easier to get a valuation as you have AutoTrader and eBay with lots of examples. However, on something that is almost 20 years old, there are almost no precedents.

The closest thing I could find is this, which sold for £1,600, with 159k miles (ours has half that), cloth leather (we have full leather and carbon fibre look trim), minimal options (ours is loaded including staggered AMG wheels) and arch rust (ours also, sadly, has rear wheel arch rust and the alloys on ours deffo need a refurb).

Any idea what our car could be worth? I will put some pics up, perhaps that might help.

 

[420SE]

Here is ours by comparison (rust and missing exterior trim piece highlighted). No issues with the car otherwise.

 

[Eddy77]

I’d guess at somewhere around £1,500. The miles are low and the spec sounds good but the rust and scabby wheels are off putting. If the wheels were done and the rust sorted, probably more like £2,000. The problem I foresee is that unless it is mint, I’m not sure anyone is going to see it as anything more than a twenty year old corroded Mercedes. It could be hard to shift for anything more than low value. Might be better to keep it to get the true value out for you???

 

[420SE]

Thank you, Eddy. I didn't think it was worth huge amounts anyway. I would have guessed the wheels would cost at least £50 to £60 to refurb each, then you would have I would guess another £250 to £300 on the two rear arches.

 

[219]

Sorry to say this , but in your part of the world, the fact that it is an older Diesel will be offputting for many buyers too .

 

[grober]

I would concur with that £1500-£2000 value. Working from that example you gave you might add on £400-500 for the low miles engine and subtract £200 for a wheel refurb. The biggy is the body condition- while the rear wheel arch rust is cosmetic it may be indicative of more widespread rust under all that plastic cladding- particular favourites would be the front spring suspension towers, rear sill jacking points and front rear subframe body mounts. Unfortunately the car comes from an era when Mercedes bodywork/paintwork was not the best and this is going to influence a knowledgeable buyer's perception of risk when purchasing.

 

[420SE]

Thanks for that - I had the car up on the ramps in June and had a look around and also took images. Things like brake lines, for example, looked liked new, even though they have never been replaced or touched. Perhaps that might give possible buyers some comfort.

FRONT

REAR

UNDERCARRIAGE

 

[markjay]

Demand for old Diesel cars is weak in London but stronger elsewhere in the UK, so you might get more for your car if you were able to attract potential buyers from further afield.

Perhaps try advertising in magazines such as Mercedes Enthusiasts or Classic Cars, in addition to the usual Autotrader and eBay.

 

[grober]

Looks pretty good- if advertising the car for sale I would make a point of including such photographs in any advert---likely to attract more MB enthusiasts for that model that way.

 

[Oldbarrack]

Unless you do the wheels and arches I fear you may end up being lucky to get £1500 for it in this climate.

323484018058 | eBay

 

[420SE]

OK, that is very helpful. In terms of advertising, I am thinking several routes.

(a) eBay with a 99p reserve - is that a risky strategy?
(b) MBClub
(c) Specialist publication eg. Classic Cars

I don't want to list on Gumtree, for example, as I wish to avoid the "innit bruvs" brigade, which I have sadly encountered when selling things on there (maybe its a London thing!)

 

[Oldbarrack]

OK, that is very helpful. In terms of advertising, I am thinking several routes.

(a) eBay with a 99p reserve - is that a risky strategy?

The downside with this in my experience is the buyer not showing up at all, or try renegotiating the sale price (Whilst you will still pay fees on original price).

(b) MBClub

Probably a better chance of a buyer at least showing up.

(c) Specialist publication eg. Classic Cars

If it were an estate it would sell, or at least have more interest; saloons - not so much.

I don't want to list on Gumtree, for example, as I wish to avoid the "innit bruvs" brigade, which I have sadly encountered when selling things on there (maybe its a London thing!)

I only used it once, after I had the reg # on retention; but a car for £495 with 12 months MOT back then was considered a good buy.

 

[420SE]

The downside with this in my experience is the buyer not showing up at all, or try renegotiating the sale price (Whilst you will still pay fees on original price).

Does that happen often? Can I reduce this by setting the auction up that anyone with less than 20 feedbacks gets their bid cancelled?

 

[Smart320]

Sold my A210 on Gumtree, to a real enthusiast who lived 200 miles away. Only got one response from my Classic Car advert and he wanted a 40% price cut , needles to say I suggested where he might put his offer

 

[420SE]

Right, looks like I have to consider Gumtree as well then. I will start with an advert here, I'd prefer it if it went to somebody on MBClub, but if not looks like eBay and Gumtree need to be considered.

 

[Smart320]

Suspect it's all down to luck. The forum is a good place to start though, I bought my A210 from a forum member , also without having seen it or even driving one, was delighted with it and only sold it after I bought an SLK

 

[Oldbarrack]

Does that happen often? Can I reduce this by setting the auction up that anyone with less than 20 feedbacks gets their bid cancelled?

Sadly, yes, it does, regardless of feedback, people use their wife's a/c and similar.

The best way to mitigate it, is to state that a non refundable 10% must be paid by Paypal within 2 hours of auction end.
(I suggest the 2 hours, as it's whilst their adrenalin is still pumping, should that fail, offer to the 2nd bidder)
I realise it will cost fees, but there are ways around that.

 

[420SE]

Oldbarrack - can I not claim back the fees if there is a no buy / no show? I recall I was selling a mobile phone a while back and the chap never came to collect, so I got a Final Value Fee Credit from eBay for his non-show. Does this not work with cars?

 

[Oldbarrack]

Oldbarrack - can I not claim back the fees if there is a no buy / no show? I recall I was selling a mobile phone a while back and the chap never came to collect, so I got a Final Value Fee Credit from eBay for his non-show. Does this not work with cars?

Yes, in theory at least; but whilst I don't now know precise details, I suspect unless the entire purchase is paid via Paypal, they may have a get out.
Hence my suggestion to ask for the immediate deposit.

I will be looking into this though, as we have accumulated about 6 cars not traded in, but no longer in regular use;
so I guess I better pull my finger out and find their current details, as cars on ebay usually get better prices than Autotrader, or they used to at least.

If you're still on the fence, I will let you know when I've started getting new MOT's, ready to sell.

 

[420SE]

I doubt I will have the time to get this done, but in theory if I could do one of these, what would be better, to spend £££ to refurb the alloys or to have the rusty arches resolved?