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Bring a Trailer (BaT) Auctions: Worth Listing Your Car or Not?
- Thread starter ace10
- Start date
Evo is not getting much action. Bid is setting on $115K.
Guess it’s to early for serious bidding OR to much mileage for a collector.
Probably will heat up as the bid date gets closer.
I appreciate your feedback. I use this as part of the qualification process to filter out as many tire kickers as possible. Else the time that gets burnt up becomes all consuming.
Right now, there are 40 watchers for my auction..... indicating that there are at least 40 people with 280TE's who are wondering what their car is worth.
This is very true. I’m currently trying to sell my 93 400E and I keep getting Nigerian scammers and people offering $300 and an Xbox. I would honestly keep the car as a beater but I promised my wife I would limit myself to two old Mercedes at a time. I also don’t have enough space for 5 cars at my house.
I do the same thing for the same reason. Greatly reduces tire-kickers and time-wasters... doesn't eliminate them of course!
While some may not agree, I prefer to be as candid as possible when I list a car, sometimes maybe too much. However, I think that also gives a lot of potential bidders more confidence in knowing what they're getting, as well as being able to fully assess the car's condition for any work they might feel is necessary once they have the car.
And not to dispel your assumption, but I'm willing to be that at least a few of those watchers are simply people with an interest in the car to see what it sells for. I will often follow an auction to see how something sells (or not) as a data point for research or if I'm considering shopping for a similar model in the future.
Dan
Yes, that was in jest.....
sarcasm, it's one of the very few parts of me that has remained British
Meanwhile...
No Reserve: 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Winners and losers in this market. And R129s continue to lose, according to my sights. "Why have this when you can have a Porsche built M119, without the extra roof to store?" Maybe that's the question people are asking, maybe not. But the prices are telling a story.
maw
EDIT: Admittedly not the finest example...
No Reserve: 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Winners and losers in this market. And R129s continue to lose, according to my sights. "Why have this when you can have a Porsche built M119, without the extra roof to store?" Maybe that's the question people are asking, maybe not. But the prices are telling a story.
maw
EDIT: Admittedly not the finest example...
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No Reserve: 2003 BMW 540i M Sport 6-Speed
Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 2003 BMW 540i M Sport 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #27,440.
This plus that R129 make a compelling replacement for one E5E... again, says me.
maw
I have a 1997 R129 (SL500) I bought with a rebuilt title from the mid-life crisis owner back in 2013 with around 70k on the clock. It's coming up on 140k and hasn't required a thing beyond normal maintenance. It's never left the driver stranded, and she thrashes it to death.
I can only assume that it enjoys abuse. I don't like it at all. I drove it for a while when I first got it, and it was like a W124 with the driver laying on the pavement. I've since put a set of SLK230 17" staggered wheels on it, which make it drive like it's on rails, but otherwise I would sell it if I had to use it as a daily driver.
Dan
I can only assume that it enjoys abuse. I don't like it at all. I drove it for a while when I first got it, and it was like a W124 with the driver laying on the pavement. I've since put a set of SLK230 17" staggered wheels on it, which make it drive like it's on rails, but otherwise I would sell it if I had to use it as a daily driver.
Dan
Oh for sure, the R129 chassis, behind the W124 and perhaps ahead of the W140 and W220 chassis cars are likely F’n indestructible, as Bruno would have wanted it.
And that’s the point I was trying to make about BaT. It captures what the masses place value on. But the masses don’t often appreciate subtle greatness — like the E39 540i Sport Manual or the R129 500 in basic colors. Those cars will always be undervalued on BaT. But if you have anything “rare” — and people here know I’m on record about rarity driving value above all things — BaT will reward that rarity, even if that rarity is as simplistic as a low odometer reading.
maw
And that’s the point I was trying to make about BaT. It captures what the masses place value on. But the masses don’t often appreciate subtle greatness — like the E39 540i Sport Manual or the R129 500 in basic colors. Those cars will always be undervalued on BaT. But if you have anything “rare” — and people here know I’m on record about rarity driving value above all things — BaT will reward that rarity, even if that rarity is as simplistic as a low odometer reading.
maw
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No Reserve: 2003 BMW 540i M Sport 6-Speed
Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 2003 BMW 540i M Sport 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #27,440.bringatrailer.com
This plus that R129 make a compelling replacement for one E5E... again, says me.
maw
shockingly well bought IMHO!
12k-Mile 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5
Bid for the chance to own a 12k-Mile 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #27,791.
This one is so nice it might be worth floating from centerline to curbside and getting nailed for a DUI while sober
12k-Mile 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5
Bid for the chance to own a 12k-Mile 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #27,791.bringatrailer.com
This one is so nice it might be worth floating from centerline to curbside and getting nailed for a DUI while sober
That’s a MUSEUM PIECE!! The Classic Center could not have done a nicer resto.
