Wednesday 3rd June 2009

Gone In 60 Seconds

Part 3 of V8mate's guide to the auction scene

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If you enjoy going to motorsport events, the sound of the cars starting up always gets the hairs on the back of your neck tingling. Whether it’s your first time or you’re an old hand, the thrill of hearing the motors leap into life is always one of the highlights of the day.

Having filled your belly with tea and watched the cars start to stream through the auction hall, you’ll start to feel the first butterflies in your stomach as the first car on your short-list gets closer in the running order. You have given the exterior a good going over, peered through the glass but now you want to see and hear some evidence of its mechanical competence. So you leave the hall, go back out into the lot and wait for its driver to turn up.

Does it open with a blip of the key-fob or is the driver struggling to get a dead car open? You ask the friend who has accompanied you to stand strategically at the rear of the car to see what might splutter its way out of the exhaust and wait on tenterhooks as the driver starts the car, your eyes fixed on the dash, watching all of the system lights go out and the vehicle settle to tick over.

Your stomach settles a little. The car has started cleanly and promptly; no untoward rattles, noises or emissions. But you know that you have little more than two minutes between this vehicle sitting out in the quiet of the yard and it coming before the auctioneer. As it pulls away to join the queue for the auction hall you start to make your way methodically round. Each time it stops, you open a door or the boot or the glove-box, looking for marks, stains, rust; anything for a clue of a shadowy past. You dig under the boot carpet, searching for the spare wheel and checking around its holder for any sign of repaired damage.

Then you’re back with the driver. Is the engine management light on or off? If it’s on, what’s the cause? Does the system just need a reset or is it hinting at painful bills to come? You have to condense every question you might ask in an hour buying a car privately into two minutes; and there’s only you providing the answers. How do the professionals do it? Many of them never leave the auction hall; they make their mind up walking round each car just once!

Your car is now a mater of seconds from demanding its sixty seconds from the auctioneer. Convinced you’ve found exactly what you’ve been looking for, you watch the few cars ahead of yours go through. But what on earth is the auctioneer saying? You can barely understand a word!

Regular auction-goers will soon pick-up each individual auctioneer’s phrases and nuances. As an occasional buyer you need to be absolutely on your guard. They will start with a brief summary of the vehicle and then ask ‘Who’ll give me £x,000 for this car?’ What seems like an honest question on the face of it can be a pit ready for you to fall into. Some auctioneers will use that question to propose a sensible starting price. This can often save time as an experienced buyer will immediately respond with an acknowledging bid. Other auctioneers will pitch that suggested start price at anywhere between the vendor’s reserve, so the likely end-point of all bids, right out to the retail value of the car or beyond.  Hopefully you will have done some homework regarding the price of cars you favour but, whatever you do, don’t dive in to bidding; let someone else make the opening bid. If it’s more than you wanted to pay, you haven’t lost anything anyway.

Now, you may have thought that once an opening bid, or even several, have been made, that it’s safe to join the throng. Shockingly, it is still not uncommon for auctioneers to engage in ‘bidding off the wall’. They will start to rattle off bids as if the car is very popular; the process designed to snare people into bidding who are either not concentrating on the auctioneer or who are nervous and don’t want to miss out on a car which is bid and then sold in short order. If you are attending with a friend, get them stand across the car from you and when bidding starts, the two of you should scan the hall to identify who is bidding. If the auctioneer has genuine bid interest he will look and point at each person who bids; use that to spot the ‘competition’.

So your car is next up. You’ve checked it out, you’ve decided on the maximum you’ll pay for it and you’re ready to deal with the auctioneer. Next week, we’ll look at the possible sale outcomes of your chosen lot, methods of deciding how much to pay and one way of bagging a bargain which the trade may steer clear of.

