Bring a Trailer (BaT) Auctions: Worth Listing Your Car or Not?

[LWB250]

I gotta go with the LULZ. Nothing else makes any sense.

I am enjoying how the seller has failed to address anything regarding the car’s “previous” past. This has just started, I’m guessing. I’ll stick with my estimate of sub-$10k. No one with a brain in their head would pay anything of substance for that car based on the history.

Dan

 

[LWB250]

Others are beginning to pile on with references to prior claims. I wonder if this will turn into enough of a sh*t show that BAT pulls the auction?

It’s just going to get uglier...

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

Captruff was correct in the other thread - it's very likely that this car will get pulled by BaT before the auction closes, once they are alerted to the back story behind this car. It would be hilarious if this car stays at the $2K mark, or perhaps makes it up to $5K, if the auction does go full term. As the seller has in the past been offering the car for $40-45K, I'm sure he has a high reserve on it, and it will go RNM.

 

[LWB250]

Captruff was correct in the other thread - it's very likely that this car will get pulled by BaT before the auction closes, once they are alerted to the back story behind this car. It would be hilarious if this car stays at the $2K mark, or perhaps makes it up to $5K, if the auction does go full term. As the seller has in the past been offering the car for $40-45K, I'm sure he has a high reserve on it, and it will go RNM.

That's what is surprising to me. I can't imagine BAT would knowingly accept this car after all the other venues it's been listed on, along with the past claims and challenges to such that are so well documented. In the application process BAT asks if you've offered the car for sale elsewhere, which I suspect is a trigger for not listing as I would expect them to want the first bite at the apple, so to speak. That being the case, if the seller did disclose prior offerings, why did BAT accept it?

I'm befuddled by the correspondence they show from Mercedes. I can't help but wonder if it's forged, as I can't imagine Mercedes being that interested in this car. It's unique, but not *that* unique. Strange.

I'm guessing BAT got scammed on this, and once they dig into it they're going to drop the auction like a hot potato.

I need to get some more popcorn...

 

[Bogeyman]

Maybe he just kept hounding them until they finally said "what the hell"?

Or just for their own entertainment....

 

[Harv]

BaT does have a sense of humor ..

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-lincoln-mark-v-5/

 

[LWB250]

So Harv, since you've had your foot in this pond what's your take on the whole thing? The seller has been discredited widely, why would BAT take something like this on? Since you are in the business I can understand if you would prefer not to elaborate, too...

Dan

 

[Harv]

I know nothing.

 

[ace10]

Here's a good example of a seller being short and terse with the peanut gallery over the course of several auctions. Which has lead to a low "sell" rate and (IMO) a sure RNM on this A124.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mercedes-benz-300ce-22/

This car looks like a decent example, and there should be a whole lot more than eight non-seller comments after three days. I get the feeling that the seller has better things to do than curate the sale of the car, and expects the pics and vids to do ALL the work for them.

Some people just aren't cut out to sell on a venue like BaT.

 

[gsxr]

Here's an interesting BaT listing that ended today. Seems odd that the top 2 bidders were both more than double the next few bidders:

https://www.500eboard.co/forums/ind...turbo-widebody-signal-red-palomino-bat.13311/

 

[LWB250]

I couldn’t help but notice in my daily BaT email:

“50 auctions closing today.”

Yikes! I’ve seen that the numbers of daily auctions has gone up, but 50 a day?

Almost seems like things are getting out of hand....

-D

 

[ace10]

I couldn’t help but notice in my daily BaT email:

“50 auctions closing today.”

Yikes! I’ve seen that the numbers of daily auctions has gone up, but 50 a day?

Almost seems like things are getting out of hand....

-D

Almost?

BaT's greed apparently knows no limits.

The seller of the S500 was busted in a previous auction for trying to pass off a repaired car as clean. The listing was pulled. And in auctions prior to that, there were many instances of questionable bidding.

But hey, let's give him another chance (to pork BaT bidders).

 

[gsxr]

Nifty E320 Sportline on there now, seller had Karo fabric sewn in place of the original leather:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-mercedes-benz-e320-17/

https://www.datamb.com/vin/GkZjydzq4qYAb1YrR

WDBEA32E3SC226448

 

[Melville]

Nifty E320 Sportline on there now, seller had Karo fabric sewn in place of the original leather:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-mercedes-benz-e320-17/

https://www.datamb.com/vin/GkZjydzq4qYAb1YrR

WDBEA32E3SC226448

View attachment 85614 View attachment 85613

Very interesting car. A couple of things jumped out at me that I'd want answered if I were a bidder. There is a shot with the dash lights on at startup - well, they are on except the CEL. Bulb removed? Also, the carfax says no accidents but it looks like there is no emissions sticker on the rad support.

