Resale? Don't feel so bad

[Vette73]

Just tuned into a rerun of a Barrett Jackson auction from 2015....

A 2005 SMG E63 Mercedes two seat convertible ( I think I got the letters right)
crossed the block....

Car came factory with 605 horsepower......Sticker price new was 180,000 dollars..Car was beautiful with 59,000 miles....

Selling price- 28,000 dollars...

So.....Everyone cheer up...

[Locobob]

Wow that's cheap, kinda wish I had the extra cash and room for a Benz now, those are nice cars.

[rush91]

I watch these auctions a lot as well. It amazes me how the market goes up and down....Like now, 1977 to 1981 Trans Ams are going for stupid prices. I'm not knocking Trans Ams, I owned a white on blue 1979. If one could only predict the future. I wish I owned a 1989 Turbo Trans Am, those are so under-rated it's a joke......
The 2006 / 2007 Ford GTs are now spiking for huge prices, as they should. I think the iconic cars will always hold value, especially for low mileage ones. I'm surprised the LT4 Camaros from about 1998 to 2002, with the Corvette motor, haven't exploded yet. I think our Beast will always hold a very special place, they were iconic between 1990 and 1995. And still are to all of us who know that magic after 3000 RPMs.......

[Vette73]

Wow that's cheap, kinda wish I had the extra cash and room for a Benz now, those are nice cars.

605 horse sounds good but from what I hear the car had traction problems with all that power...Not sure what rear came with the car but I'm sure with the right set up and right tires,the car must haul ***....

Seen many imports over the years going for great prices at these auctions ....

[Mystic ZR-1]

Nice car, but, you think some ZR-1 parts are expensive?

[G8nightman]

Yes Benz's don't hold Value at all you can pick up a 03 CL55 AMG for about 15000 about 550HP Parts aren't all that expensive just have to know where to buy them def not the stealership.
I picked up this 07 cls550 for about 38000 4 years ago its worth about 25000 now they non AMG models lose value alot faster.
http://i.imgur.com/HIalqXF.jpg

[LGAFF]

I just picked up an 05 SL600, Twin Turbo V12, w/52K miles for $21K. Original sticker is $132K....its now tuned with 600hp and 690ftlbs of TQ. Fun car but with sht goes wrong its $$$$..

$2K power/hyd steering pump/Shock Pump

So far in two months of ownership, hyd line went out, and now radiator.

Tuned they run 11.4 on street tires @121-123; with sticky tires 11.0

[Paul Workman]

Ouch!!! Those are some extremely heavy "hits" for those cars! 21/132 = 16% of new after 10-11 years..:jawdrop: By comparison, our cars selling in the $17,000 to $25,000 ± after 20 to 26 years are faring much better, ~ 28 to 33%, if seller is willing to wait/right market, etc., etc...

On the other hand, the cost to fix/maintain those Mercedes and BMWs makes a ZR-1 look cheap!!

[LGAFF]

upper radiator hose on the SL600 $155...one hose

Antifreeze $30 per gallon

Hyd fluid $18 qt for generic.....

[Paul Workman]

upper radiator hose on the SL600 $155...one hose

Antifreeze $30 per gallon

Hyd fluid $18 qt for generic.....

I'm really fighting an urge to cry BS!! I mean, why so high? Are these items tagged with import costs - is the reason?

I'd like to know why e.g., Dexcool or "the green stuff" wouldn't work as well. What is the chemical comp of their hydraulic fluid making locally obtained stuff unusable for those cars? Far as hoses go, I'd be looking through the domestic hoses for one that could be made to work (e.g., the Dodge Neon hoses used under the LT5 plenum)

Those kind of repair costs are no doubt the reason for the huge depreciation - or at least part of it.

Just sayin...

[LGAFF]

wrong move with the hyd fluid and you ruin about 8K in parts and labor, so I would not risk it. The hoses are plastic connectors with O-rings that lock into the radiator, can't use generic hoses on that.....trust me....and if you look back I was the guy who came up with the neon hose fix:cheers:

low production cars so no aftermarket support

http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8087&highlight=breather+hose

[LGAFF]

interior is very nice leather dash and suede headliner
cooled seats, massaging, etc..