This week’s auction price list (see thread below) is an example of a major clearance by two manufacturer’s finance arms: BMW/MINI and Mercedes/Smart. With 250 prices, it will hopefully represent a major snapshot of these marques which are ever popular with PHers and, given the impact on prices, colours have been included this week too. Bear in mind that the vast majority of these, especially those under 3 years old, will have been purchased by main dealers, hence the high prices. So don’t be surprised if you can find the odd cheaper example on Autotrader. The BMW/MINI entries were almost all valeted to BMW retail standards and dealers will improve their margin on each car through BMW (UK) bonuses for selling them through the ‘Approved Used’ scheme.

Part one can be found here

Part two can be found here

[SiMan]

Year	Plate	Make	Model	Detail	Colour	Mileage	Price	Status
2006	06	BMW	116i	ES 5dr	Jet Black	23k	7400	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	116i	SE 5dr	Jet Black	26k	9100	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	116i	ES 5dr	Titanium Silver	18k	8300	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	118D	SE 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	24k	8300	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	118D	SE 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	28k	8200	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	118D	Sport 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	26k	8100	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	118D	Sport 5dr	Titanium Silver	21k	10300	SOLD
2006	55	BMW	118D	Sport 5dr	Havanna Met	26k	8100	SOLD
2006	55	BMW	118D	Sport 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	31k	9600	SOLD
2006	55	BMW	118D	SE 5dr	Titanium Silver	22k	9300	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	118D	SE 3dr	Black Sapphire	21k	12100	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	118D	SE 5dr	Titanium Silver	11k	12400	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	118i	ES 5dr	Titanium Silver	24k	7400	SOLD
2006	55	BMW	118i	Sport 5dr	Monaco Blue	44k	8100	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	118i	SE 5dr	Sydney Blue	18k	8700	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	118i	Sport 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	15k	9600	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	118i	ES Step Auto 5dr	Japan Red	6k	9600	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	120D	ES 5dr	Sydney Blue	15k	8400	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	120D	SE 5dr Step Auto	Black Sapphire	27k	9400	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	120D	SE 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	27k	9700	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	120D	M Sport 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	37k	13200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	120i	SE Step Auto 5dr	Sparkling Graphite	16k	11000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	130i	M Sport 5dr	Black Sapphire	34k	13000	SOLD
2003	53	BMW	318CI	Sport Coupe	Orient Blue	28k	8500	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	318CI	Sport Convertible	Sparkling Graphite	27k	12800	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	318CI	M Sport Convertible (old shape)	Sparkling Graphite	26k	14000	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	318D	ES 4dr	Jet Black	50k	9800	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	318D	M Sport Touring	Le Mans Blue	44k	14000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	318i	ES 4dr	Mystic Blue	41k	9800	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	318i	ES 4dr	Titanium Silver	31k	9300	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	318i	ES 4dr	Titanium Silver	50k	9100	SOLD
2004	53	BMW	320D	ES Estate	Titanium Silver	101k	4000	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	320D	SE 4dr	Monaco Blue	34k	9500	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	320D	SE Auto 4dr	Black Sapphire	27k	11600	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	320D	M Sport Auto 4dr	Le Mans Blue	23k	14200	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	320D	SE 4dr	Black Sapphire	23k	11500	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	320D	SE 4dr	Sparkling Graphite	61k	9700	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	320D	SE Auto 4dr	Sparkling Graphite	26k	12400	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	320D	M Sport 4dr	Sparkling Graphite	51k	12800	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	320D	M Sport 4dr	Black Sapphire	33k	13300	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	320D	SE 4dr	Sonora	58k	10100	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	