The CEL point should be easy to confirm. Pull the cluster and take a look. Or do a video that shows the light coming on properly.

For the second point, it's reasonable that the owner will not know if there is accident history. And even if there is, that doesn't mean the car is junk. The question should just be whether the repair (if there was one) was done well.

 

[gerryvz]

Good catches, M'ville.

Someone should pose those questions and see what the seller comes back with. Usually, one can also tell if the VIN plate has been removed from the upper radiator support as the paint is broken when it's removed and then re-screwed to the new support. So getting a close-up photo of these two areas of the radiator support would be a nice ask of the seller.

 

[gerryvz]

The seller is very passive-aggressive.

Someone named @UnhingedTroll posed Melville's questions to the seller. The seller says that the CEL works, but offered no direct proof or description of it s operation, other than saying that it works.

The direct question about the emissions sticker on the radiator support was duly evaded, with the seller saying he ran a paint gauge all over the car and didn't find evidence of repaint. He did not confirm or deny (as he was asked) as to whether the yellow sticker was present.

My best guess with this car was that much earlier in its life, it likely suffered a modest hit in the front, necessitating replacement of various front end components. Evidently it was not reported to insurance, and thus does not show up on a CarFax. There is no way that this car would not have had a sticker from the factory, and the only scenario as to it not being present would be replacement of the upper radiator support. No one would remove such a sticker on their own.

 

[gerryvz]

The seller is not telling the truth with regard to the CEL.

Attached is a video of my car with the cluster warning lamps lighting up when the key is turned to position 1. The CEL is clearly visible and stays on (until I turn the key back to position 0, whereby all dash lights go off).

Contrast that with the seller’s photo.

 

[gsxr]

When the key is turned on, all warning lamps should stay on except SRS, which will turn off after something like 4-5 seconds, (and the blue bright headlight lamp, which only lights up if the turn signal stalk is pushed forward). If the CEL is off, something ain't right. A video of the cluster at startup (cold or warm) would answer the question.

 

[Bogeyman]

I've got a '95 Cabrio - all original.
All warning lamps stay lit except the SRS which goes out in 4 seconds.
Not only the yellow emission sticker missing but also the silver diagram on the right side is missing.
Also, his stickers that are there are in different places than my original ones.

 

[gsxr]

Pretty likely there was an incident earlier in the life of the car, which the current owner (who has only had it 2 years) was unaware of... and he probably isn't happy to learn about it in the middle of the auction.

 

[gerryvz]

For a US-spec car, a yellow emissions sticker (or through the 1992 model year, a black one) would be required by law to be on the upper radiator support. This is why they are not available as replacement parts from MB dealerships (or anywhere else).

Since cabrios were produced in a different MB plant than sedans, it is not unusual that the stickers could be in different locations. That said, an emissions sticker would be required by law for any car sold in the US.

Pretty likely there was an incident earlier in the life of the car, which the current owner (who has only had it 2 years) was unaware of... and he probably isn't happy to learn about it in the middle of the auction.

I think it's worth it to give the seller the benefit of the doubt as to the lack of emissions sticker / lack of knowledge if there was a prior "incident."

Difficult to say definitively that something happened or not, but if the documentation is clear, then I wouldn't be surprised if the seller legitimately knew nothing about it.

What is bothersome is the seller's outright lie about the CHECK ENGINE light being operational. That causes a red flag IMHO.

My best guess is that either the seller or previous owner just removed the bulb from the CEL to "fix" (heh!) a carbon clog in the EGR tube. Common M104 issue that affects nothing, in reality.

 

[gerryvz]

The seller posted this morning that he is having his mechanic check out the CHECK ENGINE light.

This, after assuring in a previous post that it was working just fine. No word confirming or denying the presence of the yellow emissions sticker on the radiator support, or anything more about the drippy rear differential housing. We'll see what the report back is on the CEL. Either the mechanic is going to report it burned out/missing, or the seller will continue to proclaim that all is well despite visual evidence to the contrary, on several fronts.

