How to get an idea of a fair trade-in value?

[anonymous-user]

Maybe one for anyone in the trade - I've tried the glass's guide valuations etc and the numbers vary wildly, and I realise that it depends on whether I'm selling privately, to a dealer, trading in and against what etc, however, is there a rough way of working out what a dealer may offer to buy at based on what they are retailing them for?

MB uk have 15 cars in their system that are same year, model, with near identical spec and mileage as mine, retailing at between £19,500 and £23,000 (a huge difference again!) - from those figures is there a percentage or margin I could deduct to get a rough idea of what cars should be trading in at?

I realise one answer is take it to a dealer and ask what he'll give, but it's good to know in advance if he's having a laugh and trying to rob me! I'm wary of selling privately at such a high value, I've never accepted that much money in cash or by draft before and I'd worry about getting shafted.

[mickyveloce]

This is a tricky one and depends entirely on what you`ve got and how many people want one !
I`ve just sold a diesel 180 B-class via a part ex at Land Rover as they offered huge money against it . The other variable is what you`re intending to buy ; if it`s something on which the dealer has a good margin (and not much demand) you strengthen your position .
Try some of the "we buy cars . com " and add 1000-1500 to what they come up with .

[anonymous-user]

mickyveloce said:

Try some of the "we buy cars . com " and add 1000-1500 to what they come up with .

Thats the weird thing, the webuyanycar.com figure was the highest value of the lot of them but there was around £4k between the webuyanycar figure and the lowest of the 'trade guides'.

Its an estate and there's not too many of them in the MB dealer system so should be fairly desirable for resale, and its go the right extras of leather, COMAND, heated seats, phone pre-wire, etc (this is NOT an ad to sell!). I guess its a case of trying to ask for a figure very close to what they're actually retailing them for, and to try not to be beaten down too far.

[markbe]

yellowbentines said:

Maybe one for anyone in the trade - I've tried the glass's guide valuations etc and the numbers vary wildly, and I realise that it depends on whether I'm selling privately, to a dealer, trading in and against what etc, however, is there a rough way of working out what a dealer may offer to buy at based on what they are retailing them for?

MB uk have 15 cars in their system that are same year, model, with near identical spec and mileage as mine, retailing at between £19,500 and £23,000 (a huge difference again!) - from those figures is there a percentage or margin I could deduct to get a rough idea of what cars should be trading in at?

I realise one answer is take it to a dealer and ask what he'll give, but it's good to know in advance if he's having a laugh and trying to rob me! I'm wary of selling privately at such a high value, I've never accepted that much money in cash or by draft before and I'd worry about getting shafted.

YB, if you give me the year mileage and model, I will tell you what it books at, which will give you something to work from.

Mark.

[anonymous-user]

markbe said:

YB, if you give me the year mileage and model, I will tell you what it books at, which will give you something to work from.

Thanks Mark, I'll take you up on that kind offer - hope moderators are ok with this, as said I'm looking to part-ex it so this isn't a thinly disguised ad, just looking to ensure I'm getting a fair offer when I trade it.

May 2008 E220cdi (170bhp) Avantgarde 5dr Estate, 33k, FMBSH. options:
- cubanite silver metallic
- auto
- full black leather
- 18" AMG alloys, new tyres all round
- parktronic
- heated front seats
- phone pre-wire
- full COMAND Sat Nav with 6 disc changer and DVD player in dash
- linguatronic
- rear sun protection glass

Many thanks in advance, Neil.

[gizlaroc]

Most Merc dealers offer terrible figures, I have always sold my Mercs privately or to Sytner, the buyer there tends to give a fair price.

I would guess they would offer around £16.5k for that car with the comand.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, however the likelihood is that I'd be part-exing at BMW, Audi or the current outside choice of Land Rover, dependent on how much compromise I have to make to keep the other half happy! I may have swung by the local Merc dealer to see if they wanted to buy it outright as nothing from the current range appeals to me aesthetically so I won't be buying a new car from them, if they make a rotten offer I'll swiftly leave.

[markbe]

yellowbentines said:

markbe said:

YB, if you give me the year mileage and model, I will tell you what it books at, which will give you something to work from.

Thanks Mark, I'll take you up on that kind offer - hope moderators are ok with this, as said I'm looking to part-ex it so this isn't a thinly disguised ad, just looking to ensure I'm getting a fair offer when I trade it.