320D	ES 4dr	Arctic Metallic	19k	11000	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	320D	SE 4dr	Mystic Blue	20k	12000	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	320D	SE Auto 4dr	Titanium Silver	28k	14800	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	320D	SE Coupe	Titanium Silver	8k	17700	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	320D	SE Coupe	Space Grey	12k	17700	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	320D	SE Coupe	Sparkling Graphite	9k	18800	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	320D	SE Coupe	Titanium Silver	11k	18500	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	320i	SE 4dr	Titanium Silver	50k	8200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	320i	M Sport 4dr	Le Mans Blue	11k	14100	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	320i	SE Auto 4dr	Sparkling Graphite	20k	12500	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	320i	M Sport Coupe	Black Sapphire	30k	17200	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	320i	SE Coupe	Sparkling Graphite	8k	17300	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	320i	M Sport Step Auto Convertible	Crimson Red	15k	24200	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	320i	M Sport Convertible	Le Mans Blue	12k	24900	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	320i	SE Convertible	Black Sapphire	7k	21800	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	320i	SE Convertible	Platinum Bronze	10k	23600	SOLD
2002	52	BMW	325CI	Auto Convertible	Titanium Silver	41k	10200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	325CI	SE Auto Coupe (old shape)	Silver Grey	12k	12500	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	325CI	M Sport Auto Convertible	Jet Black	22k	16200	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	325i	SE Touring	Titanium Silver	32k	14700	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	325i	SE Auto 4dr	Deep Green	19k	14800	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	325i	SE Coupe	Sparkling Graphite	19k	16400	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	325i	SE Auto Touring	Titanium Silver	35k	13500	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	325i	M Sport Auto Touring	Titanium Silver	11k	20300	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	325i	SE Auto Touring	Sparkling Graphite	18k	15200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	330CD	M Sport Convertible	Sparkling Graphite	34k	16800	SOLD
2003	53	BMW	330CI	Sport Auto Coupe	Black Sapphire	38k	9800	SOLD
2002	52	BMW	330CI	Sport Auto Convertible	Topaz Blue	34k	11000	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	330CI	Sport Convertible	Black Sapphire	15k	15400	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	330D	M Sport 4dr	Le Mans Blue	26k	15300	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	330D	SE Coupe	Black Sapphire	18k	17200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	330D	SE 4dr	Sparkling Graphite	54k	11000	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	335D	M Sport Auto Touring	Black Sapphire	28k	22000	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	520D	SE 4dr	Silver Grey	38k	10900	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	M Sport Auto 4dr	Mystic Blue	14k	18800	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	520D	SE 4dr	Black Sapphire	18k	16200	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	520D	M Sport 4dr	Jet Black	54k	14900	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	520D	SE 4dr	Platinum Grey	16k	18700	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	SE Touring	Mystic Blue	45k	12100	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	M Sport Touring	Carbon Black	28k	16600	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	SE Touring	Jet Black	27k	15200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	SE Touring	Titanium Silver	33k	14800	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	525D	SE 4dr	Amethyst Grey	44k	10400	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	525D	M Sport Auto Saloon	Carbon Black	20k	16900	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	525D	M Sport Step Auto 4dr	Carbon Black	29k	24700	SOLD
2004	54	BMW	530D	SE Auto 4dr	Black Sapphire	36k	12000	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	530D	M Sport Auto 4dr	Silver Grey	46k	18800	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	530D	M Sport Auto 4dr	Titanium Silver	42k	17900	SOLD