I predict this car will never see 13K miles in the next 100 years. It would be a sin to drive it on the street.
I think I prefer looking at the underside more than topside. Underside looks better than factory.
Anybody know much about the “Dry Ice Cleaning Method”?
Then there was this...
Never heard of BaT having to stop the comments during end of auction to let actual bidders get better access to, well, bidding.
Never heard of BaT having to stop the comments during end of auction to let actual bidders get better access to, well, bidding.
Then there was this...
Never heard of BaT having to stop the comments during end of auction to let actual bidders get better access to, well, bidding.
View attachment 92957
Good lord that’s a lot of money for a Z.
Peanut gallery is more interested in the '94 wagon [than the black 500E]!Very subdued peanut gallery on this auction, interestingly. Three days to go, $19,500 current bid. I don't think this one is even going to get near $30K -- with 133K miles it's clearly outside of the realm (and ADHD) of the odometer-buyers:
FOR SALE - 1992 500E, Pearl Black / Gray, 133kmi, BaT auction (Los Angeles, CA) | Cars for Sale - 500E / E500 ONLY
Bring a Trailer Link VIN: WDBEA36E4NB798469 https://www.lastvin.com/vin/a8NMV2o3aeK2Qln9y I let you guys start the festivies...Busy day today! :jono: 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E This 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E is finished in Blue-Black Metallic over a gray leather interior, and power is from a...www.500eboard.co
No Reserve: 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #27,970.
Is it just me, or does all the carpeting in that wagon thing look like Palomino (lighter color) instead of Saddle? It's a pretty stark contrast against the Saddle vinyl / plastic / leather bits.
I'm debating if I should point out that the wagon was in a front-end accident at some point, as the upper radiator support has been replaced, and since it's welded in... that doesn't get replaced for the fun of it. And the hood latch/striker is unpainted. Not crazy about the thick layer of detail juice all over the underside either... also appears some suspension & exhaust items were painted black.
Ace? Where art thou?
New radiator with front clip missing usual labels (front end collision?). Picture 24/25 shows the color difference between front bumper and side cladding. Also, rear bumper is missing the barcode so not original and also displays color match variance?
This is interesting to me. Why these clips on the bumper? I'd like to see the inside of fender, specifically where the bumper mounts to the body. May be evident of a potential rear hit given that a lot of what is underneath this area looks "new" even for a 54k mileage car.
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I'm debating if I should point out that the wagon was in a front-end accident at some point, as the upper radiator support has been replaced, and since it's welded in... that doesn't get replaced for the fun of it. And the hood latch/striker is unpainted.
Instead of pointing it out perhaps ask the seller "hey, that upper radiator support has been welded, do you know anything about it?"
I used to send PM's to sellers vs asking a question like that on chat, but I am finding there are two types (speaking in broad terms), the sellers that are super transparent and the sellers that either are not or are clueless.
In either case that second bucket of sellers has the ability to pull the wool over unsuspecting buyers, so now - mostly, not always - I just ask in the chat/comments.
In this case I would be glad to ask the question, but I could not back up any kind of retort that may be misleading as I don't have your knowledge on this issue (or frankly many others when it comes to these cars).
I'm still reeling from the time I couldn't get the free dishwasher from the ebay guy in R.I. selling that MB
Instead of pointing it out perhaps ask the seller "hey, that upper radiator support has been welded, do you know anything about it?"
I used to send PM's to sellers vs asking a question like that on chat, but I am finding there are two types (speaking in broad terms), the sellers that are super transparent and the sellers that either are not or are clueless.
In either case that second bucket of sellers has the ability to pull the wool over unsuspecting buyers, so now - mostly, not always - I just ask in the chat/comments.
In this case I would be glad to ask the question, but I could not back up any kind of retort that may be misleading as I don't have your knowledge on this issue (or frankly many others when it comes to these cars).
I'm still reeling from the time I couldn't get the free dishwasher from the ebay guy in R.I. selling that MB
There's more to it than that in this particular auction...
Dean is a near deity on BaT, so if someone questions him they risk getting attacked by BaT zealots. I'm not criticizing Dean by any means, as he is a very good seller and appears to be a real straight shooter as far as descriptions and such, just pointing out that there are dynamics beyond simply asking probing questions of some sellers.
One advantage of pointing things out that appear to be discrepancies or issues is that it tends to break the ice and gets other people who might have additional knowledge regarding the (perceived) issue involved in the discussion. It also raises the knowledge and understanding of observers, as now they've learned, for example, that an upper radiator support, if original, would have a number of stickers on it and the hood latch would be body color along with the support.
If done in an appropriate manner as it appears that Ralph has, it's a positive thing all around. Unfortunately, some posters are a bit more aggressive in their tone and that tends to make things get ugly.