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/sl600.jpg (http://s134.photobucket.com/user/lgaff/media/sl600.jpg.html)

[Mystic ZR-1]

Old German saying:
The most expensive Mercedes is
an in-expensive Mercedes...

[Fully Vetted]

interior is very nice leather dash and suede headliner
cooled seats, massaging, etc..

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/sl600.jpg (http://s134.photobucket.com/user/lgaff/media/sl600.jpg.html)

And it probably has HUD and night vision as well. And it's a removable hard top. All that equipment that other cars have just recently started coming out with and that was 11 years ago. These cars come packed with more technology than anything on the market. Which means they will still be relevant after more than a decade. What would it cost today to get an equivalently equipped car as this SL600? Including the power and the build standards. $50k? $60k? I say money well spent. If you spent $10k on repairs over the next 8-10 years you're still in it for $31k. I just decked out a new Chevy Malibu and it was over $31k. A MALIBU. And it has NONE of the equipment listed above. The only advantage to me is the Malibu comes with a warranty (which you will undoubtedly need) because given the choice of those 2 cars to take on a 3k mile coast to coast vacation I'm taking the Merc every time.

[BigJohn]

Old German saying:
The most expensive Mercedes is
an in-expensive Mercedes...

Y'all learn how to speak English yet?

[ghlkal]

I just picked up an 05 SL600, Twin Turbo V12, w/52K miles for $21K.

Wow, that's an amazing deal =D>

Last year I bought a 2011 C300 as my daily driver. I thought I got a good deal at $20K. If I thought I could get an SL5xx or SL600 for that, I would have been very tempted.

Yup, German cars require a bit more maintenance and I still can't figure out the wheel bolts :p but I'm happy with it.

[LGAFF]

My wife has a tuned 2011 E550 very fast(420hp/450TQ) and reliable, no issues....my DD is a 03 C32 AMG I paid 8K for, both great cars. The TT generates so much heat it kills parts; hoses, coils(at 1200 per), plastic radiators, etc

[G8nightman]

who did the tune on the E550?

[LGAFF]

OE tuning, its the NA engine not the TT.

I used Eurocharged for the SL600, I would use them again vs OE, don't have to buy the Mygenius handheld for the tune

[rhipsher]

It true Paul. Even on the BMW you have to use BMW engine coolant. Just like with Mercedes the radiator hose assembly have quick disconnects with orings in them. The other engine coolant will eat the oring seals up. It's also about $30 a gallon. And it's blue in color. Parts are outrageous prices. $540 for an alternator. And the battery for a 5 series and up will run $350- $450. So you really have to take your income level into consideration before you buy one of these cars out of warranty. They are the finest cars on the planet but are no joke on repair costs.

[edram454]

my buddy had a m3 bmw that was going out of warranty. He was going to keep it until his mothers 1 year old mercedes needed a transmission replacement...7K.. under warranty but a ridiculous price. m series bmw have 5 year warranties so i convinced him to chuck it and buy a new 2006 GTO. He loved it with the ls2 drove it trouble free for 4 years, put 60k miles and bought a new 392 Hemi Challenger.

The only disappointment with the American cars was the service at the stealerships. Very disappointing and so much so that it could be a deal breaker for his next car purchase.

I had a audi a4 that when it was time for brakes it was 2400.00 because you cant turn audi rotors, the calipers must be replaced, pads etc... labor is expensive etc... I had a small hose that clogged causing hesitation which was a known factory defect... final cost after disassembly was 2k.... clogged oil passages etc.... technical terms ends with big bill. sold that lug also. Everybody says they are such great cars.... I dont think so. A great car is a car that can last, ride nice with a level of performance and not empty you bank account. German cars are throw away cars after the 3 year warranty is over. Everybody knows that. Mecum auction yesterday had a 2003 sl500 with low miles sell at 12k. too many horror stories from friends with german cars and huge repair bills. It makes our cars seem like dime store performance cars, cheap to maintain and drive.