2004	04	BMW	530i	SE Auto 4dr	Titanium Silver	26k	9700	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	535D	Sport Auto 4dr	Carbon Black	20k	18800	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	535D	M Sport Auto Saloon	Deep Sea Blue	15k	22800	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	630i	Auto Coupe	Stratus Grey	30k	19200	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	630i	Sport Auto Coupe	Black Sapphire	6k	29000	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	630i	Auto Convertible	Mineral Silver	21k	21300	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	630i	Auto Convertible	Mystic Blue	33k	23000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	630i	Sport Auto Convertible	Black Sapphire	18k	28200	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	645CI	Auto Coupe	Black Sapphire	13k	22300	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	650i	Sport Auto Coupe	Blue Onyx (Indv.)	54k	22000	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	730D	SE 4dr Auto	Titanium Silver	56k	13400	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	730D	Sport Auto Saloon	Monaco Blue	19k	18700	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	730D	Sport Auto Saloon	Titanium Silver	36k	20000	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	730D	Sport Auto Saloon	Sterling Grey	41k	19400	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	730D	SE Auto (new wheels + tyres)	Black Sapphire	15k	23800	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	730D	Sport Auto Saloon	Black Sapphire	24k	21000	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	730D	SE Auto Saloon	Black Sapphire	15k	22900	SOLD
2007	56	BMW	730D	SE Auto Saloon	Black Sapphire	10k	21000	SOLD
2008	08	BMW	730D	SE Auto Saloon	Black Sapphire	4k	26800	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	730LD	SE Auto LWB Saloon	Black Sapphire	24k	20600	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	730LD	SE Auto LWB Saloon	Black Sapphire	30k	25900	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	730LI	SE Auto LWB Saloon	Sterling Grey	9k	22100	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	740i	Auto Saloon	Monaco Blue	8k	21200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	M3	CS Coupe	Interlagos Blue	34k	23300	SOLD
2004	54	BMW	X3	2.5i Sport Auto	Black Sapphire	46k	11300	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	X3	2.5i Sport Auto	Silver Grey	45k	10900	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	X3	3.0d M Sport Auto	Black Sapphire	25k	17200	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	X3	2.0D M Sport	Black Sapphire	40k	14600	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	X3	2.0D SE	Flamenco Red	24k	14200	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	X3	3.0d M Sport Auto	Mystic Blue	29k	15900	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	X3	2.0D Sport	Silver Grey	20k	16100	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	X3	2.0D Sport	Titanium Silver	27k	15000	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	X3	2.0D SE	Titanium Silver	27k	15800	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	X3	2.0D M Sport	Jet Black	16k	17400	SOLD
2003	53	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Titanium Silver	72k	12200	SOLD
2004	04	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Black Sapphire	70k	14400	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Sterling Grey	54k	17100	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto (no nav)	Sterling Grey	38k	15900	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Black Sapphire	28k	18800	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	X5	3.0d SE Auto	Sterling Grey	42k	19900	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Black Sapphire	43k	17900	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Titanium Silver	37k	17200	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	X5	3.0d Sport Auto	Titanium Silver	39k	18300	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	X5	3.0d SE Auto (new shape)	Black Sapphire	31k	28000	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	X5	3.0d M Sport Auto (new shape)	Carbon Black	20k	33400	SOLD
2003	03	BMW	Z4	2.5i Roadster	Sterling Grey	37k	9200	SOLD
2004	04	BMW	Z4	2.2i SE Roadster	Titanium Silver	32k	10600	SOLD
2004	04	BMW	Z4	2.5i SE Roadster	Black Sapphire	26k	10800	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	Z4	3.0i SE Roadster	Sterling Grey	32k	12400	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	Z4	2.0i SE Roadster	Titanium Silver	40k	10900	SOLD
2006	55	BMW	Z4	2.0i SE Roadster	Black Sapphire	20k	12600	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	Z4	3.0SI Sport Roadster	Midnight Blue	24k	15800	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	Z4	3.0SI Sport Auto Roadster	Midnight Blue	11k	19100	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	Z4	3.0SI SE Roadster	Silver Grey	5k	16900	SOLD
2007	56	BMW	Z4	2.5SI Sport Roadster	Monaco Blue	12k	17200	SOLD
