How much should I be paying for a used C63 PPP

[Moosey47]

Hello all,

I'm relatively new here - at least on the posting front.
I'm on the verge of buying a used facelift C63 with PPP and was planning on a budget in the region of £35k
That would seem to put me in the market for 2011 to some early 2013 plate cars.
I've read through many of the topics on here regarding C63's and noted a posters comment that "the spec that you want will appear"
I can certainly relate to that, having watched 3 perfect (exact spec I'd like) come and go over the last 7 months or so.
Up until now, I haven't been in the position to go for them however that's no longer an issue and as it happens another "perfect" car
has just appeared on Autotrader (but not PH classifieds strangely)

Anyway I also read the market watch article http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI... suggesting that C63s
hadn't depreciated enough as yet. Given the variance of price tags in the classifieds I was wondering what a fair price would be for say
a 2012 C63 PPP with HK sound, Command with Internet and Bluetooth Phone Prep, plain old black designo interior with 30k miles.

The reason I ask is I have seen 2 this week alone with 5k difference in price but no discernible difference in spec.
Your thoughts are appreciated.

Edit: I have checked Parkers btw

Edited by Moosey47 on Thursday 22 January 19:46

[Moosey47]

Appreciate the responses. I know I'm in for a bit of a search and some disappointment along the way.

[Moosey47]

Yeah, I figured there might be a few more approved Main Dealer options coming up when deliveries of the new model start.
My local Dealer (Bishops Stortford) is aware of what I'm looking for (but still calls me about coupes and wagons all the same).
The hassle for me at them moment with the 2 I've found is that they are so far away, it's a serious logistical exercise to simply
view them.

[Moosey47]

I do kinda like Fire Opal, but as a self-respecting Everton fan, I just can't do it.

[Moosey47]

rubystone said:

Why am I not surprised. Bunch of idiots. Avoid them at all costs. Call Nigel at Waterhouse and ask him to have his team look out for one for you.

I will do thanks.

[Moosey47]

Who bought the Palladium Silver PPP car in Teeside? I'd just managed to organise a ride up there for next week.

[Moosey47]

rubystone said:

Why am I not surprised. Bunch of idiots. Avoid them at all costs. Call Nigel at Waterhouse and ask him to have his team look out for one for you.

Is that Waterhouse Chelmsford or Braintree?

[Moosey47]

jovie said:

When I bought mine last year PP cars were about £5k more than none pp due to their rarity and PP, and private cars were roughly a grand below dealer prices.
Mileage variation also counted for up to a grand either way.
Using the layout of the autotrader app on my ipad and playing around with the various filters I was able to roughly gauge a ballpark figure.
As for the specs, the cars on MB website will have them listed correctly and with the others I just studied the pictures for PP parts and HK. The complete spec is easily found if you get the VIN and pop into a dealer for them to run it or over on MBclub.uk there is a link to a site that will give you the spec.

Good info Jovie, thanks very much. I've just off-loaded my R26 Megane so now I'm just waiting for the right car to appear (at the right price hopefully)

[Moosey47]

Apparently Nigel from Waterhouse Chelmsford is on his holiday (skiing) at the moment.
Left a message for him to call me when he gets back.

[Moosey47]

So my perfect spec car has appeared on autotrader and I'm going to see it tomorrow (oops it's already tomorrow) , today or tomorrow.
It's just under 3 years old. Done 37k miles. All looks in order in the pics but obviously gotta see it and drive it to make sure.
Any last words of advice on particular things to look for would be appreciated (obviously crash damage/repairs, tyre/brake wear and tracking on my list)
Anything specific to C63's?
I know the facelift cars have updated gearbox software so shouldn't be an issue.
I'm not sure I'll be able/allowed to rag it hard enough on a test drive to test whether it suffers from any of the cooling maladies mentioned before.
Service wise, what should have been done does anyone know?
I've no experience with PPP carbon composite brakes either, so how do I know if the discs are worn/ok??

Thanks in advance for any tips/help etc.

[Moosey47]

ecain63 said:

You obviously haven't done your research if you still think there was a carbon composite brake option??

Please forgive me Composite brakes.
My previous post was at 1:51am after a LONG day of work and a LARGE glass of whiskey.

[Moosey47]

Can't tell you yet.
On the train to go see it but train has broken down somewhere between Newark and Doncaster. They have dispatched a thunderbird rescue loco to pick us up but we've been told it'll be an 80 min delay here.
Gonna be a looooooong day.......

[Moosey47]

PompeyPaul said:

And what was the verdict on it OP?

Had to walk away unfortunately.

The car didn't have the LSD like the ad said. Apparently they googled performance pack and copied and pasted.
Unfortunately they copied and pasted info from the pre-facelift PP which included the LSD.
I suspected as much because I called Waterhouse Mercedes with the VIN to check the spec and they said the option hadn't been selected on build. I gave the seller benefit of the doubt that it may have had a quaiffe diff added by the previous owner but when we checked the car, definitely no diff.

After that had been established we (my friend and I) found a screw in the front left tyrewall.
Front right had a cracked sidewall (pothole damage most likely) all the way inside the lip of the rim.
Back left wheel was cracked in 3 places on the inside and all the wheels had been refurbed and not well.

Gutted not to be driving it home but the search continues.

[Moosey47]

You speak the truth.
Still it was tantalisingly close to realising a 7-8 year dream!!

There is still the thrill of the chase though.

[Moosey47]

alxce said:

Have you spotted the blue one at Mallyville car sales, Willenhall?

That'll be the one with the porcelain/beige interior?
If it had black leather I would have made an appointment.
I do love the blue but ideally I want a Palladium Silver one.

Edited by Moosey47 on Friday 20th February 17:16

[Moosey47]

http://youtu.be/HBAkaFtQ9sk
I call this video, the moment my heart sank.....

[Moosey47]

I'm getting very tired of some of the ads for C63s on auto trader and PH classifieds.
All these dealers who suggest for example;
"Diamond white with black designo interior the MOST desirable combination" - says who?
"TOP SPEC" or "Fully Loaded" - which doesn't include HK sound or Performance Package - who are you trying to kid?
"Ultimate Performance" - Probably just to get the keyword Performance in the ad for those of us looking for a PPP car.

All that crap plus, everyone it seems bought the car in Black or White! There must be some more Paladium Silver or Tennorite Grey cars out there?!?!

[Moosey47]

Well boys and girls, I appologise for dredging up an old post but since it has a happy ending I thought it would round out this thread.
Whatever about what I should be paying for a C63PPP, I have paid for one none the less.
I settled in terms of colour. I wanted Paladium but my car is Iridium.
It was the perfect spec bar the colour - PPP with LSD and HK sound and Carbon Exterior pack, plus since it's from an official dealer I get the benefit of an extended 2 year warranty.
I'm picking it up tomorrow, eh I mean today....
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to those who offered good and useful advice and I'll post some pics later.

[Moosey47]

Slarty Bartfast said:

I went for iridium in the end, and I actually prefer it now...

It's growing on me alright. I saw yours on the mb forums.
Yours is a good bit younger than mine too!

[Moosey47]

And here she is!