Dan
all good points.
Regarding the seller, he does sell really nice cars and I wouldn't hesitate to ask him a question. Seems like a very straight guy who presents really nice cars.
yea, the posters that get aggressive and accusatory off the bat (no pun intended) when they ask a question are irritating. There were some absolutely dopey comments made when I sold one of my cars on BAT, but most of the comments were pretty good.
Regarding the seller, he does sell really nice cars and I wouldn't hesitate to ask him a question. Seems like a very straight guy who presents really nice cars.
yea, the posters that get aggressive and accusatory off the bat (no pun intended) when they ask a question are irritating. There were some absolutely dopey comments made when I sold one of my cars on BAT, but most of the comments were pretty good.
Evo 1
bringatrailer.com
1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution
Bid for the chance to own a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #28,160.
Interesting someone posted a comment about this issue (upper radiator support and front end damage) and it went unanswered.
I am surprised as my impression is the seller is usually pretty good about this stuff. Maybe the real answer was that he was unaware (of potential accident), so had nothing to say in response.
There are plenty of useless comments on BAT but this comment was obviously not one of those, it showed very specific knowledge, much like @gsxr had when pointing this issue out. I don't see how a potential buyer still goes forward with bidding when something like this goes unanswered.
I agree... it was odd that he seemed to avoid the question, especially when he's knowledgeable enough to know exactly what it means when those decals are missing. Kwontom pointed out the VIN decal was missing from the rear bumper too; along with some unusual non-factory clips. Both front brake dust shields appear to be replacements (there are stickers on each) which is also unusual, ditto what look like new coil springs all around - on a low-mile car?
Don't get me wrong, the car is beautiful, but it had some sort of problems in the past. Might find "surprises" if the bumpers were removed. Guess all that matters is the new owner is happy with their purchase. Really is a sharp color combo that is quite rare.
Don't get me wrong, the car is beautiful, but it had some sort of problems in the past. Might find "surprises" if the bumpers were removed. Guess all that matters is the new owner is happy with their purchase. Really is a sharp color combo that is quite rare.
Dean didn't ignore the question, he just said that he had no knowledge of any damage and that the paint thickness on the hood and front fenders was within factory specs. I have no reason to doubt his statement, however, if I was dropping serious coin for something like this I would definitely move on based on what I saw. And the slathering of detailing goo all over the undercarriage. Ugh. I hate that.
Dan
Dan
Thanks, I must have been asleep at the wheel, I reread the BAT posts a few times, did not see it and after reading your thing above, I just looked again and he did in fact answer as you pointed out....I agree, I would have passed based on the fact that something did not seem right.
Yesterday's scorecard on BaT
47 Listings
11 No Reserve
20 Sold
16 RNM
One comment about that site lately... I've been noticing more hysterical cheerleading in the peanut gallery. I suspect there are a lot of people with too much money tied up in their car hobby, and they are starting to get nervous. Maybe this will crush some of the rampant flipping that drove enthusiasts out of the buy side of the market.
47 Listings
11 No Reserve
20 Sold
16 RNM
One comment about that site lately... I've been noticing more hysterical cheerleading in the peanut gallery. I suspect there are a lot of people with too much money tied up in their car hobby, and they are starting to get nervous. Maybe this will crush some of the rampant flipping that drove enthusiasts out of the buy side of the market.
I can only imagine the hand-wringing going on right now with folks' lowered 401(k)s in the current market environment, coupled with the loans they've taken out against them and HELOCs for their garage baubles over the past few years.
I'm sure it is driving a lot of behaviors -- angst, nervousness, hysterical cheerleading, depression, and so forth.
I spoke with the branch manager of a local lender earlier this week. He said that the refi business is going out the roof right now, and 80% of the loans passing through his bank are "cash-out" re-fis either to consolidate first and second mortgages, or to pay down accumulated debt. Refis are so in demand that it's taking three-plus weeks just to schedule an appraiser to come look over a house. Not to mention that rates are adjusting once and twice a day in this volatile market.
I'm sure it is driving a lot of behaviors -- angst, nervousness, hysterical cheerleading, depression, and so forth.
I spoke with the branch manager of a local lender earlier this week. He said that the refi business is going out the roof right now, and 80% of the loans passing through his bank are "cash-out" re-fis either to consolidate first and second mortgages, or to pay down accumulated debt. Refis are so in demand that it's taking three-plus weeks just to schedule an appraiser to come look over a house. Not to mention that rates are adjusting once and twice a day in this volatile market.
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I do enjoy watching BaT break their own rules when it comes to their "special" bidders and sellers.
Here we have a 993C2 that sports a Salvage title, high miles and has needs.
bringatrailer.com
Some rich guy swoops in like a vulture and places what appears to be a knockout bid ($40k) on the first day. Likely without reading the fine print.