On closer scrutiny, the photos with the auction do also show:

• as mentioned by @Bogeyman, the emissions schematic sticker on the driver's side of the radiator support is missing -- another visual cue that the support was replaced
• the R-134a sticker is a bit cock-eyed in its placement, and it's a bit to the right of where you normally see them -- possible evidence that it was replaced
• the option plate, held to the support by two screws, shows evidence in the blurry auction photos of being removed and replaced. Its edges are lifted up. Normally from the factory this is installed and then painted over, sealing the edges of the option plate down to the support. If the edges are lifted, the paint has been broken, and this is evidence that it was removed from the car and re-installed on a new upper radiator support.

Again, I think all of this is unbeknownst to the seller. He's just the innocent owner/seller of a nice car for the past two years, and didn't know enough to see all of these little clues and what they added up to. I'm sure the car runs and drives fine, and it presents pretty nicely. Will be interesting to see if the bidding action heats up toward the end of the auction.

 

[gerryvz]

The front-wrecked & CEL E320 Sportline sedan with the checkered Yurro seat inserts got up to $7,300 + BaTshit premium. Perhaps higher than it should have been. Seller lied about the CEL and then never reported back what his mechanic found. Seller never answered the simple question about the emissions sticker not being present. Not to mention the wet rear diff — which seller says was caused by driving in the rain ?!! Meanwhile the hansjorgs and dean laumbauchs of the world backslapped the seller to high heaven, effectively endorsing his dishonesty. Shows you how credible these folks are.

 

[gsxr]

I thought it would crack $10k easily. Maybe ending on a Friday afternoon hurt... but, reserve was met!

 

[gerryvz]

I think the price was about market appropriate. I was personally thinking $7K.

Not a lot of discussion on the car, so it didn’t seem to have that much promotion and exposure. Seems some folks thought that the Sportline badges would somehow equate it to about 70% of a 500E.

The seller should have been held more accountable regarding the outstanding questions on the car. Instead, he got a bunch of cheerleaders.

This was the car that Hoovy should have bought !!

 

[geraniumtr]

Gerry/Dave, when this car was at $5K I didn't think it would go much higher. Surprised it sold for what it did. Let's be honest, its a 25 year old E320 with the Sportline option, albeit in good condition. Its an apples to oranges comparison to your E500E. I can't believe there are too many folks in the market for one of these.
Gerry, I think you were a little tough on the seller ! This wasn't any $25-$35 K E500E where your concerns would certainly have been legitimate .
Frankly I would have asked about the A/C evaporator. If it hasn't been changed the new owner is sitting on a time bomb because it will fail.
In any event I'm happy DD my 94 E320. Nice and cool with a new A/C compressor which I installed myself.

Stay cool folks,

Peter Weissman

 

[gerryvz]

Fair commentary. The seller IMHO was pretty evasive and didn’t follow through, that’s my main point. I think if he’d have been more forthcoming, the car may have hit @gsxr ’s $10K.

The car was obviously clean & well-maintained. Better than most. No question.

It‘s still gonna have $5K+ of deferred maintenance, though

 

[LWB250]

Gerry/Dave, when this car was at $5K I didn't think it would go much higher. Surprised it sold for what it did. Let's be honest, its a 25 year old E320 with the Sportline option, albeit in good condition. Its an apples to oranges comparison to your E500E. I can't believe there are too many folks in the market for one of these.
Gerry, I think you were a little tough on the seller ! This wasn't any $25-$35 K E500E where your concerns would certainly have been legitimate .
Frankly I would have asked about the A/C evaporator. If it hasn't been changed the new owner is sitting on a time bomb because it will fail.
In any event I'm happy DD my 94 E320. Nice and cool with a new A/C compressor which I installed myself.

Stay cool folks,

Peter Weissman

I think the price was pretty much in line based on the condition of the car.

While I agree that the "UnhingedTroll" was a little brusque, which is his manner, the CEL issue was concerning.

This is one of the things I always look for in later models that have the CEL. Car throwing codes? Still running? Pull the lamp and fugettaboutit.

Granted, I also put a STAR scanner on cars that can accommodate one, even the early models, so I would have caught anything that was out of sorts, but the average buyer is unlikely to have that luxury. Another good reason to have a PPI performed on potential purchases. Money well spent.

Dan

 

[dutchny]

I may list my e500 on BAT soon. Anyone know how much they charge?

 

[gsxr]

I may list my e500 on BAT soon. Anyone know how much they charge?

See the first FAQ:

https://bringatrailer.com/faq/

Wait - didn't you just buy the E500 earlier this year?