edramos #3028

[rhipsher]

The only things I've had to replace on the 07 530i is two coils. An alternator and the radiator hose assembly. The car has 145,000 miles on it. Has a 6 speed manual transmission. Not much can go wrong with a 6 speed manual and will still do 155mph. So I'm only speaking for myself but I'd say that's not to bad. I bought a warranty on the car so incase something major does go wrong I don't have to foot the whole Bill. So when I have had to take it to the BMW dealership I am treated like a king. They even have a pub with a gourmet coffee bar in there while your waiting.
And on the other hand I bought my wife and brand new 2013 Chevy Cruze LTZ fully loaded. That thing has been in the shop 5 times since I bought it. Buying brand new is not a guarantee that you will get a trouble free car. Within a month the turbo actuator Rod clip came off and I could barely make it up a bridge. Then the transmission had a leak after 5,000 miles. The damn sun visors are so cheaply made that the hinges to the sun visor mirrors broke on both within a year just like they did on my mother in laws Kia. And Chevys Mylink navigation takes me to the wrong address 30% of the time. So I don't even use it anymore. And everytime I take it to the Chevy dealership it's a ghetto experience. But like I said. I'm only speaking from my own experiences. Yours may be different.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/BMW/IMG_20140821_182023323_HDR_zps385c4c5a.jpg

[BigJohn]

Yep!

[edram454]

[Q
I agree with everything you said. You got a good one and a manual tranny is much better than the paddle shift electronic disasters. The stealerships are much different. I was treated like a king when I bought my a4 audi at the collection... wine, coffee, snacks,,, loaner car... nothing like the American car stealerships. It is a difference maker. If you buy right presumably a euro car without high tech options, you chances of doing ok are greatly increase. You got a good car and are able to keep it on road for low costs. btw, I only buy used cars now. I love low mileage American luxo barrages. I love my low mileage Lincoln Town Car. Looks like new.. has 46k and havent done a thing since I got it 4 years ago. I bought it with 16k miles and paid 9k.

edramos #3028

UOTE=rhipsher;244221]The only things I've had to replace on the 07 530i is two coils. An alternator and the radiator hose assembly. The car has 145,000 miles on it. Has a 6 speed manual transmission. Not much can go wrong with a 6 speed manual and will still do 155mph. So I'm only speaking for myself but I'd say that's not to bad. I bought a warranty on the car so incase something major does go wrong I don't have to foot the whole Bill. So when I have had to take it to the BMW dealership I am treated like a king. They even have a pub with a gourmet coffee bar in there while your waiting.
And on the other hand I bought my wife and brand new 2013 Chevy Cruze LTZ fully loaded. That thing has been in the shop 5 times since I bought it. Buying brand new is not a guarantee that you will get a trouble free car. Within a month the turbo actuator Rod clip came off and I could barely make it up a bridge. Then the transmission had a leak after 5,000 miles. The damn sun visors are so cheaply made that the hinges to the sun visor mirrors broke on both within a year just like they did on my mother in laws Kia. And Chevys Mylink navigation takes me to the wrong address 30% of the time. So I don't even use it anymore. And everytime I take it to the Chevy dealership it's a ghetto experience. But like I said. I'm only speaking from my own experiences. Yours may be different.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/BMW/IMG_20140821_182023323_HDR_zps385c4c5a.jpg[/QUOTE]

[rhipsher]

[Q
I agree with everything you said. You got a good one and a manual tranny is much better than the paddle shift electronic disasters. The stealerships are much different. I was treated like a king when I bought my a4 audi at the collection... wine, coffee, snacks,,, loaner car... nothing like the American car stealerships. It is a difference maker. If you buy right presumably a euro car without high tech options, you chances of doing ok are greatly increase. You got a good car and are able to keep it on road for low costs. btw, I only buy used cars now. I love low mileage American luxo barrages. I love my low mileage Lincoln Town Car. Looks like new.. has 46k and havent done a thing since I got it 4 years ago. I bought it with 16k miles and paid 9k.