2007	57	MINI	Clubman	1.6 Cooper (CHILI + TLC)	Lightning Blue	26k	10300	SOLD
2005	55	MINI	One	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Liquid Yellow	33k	6000	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	One	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Astro Black	18k	7400	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	One	1.6 3dr (Pepper + TLC)	Astro Black	28k	8000	SOLD
2005	55	MINI	One	1.6 3dr (Pepper + TLC)	Pepper White	17k	8000	SOLD
2006	55	MINI	One	1.6 Convertible (SALT + TLC)	Hot Orange	28k	8400	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	One	1.6 Convertible (Pepper + TLC)	Hyper Blue	15k	9800	SOLD
2006	56	MINI	One	1.6 Convertible (Pepper + TLC)	Pepper White	23k	10700	SOLD
2004	54	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC)	Black II	39k	6800	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC)	Hyper Blue	32k	9000	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC)	Astro Black	43k	8300	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (Pepper + TLC)	Pure Silver	24k	8500	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC)	Astro Black	31k	8800	SOLD
2007	07	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Astro Black	12k	9400	SOLD
2007	07	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Astro Black	15k	9300	SOLD
2007	07	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr Auto n/s (CHILI + TLC)	Pepper White	14k	12800	SOLD
2007	57	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr	Astro Black	13k	9900	SOLD
2007	57	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Astro Black	15k	9400	SOLD
2005	55	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible (Pepper + TLC)	Black-eye Purple	19k	10300	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Hyper Blue	21k	10900	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Astro Black	30k	10900	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Pure Silver	24k	11600	SOLD
2006	56	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Chili Red	20k	11300	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Pepper White	22k	11100	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Dark Silver	35k	9000	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 with JCW Kit (TLC)	Hyper Blue	17k	12700	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 3dr (TLC)	Dark Silver	36k	9600	SOLD
2006	56	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC)	Astro Black	19k	12400	SOLD
2007	56	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC)	Dark Silver	18k	14000	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Black-eye Purple	14k	12500	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	Dark Silver	18k	13000	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 Auto Convertible (CHILI + TLC)	British Racing Green	12k	13000	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A150	Classic SE 5dr	Polar Silver	22k	6400	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A150	Elegance SE 5dr	Polar Silver	21k	7450	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A150	Elegance SE 3dr	Atoll Blue	23k	6950	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A150	Avantgarde SE 5dr	Polar Silver	22k	7250	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A170	Classic SE 5dr	Atoll Blue	29k	6900	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A180	CDI Avantgarde SE 5dr	Reef Blue	36k	8300	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	A180	CDI Classic SE Tip Auto 5dr	Saturn Red	35k	7500	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	A180	CDI Avantgarde SE 3dr	Cosmos Black	25k	8700	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	B150	SE 5dr	Polar Silver	9k	11200	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	B150	SE (Sport pack)	Cosmos Black	12k	11650	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	B150	SE 5dr	Polar Silver	8k	10050	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	B170	SE Tip Auto	Polar Silver	15k	10050	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	B180	CDI Classic SE Tip Auto 5dr	Polar Silver	38k	10350	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	B180	CDI SE CVT Auto	Lotus Blue	11k	15900	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	B200	CDI SE Tip Auto	Horizon Blue	30k	12050	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	C180K	Avantgarde SE Auto Saloon	Perlite Grey	52k	10600	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	C180K	Avantgarde SE Auto Saloon	Jasper Blue	10k	13600	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	C180K	Classic SE Auto Estate	Obsidian Black	24k	12350	SOLD