 

[dutchny]

THanks gsxr.

Yes I did, I realized these cars need to be driven. I only have time once a month to drive it, and its rough when driving / starting and sitting in between.

 

[gerryvz]

Wait - didn't you just buy the E500 earlier this year?

 

[shawnh]

I may list my e500 on BAT soon. Anyone know how much they charge?

Hi What color is that?

 

[dutchny]

Hi What color is that?

Pearl black (gray is what it looks like

 

[shawnh]

Thanks Is the interior black leather?

 

[dutchny]

Thanks Is the interior black leather?

Yes it is.

 

[shawnh]

Thanks for the picture. Here is my email hheiati@yahoo.com. If you would send me more info, picture. eg mileage, year, how good is interior and exterior etc.

 

[ace10]

Thanks for the picture. Here is my email hheiati@yahoo.com. If you would send me more info, picture. eg mileage, year, how good is interior and exterior etc.

SOLD - 1994 E500, Pearl Black/Black, 165kmi, $18k (Greenwich CT)

VIN = WDBEA36E4RC077035 I bought this car from a member back in 2017, the original thread will be added later. I have only done a few miles but have spent a lot on it since I acquired it. it has been looked after by Autotechnic in New Milford CT (jeff0093) I just do not use it. It is a great...

www.500eboard.co

 

[ace10]

Don't be this seller

43k-Mile 2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4x4

Bid for the chance to own a 43k-Mile 2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4×4 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,550.

bringatrailer.com

Haven't seen that much rattle-canning on BaT since the Supra late last year.

The guy had a very desirable 4Runner, but wouldn't come clean on the insane level of spraying that was done on the underside. And then he had a bit of meltdown, prompting BaT to pull the listing.

 

[LWB250]

Don't be this seller

43k-Mile 2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4x4

Bid for the chance to own a 43k-Mile 2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4×4 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,550.

bringatrailer.com

Haven't seen that much rattle-canning on BaT since the Supra late last year.

The guy had a very desirable 4Runner, but wouldn't come clean on the insane level of spraying that was done on the underside. And then he had a bit of meltdown, prompting BaT to pull the listing.

"The seller notes what could be evidence of touch-up work under the vehicle. More images of the underside are presented in the gallery below"

Wow. If that isn't a tell I'm not sure what is....

Dan

 

[LWB250]

Bruce is schooling someone on V12 engine mount jobs...

2005 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

Dan

 

[gsxr]

In case anyone missed it... ends in 2 days:

1997 Mercedes-Benz RENNtech E60 RS

Bid for the chance to own a 1997 Mercedes-Benz RENNtech E60 RS at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,631.

bringatrailer.com

Don't miss the acceleration video linked in the description.

 

[JC220]

Here's a 124 Coupe on Bat currently $10k and sold on Bat last year for $24k

46k-Mile 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe

Bid for the chance to own a 46k-Mile 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,668.

bringatrailer.com

 

[LWB250]

Here's a 124 Coupe on Bat currently $10k and sold on Bat last year for $24k

46k-Mile 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe

Bid for the chance to own a 46k-Mile 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,668.

bringatrailer.com

They need to do something like Antiques Road Show does with their re-runs, where they list the original appraisal price and the current appraisal price (with the sad trumpet sound, of course.)

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

In case anyone missed it... ends in 2 days:

1997 Mercedes-Benz RENNtech E60 RS

Bid for the chance to own a 1997 Mercedes-Benz RENNtech E60 RS at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,631.

bringatrailer.com

Don't miss the acceleration video linked in the description.

Flogging 'er hard, eh?

Seems an attractive target for a flipper/dealer

 

[Kyiv]

In case anyone missed it... ends in 2 days:

1997 Mercedes-Benz RENNtech E60 RS

Bid for the chance to own a 1997 Mercedes-Benz RENNtech E60 RS at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,631.

bringatrailer.com

Don't miss the acceleration video linked in the description.

Dave, why sell it?

 

[gsxr]

Dave, why sell it?

We have too many cars! This one is in the best condition, has the lowest miles, and we just don't drive it that much...

 

[gerryvz]

We have too many cars! This one is in the best condition, has the lowest miles, and we just don't drive it that much...

Hmmm...sounds like a now-Classic flipper-dealer excuse.

How many cars did you say you have again?

 

[gsxr]

About a dozen registered/insured and only 2 drivers.

How about you?

 

[nocfn]