Then, a day and a half later, BaT cancels their bid due to it being a "typo."
Do they really think we're that ****ing stupid?
The bidder in question regularly places single, six figure bids and doesn't get involved in back-and-forths.
bringatrailer.com
Here we have a 993C2 that sports a Salvage title, high miles and has needs.
1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 6-Speed
Bid for the chance to own a 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #29,366.
Some rich guy swoops in like a vulture and places what appears to be a knockout bid ($40k) on the first day. Likely without reading the fine print.
Then, a day and a half later, BaT cancels their bid due to it being a "typo."
Do they really think we're that ****ing stupid?
The bidder in question regularly places single, six figure bids and doesn't get involved in back-and-forths.
nycexec212Member since January 2015 1,092
Bring a Trailer Auctions is the best place to buy and sell vintage and classic vehicles - Porsche, BMW, Land Rover, and more.
But even at the high stakes Blackjack table, the player doesn't get to change their bet when dealt a pair of 8s.
Welcome to Your Own Personal Dream-Car Heaven
How a cultish community of car nuts called Bring a Trailer rebooted the vintage car market—and became the perfect place to kill time online.
every soccer mom needs a 700 HP minivan
Looks like closer to the stock 507hp to me, at least compared to my E63 without the blower on top. But, the R-class is heavy at 5300 lbs, and there was no video of the instrument cluster to estimate acceleration performance.
The exhaust is downright obnoxious inside the cabin. Sounds good outside but will attract the wrong kind of attention. I can't understand how it can be that loud with factory mufflers, unless there are cutouts hiding that I can't find in the pics.
Dude sunk $100k total into this including purchase price 23 months ago!!?? Drives 2kmi and sells it during a market meltdown? Note also that $30k of the upgrades were brakes+wheels. (!!)
Thing is bonkers and I absolutely love it.
Same here. Although if I were the buyer, I'd promptly dyno it, and haul it back to Weistec if not producing the claimed power.
well, if you assume in the 0-60 part of the video that he lets of the gas when hits 60, then this says its ~ 5 secs, so that would say no 700 HP, but I am not sure you can go by that video to determine much because an unmodified R63 is 4.6 to 60, so I doubt this is less (unless they messed up supercharger implementation)
I never understood the R63 in any case. I think the real benefit of this one is that if you are married to a wife that talks too much you just hit the gas and its like an instant off switch, since you won't be able to hear anyone anyway with that engine noise in the cabin.
I am one of the fortunate ones who doesn't need a 700 HP off switch to shut off the talk, and you sound like one of the lucky ones whose wife appreciates fun cars.If we owned anything with 700hp I'd never get the keys away from my wife.
I am very lucky. We both drag race, and she has 3 track championships at Firebird Raceway, including being the reigning track champ in the Outlaw Street class with her E63 (prior championships were with the RENNtech E60 and 500E). Definitely helps when I find some wayward 6.0L M119 that shows up on our doorstep... "well, as long as I get to race it!".I am one of the fortunate ones who doesn't need a 700 HP off switch to shut off the talk, and you sound like one of the lucky ones whose wife appreciates fun cars.
Looks like closer to the stock 507hp to me, at least compared to my E63 without the blower on top. But, the R-class is heavy at 5300 lbs, and there was no video of the instrument cluster to estimate acceleration performance.
The exhaust is downright obnoxious inside the cabin. Sounds good outside but will attract the wrong kind of attention. I can't understand how it can be that loud with factory mufflers, unless there are cutouts hiding that I can't find in the pics.
Dude sunk $100k total into this including purchase price 23 months ago!!?? Drives 2kmi and sells it during a market meltdown? Note also that $30k of the upgrades were brakes+wheels. (!!)
If you turn off the sound, the acceleration is even less impressive. I don't know if there's something wrong with the transmission/transfer case(?) or other parts aft of the motor, but there's something not squaring up for me.
I'm actually surprised that the owner was able to drive 2000 miles with that horrible sound.
To me, that vehicle is a total failure. $0.02
I do enjoy watching BaT break their own rules when it comes to their "special" bidders and sellers.
Here we have a 993C2 that sports a Salvage title, high miles and has needs.
1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 6-Speed
Bid for the chance to own a 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #29,366.
Some rich guy swoops in like a vulture and places what appears to be a knockout bid ($40k) on the first day. Likely without reading the fine print.
Then, a day and a half later, BaT cancels their bid due to it being a "typo."
Do they really think we're that ****ing stupid?
The bidder in question regularly places single, six figure bids and doesn't get involved in back-and-forths.
nycexec212Member since January 2015 1,092
Bring a Trailer Auctions is the best place to buy and sell vintage and classic vehicles - Porsche, BMW, Land Rover, and more.
The dude shows back up after the auction closes and posts this:
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