edramos #3028

UOTE=rhipsher;244221]The only things I've had to replace on the 07 530i is two coils. An alternator and the radiator hose assembly. The car has 145,000 miles on it. Has a 6 speed manual transmission. Not much can go wrong with a 6 speed manual and will still do 155mph. So I'm only speaking for myself but I'd say that's not to bad. I bought a warranty on the car so incase something major does go wrong I don't have to foot the whole Bill. So when I have had to take it to the BMW dealership I am treated like a king. They even have a pub with a gourmet coffee bar in there while your waiting.
And on the other hand I bought my wife and brand new 2013 Chevy Cruze LTZ fully loaded. That thing has been in the shop 5 times since I bought it. Buying brand new is not a guarantee that you will get a trouble free car. Within a month the turbo actuator Rod clip came off and I could barely make it up a bridge. Then the transmission had a leak after 5,000 miles. The damn sun visors are so cheaply made that the hinges to the sun visor mirrors broke on both within a year just like they did on my mother in laws Kia. And Chevys Mylink navigation takes me to the wrong address 30% of the time. So I don't even use it anymore. And everytime I take it to the Chevy dealership it's a ghetto experience. But like I said. I'm only speaking from my own experiences. Yours may be different.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/BMW/IMG_20140821_182023323_HDR_zps385c4c5a.jpg[/QUOTE]
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/BMW/IMG_20140821_182758182_HDR_zps83ea8d9c.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/BMW/20151102_172333_zpsk0pcbiwq.jpg
I actually bought the car from another good friend that is also a ZR-1 owner. He ownes a 93. So I knew I could trust him. He is totally anal about his cars. Unfortunately he was going through a divorce and had to sell it. He sold it to me for $12,500 cash. It had 80k miles at that time. Now has 145k. Runs perfect in every way. No regrets.
And the navigation always takes me to the right place.:dancing

[Hog]

I'm surprised the LT4 Camaros from about 1998 to 2002, with the Corvette motor, haven't exploded yet. I think our Beast will always hold a very special place, they were iconic between 1990 and 1995. And still are to all of us who know that magic after 3000 RPMs.......
The 1997 LT4 SS Camaro yopu speak of is a very special car, esp. engine wise. The car gets its 285hp (305hp with SS package cold air intake hood/specific exhaust) LT1 removed and gets the 1996 Grand Sport/Collectors Edition/standard Corvette so long as it was a 96 Vette with the 6 speed LT4 engine in its place. But its not just a standard Vette spec LT4, it had to be a bit special in order to output its advertised 330 sae net hp @ 5800rpm when installed in an F-body. To save money, and avoid a full emission recertification, you will find that all 106 1997 LT4 Camaro SS and 29 1996 Firehawk LT4 cars will carry the OEM 5800rpm rev limiter that all the LT1 F-bodies had, rather than the 6412 rpm rev limit the Corvettes PCM calibration entailed. Chev engineers went with extruded aluminum roller rocker arms with roller fulcrum and roller tips. The first and ONLY OEM GM V8 engine to be a full roller design. There were 2 recalls regarding these rocker arms for the 1996 Corvettes with LT4's. The engineers found that over 5800rpm that the standard stamped steel rockers would exhibit galling, and this wouldn't do with the 6400rpm redline. The rockers are pretty much Crane Gold roller rocker arms with a Chev bowtie on them. These OEM roler rocker arms necessitated a specific LT4 knock module so that the noisy rocke arms ouldnte consfused with engine knock and hence have some ignition timing pulled.
Every 5th of these LT4 powered 1997 F-bodies were chassis dyno tested and every LT4 was engine dyno certified. A standard Vette spec LT4 was disassembled and balanced and blueprinted by SLP(including a torque plate squareup of the block), used specific stainless steel exhaust manifolds that had a visit at Extrudehoned, and fed a specific exhaust assembly.

The Firebird of 1997 stickered at $23,000 with the LT4 Firehawk package adding another $17,023.

The LT4 SS Camaro would tag high 12 second quarter mile ET's , but I'm not so sure about the 109-110 mph spec that I cant remember 100% accurately.