Used ML - Price Negotiation

[Spy]

Hi all,

I am in the market for a used ML for the wife.

Looking at the current shape (pre-facelift) with the following:
- 2006 to 2008 year
- less than 50k miles
- 320 CDI Sport (may consider a 280 CDI)
- Command

Had a look in the classifieds and there appear to be hardly any private cars for sale, mainly used dealer/Mercedes cars.

I was wondering, what is the market like for these cars at the moment (I hear the car market is a little depressed) and what can I expect as a discount from the advertised prices ?

[DJRC]

Just done this.

2008 ish, you are looking at £25k for 30k is miles for the 350. The 420 is basically the same price, the 280 is about 3k less.

We went for the 420, 2008, 30k miles. Bought from a Merc dealer, Ill pay the balance off by the New Year so I wont have to deal with them again (bought it on the Gauranteed Final Value scheme) for the annual service, etc. run it for 3-5 yrs then part ex for whatever ML they replace it with. The vehicle itself is excellent, Merc themselves are just a bit useless.

[Spy]

DJRC said:

Just done this.

2008 ish, you are looking at £25k for 30k is miles for the 350. The 420 is basically the same price, the 280 is about 3k less.

We went for the 420, 2008, 30k miles. Bought from a Merc dealer, Ill pay the balance off by the New Year so I wont have to deal with them again (bought it on the Gauranteed Final Value scheme) for the annual service, etc. run it for 3-5 yrs then part ex for whatever ML they replace it with. The vehicle itself is excellent, Merc themselves are just a bit useless.

Thanks for the up-to-date feedback

You mention the 2008 350 - I assume that is a facelift car. No 320 post 2008 ?

Also, is there a deal with regard to servicing etc. I wasn't aware of any.

Out of interest, did you but from a Mercedes new car dealer or the Mercedes approved used places that don't sell new cars ?

Finally, was there any movement on the sticker price for your car or was the negotiation done on Finance rate, servicing etc ?

[gizlaroc]

I was looking again last month, prices seem all over the place, some dealers were asking £18-20k for a 50k miles 56 plate and then there were other private cars the same for around £13k.

I would want one without nav so I could fit the later NTG2.5 system that I have in our E Class, or may even go Pioneer as it looks good in an ML, but trying to find one without nav was a problem, no more expensive, just a ball ache to change it over if it has the earlier system, and that ealry system is feeling very dated now.

[Mars]

Wouldn't it be easier to change to NTG 2.5 if you already had COMAND?

And is there really much difference in the price of MLs with and without COMAND?

[DJRC]

COMMAND stuff is about 1.5k-2k less. Nobody wants them.

OP...pre facelift. I forget what the actually numbering of the things are 420 or 430 or 320 or 350, etc. Just Merc buggering about, its all the same really, one is just the V6 and one is the V8.

We bought from a pukka Merc dealer.

Price movement, well initially it was £27k, told him no, bugger off, walked away. Got an email a week or so later, price had magically dropped 2k. Check the tyres btw, make sure you have got equal wear and decent tyres all round.

Tell them to ps off on the insurance crap.

Check everything when you pick it up. Including the CD changer.

[Spy]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Quite interested in the option of buying without Sat Nav and putting in the NGT2.5

Some questions on that:
- What is the cost of buying a NGT 2.5 unit?
- What is the cost of fitting one ? I assume you will also need to fit the GPS antenna and microphone for the bluetooth phone etc
- Are there any incompatibilities between specific ML model years and the NGT 2.5 ?

Thanks

[DJRC]

Fooking expensive is the quick answer.

[Mars]

Check out www.comand.com

It's about £1800 to install NTG2.5 where an older one was. Can't help but think it'd be more complex and more expensive to install one into an ML without any comand at all though.

[Spy]

Mars said:

Check out www.comand.com

It's about £1800 to install NTG2.5 where an older one was. Can't help but think it'd be more complex and more expensive to install one into an ML without any comand at all though.

Thanks for the link.

I suppose if you can get the equivalent ML without Nav for £2k less, you will at least get the benefit of an updated Command system but like you, I am a little sceptical as to the potentially increased cost of fitting one where there isn't one already.

I recently fitted a Pioneer Sat Nav/Bluetooth/iPod system to my Mk1 CLK. It previously only had the old style single din tape player. The unit fitted easily enough as both the car and the Pioneer had the EU standard ISO connectors but I still had to fit the GPS antenna myself and also run the microphone wiring which was a bit of a PITA.

[angusc43]

Spy said:

Mars said:

Check out www.comand.com

It's about £1800 to install NTG2.5 where an older one was. Can't help but think it'd be more complex and more expensive to install one into an ML without any comand at all though.

Thanks for the link.

I suppose if you can get the equivalent ML without Nav for £2k less, you will at least get the benefit of an updated Command system but like you, I am a little sceptical as to the potentially increased cost of fitting one where there isn't one already.

I recently fitted a Pioneer Sat Nav/Bluetooth/iPod system to my Mk1 CLK. It previously only had the old style single din tape player. The unit fitted easily enough as both the car and the Pioneer had the EU standard ISO connectors but I still had to fit the GPS antenna myself and also run the microphone wiring which was a bit of a PITA.

You need to talk to the Comand Online folks to get a definitive steer. They know all the ins and outs, loom issues, etc.

BTW I am surprised to hear that ML's cost less with COMAND. I thought it would be the other way round - historically that has been the case, anyway.

[Spy]

angusc43 said:

You need to talk to the Comand Online folks to get a definitive steer. They know all the ins and outs, loom issues, etc.

BTW I am surprised to hear that ML's cost less with COMAND. I thought it would be the other way round - historically that has been the case, anyway.

I meant if you save £2k on one without Nav and then install a new one after.