2007	56	Mercedes	C180K	Avantgarde SE Auto Estate	Diamond Black	34k	12500	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	C180K	Sport Auto Saloon (n/s)	Tenorite Grey	20k	18400	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C180K	SE Auto Saloon (n/s)	Obsidian Black	16k	16100	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C180K	SE Auto Saloon (n/s)	Tenorite Grey	16k	16200	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C180K	SE Auto Saloon (n/s)	Cubanite Silver	14k	15900	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	C200	CDI Sport Auto Coupe	Diamond Black	24k	12400	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C200	CDI Sport Auto Coupe 3dr (n/s)	Obsidian Black	6k	18800	SOLD
2004	04	Mercedes	C220	CDI Avantgarde SE Auto Saloon	Tansanite Blue	98k	6000	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	C220	CDI Avantgarde SE Auto Estate	Tansanite Blue	90k	8500	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	C220	CDI Avantgarde SE Auto Saloon	Iridium Silver	19k	13700	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	C220	CDI SE Auto (n/s)	Iridium Silver	16k	17100	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C220	CDI SE Auto Saloon (n/s)	Tansanite Blue	7k	18800	SOLD
2002	02	Mercedes	CL55	AMG Auto Coupe	Almandine Black	82k	11550	SOLD
2003	53	Mercedes	CLK	CLK 270 CDI Avantgarde Auto Coupe	Iolite Blue	71k	8200	SOLD
2006	56	Mercedes	CLK	200K Avantgarde Tip Auto Cabriolet	Tansanite Blue	28k	19600	SOLD
2006	56	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 350 Tip Auto	Obsidian Black	19k	23600	SOLD
2006	56	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 320 CDI Tip Auto	Iridium Silver	32k	20000	SOLD
2006	56	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 320 CDI Tip Auto	Cubanite Silver	32k	22400	SOLD
2006	56	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 320 CDI Tip Auto	Iridium Silver	19k	20400	SOLD
2006	56	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 320 CDI Tip Auto	Obsidian Black	22k	23500	SOLD
2007	56	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 320 CDI Tip Auto	Iridium Silver	37k	20600	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	CLS	CLS 320 CDI Tip Auto	Iridium Silver	12k	22500	SOLD
2005	05	Mercedes	E220	CDI Avantgarde Estate	Brilliant Silver	76k	11000	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	E220	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	Iridium Silver	11k	17400	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	E220	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	Iridium Silver	17k	18350	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	E220	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Estate	Iridium Silver	13k	20700	SOLD
2005	54	Mercedes	E270	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	Brilliant Silver	81k	9400	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	E280	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	Cubanite Silver	41k	17100	SOLD
2004	54	Mercedes	E320	Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	Teallite Blue	88k	8400	SOLD
2004	54	Mercedes	E320	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	Teallite Blue	105k	8400	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	R320L	CDI LWB Sport Auto	Iridium Silver	19k	22200	SOLD
2003	53	Mercedes	S320	CDI Auto (Cat D)	Brilliant Silver	49k	8500	SOLD
2005	05	Mercedes	SLK	200K Auto Roadster (n/s)	Tansanite Blue	13k	16000	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForFour	1.1 Pulse 5dr	Jack Black	27k	3400	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForFour	1.5 CDI Passion (95) 5dr	Starlight Silver	30k	5300	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForFour	1.1 Passion 5dr	Star Blue	23k	4350	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForFour	1.3 Pulse 5dr	Deep Green	22k	3600	SOLD
2005	05	Smart	ForTwo	Passion Auto Coupe	Star Blue	20k	4100	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForTwo	Pulse Auto Coupe	Jack Black	16k	4450	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForTwo	Passion Auto Coupe	Star Blue	23k	4750	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForTwo	Brabus Auto Cabriolet	Jack Black	66k	5000	SOLD
2006	56	Smart	ForTwo	Passion Auto Coupe	Lite White	23k	4800	SOLD
2006	56	Smart	ForTwo	Passion Auto Coupe	Silver Metallic	24k	5200	SOLD
2007	07	Smart	ForTwo	Pink Passion Auto Coupe	Lite White	17k	6000	SOLD
2007	07	Smart	ForTwo	Pulse Auto Cabrio 699cc (n/s)	Deep Black	2k	6400	SOLD
2007	07	Smart	ForTwo	Pure Auto Coupe (61)	Jack Black	2k	4500	SOLD
2007	07	Smart	ForTwo	Passion Auto Coupe	Lite White	14k	5450	SOLD
2007	57	Smart	ForTwo	Pulse Coupe Auto	Deep Black	9k	5650	SOLD
2008	08	Smart	ForTwo	Pulse Auto Coupe	Red Solid	6k	6400	SOLD
2005	05	Smart	Roadster	80bhp Auto Roadster	Champagne Remix	26k	5100	SOLD
2006	55	Smart	Roadster	Speedsilver Auto Roadster	Speed Silver	28k	5500	SOLD