May 2008 E220cdi (170bhp) Avantgarde 5dr Estate, 33k, FMBSH. options:
- cubanite silver metallic
- auto
- full black leather
- 18" AMG alloys, new tyres all round
- parktronic
- heated front seats
- phone pre-wire
- full COMAND Sat Nav with 6 disc changer and DVD player in dash
- linguatronic
- rear sun protection glass

Many thanks in advance, Neil.

Hi Neil, car books at £19300 with command and should be worth at least that.

Mark.

[anonymous-user]

markbe said:

Hi Neil, car books at £19300 with command and should be worth at least that.

Mark.

Thanks Mark, very helpful and very much appreciated - I will however have to deduct a couple of hundred for refurbishment of the alloys after an argument with a kerb at the weekend!

[gizlaroc]

markbe said:

Hi Neil, car books at £19300 with command and should be worth at least that.

Mark.

Where are you getting that figure from??
Just interested as Glasses was saying £17,600 without adjustment for comand.

Just that I have a facelift E320cdi on a 56 plate with comand and if the prices are going up it would be nice to know.

[anonymous-user]

Gizarloc you're confusing me now, you say glasses offers £17.5k odd without adjustment for COMAND but you suggested £16.5k to me even although my car DOES have COMAND?!

[gizlaroc]

yellowbentines said:

Gizarloc you're confusing me now, you say glasses offers £17.5k odd without adjustment for COMAND but you suggested £16.5k to me even although my car DOES have COMAND?!

Glasses is offering £17600 without adjustments, however, most Merc dealers seem to be using CAP guides at the moment which tend to be around 5-10% less.
Hence why I said "I bet they offer you £16500 on your car".

Meaning they are cheeky buggers, they offer some of the lowest trade ins and have the highest prices.

[anonymous-user]

Ah ok, it's still miles out from Mark's figure above which I assume will be a trade figure. webuyanycar offered me £16500 which as suggested I took as being perhaps £1500-£2000 lower than if trading at a dealer (not that I was actually considering using WBAC), I was pleasantly surprised that book is £19300 but the well specc'd estates do seem to be holding value better than the saloons.

Essentially I'm happy with the car so won't change it if the right deal isn't on the table, I've had it for nearly 3 years which is the longest I've had any car and I'm getting tempted to change, just purely for a change!

[markbe]

To reiterate, For a 0808 E 220 cdi avantgarde estate Auto.

Glasses Guide Jan 11 at 34k is £18325 + £1000 at least for command + the other extras help a lot.

Mark.

[gizlaroc]

yellowbentines said:

Essentially I'm happy with the car so won't change it if the right deal isn't on the table, I've had it for nearly 3 years which is the longest I've had any car and I'm getting tempted to change, just purely for a change!

I have been looking at swapping my E320cdi Avantgarde Estate, it is a 56 plate with the 7g 'box, bluetooth, comand (lateset version with hard drive, sd cards etc.) and have been looking at what next, but nothing really excites me and makes me want to rush out and swap.

The new 535d sport touring is great, but it is over £50k after discount with the options I want that will keep me in it for 4 years and the new W212 E Class annoys me with the interior choices.
I don't want black, I want a nice E350cdi sport estate in dark grey or black with a beige interior, not black, and certainly not black with funny brown seats. The only option colour wise for me wold be dark grey with the silver seats, but after this car with its light interior I fancy it again. Had loads of BMWs with black interiors or black with contrasting seats and just fancy a change.

The other car that appeals is the Volvo XC60 or V60, really nice looking thing, may take one out and see.

But overall is it worth me changing?
Mine has got 85k miles on it which effects value but it feels tighter than my 535d at 25k miles, so I think I may as well stay in it.

[anonymous-user]

gizlaroc said:

The other car that appeals is the Volvo XC60 or V60, really nice looking thing, may take one out and see.

Funny that, its the XC60 that's tempting me! The E-Class is so good, and mine like yours is fully loaded, so the only thing that's going to tempt me is something equally nice to be in and drive. I'm looking at an XC60 with the new 200bhp D5 engine, in SE Lux Premium trim with the geartronic auto, going to pop down to my local dealer this weekend for a nosey around.

The new X3 also looks very nice, a huge improvement all round on the old model, the servicing packs, high performance/low tax/great mpg ratio is very appealing in the BM diesel engines. I am put off slightly by the image however, and the fact its made in the USA, which may seem irrational but there you go.