[dandarez]

Recession, eh?

[Crusoe]

Makes you feel quite smug seeing those if you bought a similar car for less money 8 months ago from a dealer with warranty.

[fivesixseven8]

Another great article from V8mate!

Interesting to see this:
2007 56 MINI Cooper S 1.6 3dr (CHILI + TLC) Dark Silver 18k 14000 SOLD

I've recently bought one almost identical but with less miles, in Astro black and almost every option for only a few £ hundred more. As it was bought from BMW/Mini direct I assumed I was going to be paying a premium, when it seems I could sell it at auction now for the same, if not more than I paid for it!

[SpunkyM]

The M3 CS was a good deal too.

[btdk5]

Why do people sell such new cars at an auction?

[V8mate]

btdk5 said:

Why do people sell such new cars at an auction?

'People' don't. These cars are end-of-lease.

[laze]

Great article but I can't believe you haven't linked to Part 1 & 2 at the beginning or anywhere throughout.

laze

[V8mate]

laze said:

Great article but I can't believe you haven't linked to Part 1 & 2 at the beginning or anywhere throughout.

laze

Sorted

[pokethepope]

V8mate said:

btdk5 said:

Why do people sell such new cars at an auction?

'People' don't. These cars are end-of-lease.

Am I missing something - why don't BMW finance, for example, cut out the middle man (auction house) and sell/transfer their end of lease cars directly to the BMW dealers who are buying their cars through auction?

[V8mate]

pokethepope said:

V8mate said:

btdk5 said:

Why do people sell such new cars at an auction?

'People' don't. These cars are end-of-lease.

Am I missing something - why don't BMW finance, for example, cut out the middle man (auction house) and sell/transfer their end of lease cars directly to the BMW dealers who are buying their cars through auction?

Auction ensures they get the best price, removes favoritism of one dealer over another during remarketing and is a clear legal process for disposal, e.g. if the car was a finance reposession and the lessee complains that they were unfairly treated.

[va1o]

Thanks again for another excellent write-up

Am I right in observing the Mercs that are not Silver or Black tend to be worth less?

[V8mate]

va1o said:

Thanks again for another excellent write-up

Am I right in observing the Mercs that are not Silver or Black tend to be worth less?

Probably not that simplistic, though it'll be a factor.

What I haven't included (because I would have had to go and check each car individually) is whether they have COMAND. That has a huge impact on resale values.

[va1o]

V8mate said:

What I haven't included (because I would have had to go and check each car individually) is whether they have COMAND. That has a huge impact on resale values.

Even on the A/B/C Classes?

[V8mate]

va1o said:

V8mate said:

What I haven't included (because I would have had to go and check each car individually) is whether they have COMAND. That has a huge impact on resale values.

Even on the A/B/C Classes?

Well, from the data above, it's quite hard to say because there are very few duplicate vehicles, i.e. exactly the same model, age, mileage and trim level.

[Matt UK]

2008 08 BMW 730D SE Auto Saloon Black Sapphire 4k 26800 SOLD

Huge amount of car for the money.

[Chris_w666]

I am struggling to work out how dealers are making anything if that sale is indicative of prices elsewhere too. Surely the margins on most of those cars is £500-1000 and that is assuming they need no money spent on them.

[Pumajay]

great article, i actually work for manheim auctions leicester, which branch did you visit??

[va1o]

Chris_w666 said:

I am struggling to work out how dealers are making anything if that sale is indicative of prices elsewhere too. Surely the margins on most of those cars is £500-1000 and that is assuming they need no money spent on them.

Prices have risen at auction over the last few months because of the reduced stock, so price risees on teh forecourt will follow. I can't see them selling a car with less than £1500 margin in it, but I don't work in the motor trade at present so could be wrong.

[V8mate]

va1o said:

Chris_w666 said:

I am struggling to work out how dealers are making anything if that sale is indicative of prices elsewhere too. Surely the margins on most of those cars is £500-1000 and that is assuming they need no money spent on them.

Prices have risen at auction over the last few months because of the reduced stock, so price risees on teh forecourt will follow. I can't see them selling a car with less than £1500 margin in it, but I don't work in the motor trade at present so could be wrong.

Bear in mind that BMW main dealers reselling any of those cars through the Approved Used scheme will receive a bonus from BMW UK, thereby enhancing their margin.