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

I think this E55?has had a hard life. It’s been setting outside in San Juan Capistrano which is near the ocean. The clear coat is shot, quite a few dents in the exterior, the front is sandblasted from freeway driving. From the miles on it 137K it was probably use to commute up or down the freeway to work. The Monoblocks need refinishing. Dash is cracked, driver’s seat has some kind of scuff on the backrest. I could only find one oil change receipts at 114K miles in 2013. A couple of the other receipts show oil added.

It might be a deal for someone but not for me. All I see is lots of $$$$ to get this car into any kind of shape.

Just my opinion other’s may differ.

Sorry I couldn’t help myself.
 
So it seems Woods and Barclay automotive is well known for finding nice examples that have been freshened up and now deemed as reliable. Is there any other reputable people that are also restoring and selling classic Mercedes?
 
ace10 said:
It's a rainy Saturday morning here, and happened to stumble across this:



Something for everyone. A real page turner.
Click to expand...
This car was pulled from BaHaT in December 2023, then pulled from RM Sotheby's in March 2024. Nice.

Appears it may have been purchased in April 2023 for <$150k, tried to flip on Sotheby's in September 2023 but RNM $185k... then shilled above $200k on BaHaT in December... dunno what happened in March 2024. Not sure why it shows TMU on some venues.

:scratchchin:

1711993758796.png

sothebysmotorsport.com

2023 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS Default for sale on Sotheby’s Motorsport - ended September 29 (Lot # 239) | Sotheby’s Motorsport

Sotheby's Motorsport is a joint venture of RM Sotheby's and Motorsport Network. Fueled by a desire to create a next generation auction platform for 21st century sport, exotic, and luxury vehicles priced between $100,000 and approximately $1 million, we aim to provide the ultimate luxury online...
sothebysmotorsport.com sothebysmotorsport.com

1711993908380.png

1711993977340.png
 
I know Bring a Hearst a Trailer (BaHaT) has been devolving, but dang... it's becoming clear they will accept any car with no reserve. It's turning into a dumping ground for turds.

Recent example: This E320 wagon being unloaded by a dealer initially looks like a rare color with bad photos, but once you look at all the pictures - wow:


Fried paint, severe rot at the driver rear fender, broken bumper, mummified mirror booties, toasted right mirror glass, 2020 Goodyears with cracked sidewalls (!!), corroded wheels, steering wheel cover failing, evidence of accident repair on the driver door, weird blotches on driver visor area, water leaks / mold (?) at rear hatch, gross engine compartment, mangled hood pad, and Stage III-IV cancer down under.

But hey, there are thousands in receipts from the East Hamptons and the AC blows cold! And it has a good upper harness, which by itself is worth more than the current $640 bid, lolol...

:yayo:

1721912435144.png 1721912479761.png 1721912503370.png 1721912551307.png 1721912568408.png 1721912587286.png 1721912624931.png 1721912652335.png 1721912674771.png 1721912959897.png 1721912977129.png 1721913011916.png
 
gsxr said:
I know Bring a Hearst a Trailer (BaHaT) has been devolving, but dang... it's becoming clear they will accept any car with no reserve. It's turning into a dumping ground for turds.

Recent example: This E320 wagon being unloaded by a dealer initially looks like a rare color with bad photos, but once you look at all the pictures - wow:


Fried paint, severe rot at the driver rear fender, broken bumper, mummified mirror booties, toasted right mirror glass, 2020 Goodyears with cracked sidewalls (!!), corroded wheels, steering wheel cover failing, evidence of accident repair on the driver door, weird blotches on driver visor area, water leaks / mold (?) at rear hatch, gross engine compartment, mangled hood pad, and Stage III-IV cancer down under.

But hey, there are thousands in receipts from the East Hamptons and the AC blows cold! And it has a good upper harness, which by itself is worth more than the current $640 bid, lolol...

:yayo:

View attachment 197064 View attachment 197065 View attachment 197066 View attachment 197068 View attachment 197069 View attachment 197070 View attachment 197071 View attachment 197072 View attachment 197073 View attachment 197074 View attachment 197075 View attachment 197076
Click to expand...
Minor details, Dave! Imagine it had low miles, it would be FLYING off the shelf with the BAT crowd

200.gif
 
This is an interesting 400E auction.


Check out the rust in this photo:
1722278971867.png


Now, look at the recent photos added where the rust magically all turned Color!

1722279016588.png


As a bonus, this No Reserve listing just jumped from $1,000 to $10,000. Either someone doesn't understand shilling on a no reserve listing, or it was a typo, or perhaps they simply hate money.

:yayo:
 
More fishy stuff on the 400E auction linked above.

Jumped from $1,000 bid to $10,000 by a brand-new account... followed by a bid to $10,250 by another brand-new account.

10.0k bidder: The best vintage and classic cars for sale online | Bring a Trailer
10.2k bidder: The best vintage and classic cars for sale online | Bring a Trailer

This just ain't a $10k car IMO. I wonder if shills can register to bid with a virtual credit card number that is then disabled after they bid, so they won't be on the hook for the 5% fee after not paying.

Also just noticed the spare tyre, lol:

1722358883023.png
 
I can't look away from this train wreck. Someone asked this question:

"@seller in comparing the rear suspension components in images 86 & 106, the former presents evidence of rust where the latter appears not to. Did you perform a dry ice blast or spray paint the components by chance? Additionally, the front springs appear to be new – is that the case? Thank you."​

And, here's the seller's response:

"Suspension and undercarriage was power wash with detergent Salt and grime was removed after 30 years of Jersey winters"​


Um. Yeah, nope. Power wash does not remove rust. Check out a couple more before/after pics:

1722434087598.png 1722434123347.png 1722434136882.png

Seller went nuts with a rattle can of paint and conveniently forgot to mention this.

I wonder how high the two shills will go.

:watchdrama: :pc1:
 
Wow. Just wow. That was all the monies and then some for a TMU car in mediocre shape. No AC, no snail hanging off the side of the engine, wrong speedo with zero documentation, no history, no records, few photos:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-mercedes-benz-300d-15/

Note that once again, a 2-horse race pushed the hammer price to silly levels. Looking below those two nutters, the actual market value is likely in the $6k-$7k range.

$15,250 = Winner (brand new BaT user)
$15,200 = Bidder #2
$7,000 = Bidder #3
$5,500 = Bidder #4
$4,500 = Bidder #5

:kaboom:
 
gsxr said:
Wow. Just wow. That was all the monies and then some for a TMU car in mediocre shape. No AC, no snail hanging off the side of the engine, wrong speedo with zero documentation, no history, no records, few photos:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-mercedes-benz-300d-15/

Note that once again, a 2-horse race pushed the hammer price to silly levels. Looking below those two nutters, the actual market value is likely in the $6k-$7k range.
Click to expand...
I was surprised by that result as well. Worn out w124s, plebeian ones at that, wallow in the depths. The speedometer matter showed real sloppiness by the alleged German seller.

In other news, Dean L has a 1992 300d 2.5 Turbo listing that’s already reached $40k after one day. I remember that car coming out when i was in high school and driving (appreciably and gratefully) an ‘83 w123 240d thinking it was a modern diesel marvel. I’m sure it will clear $100k, notwithstanding the general turn the market has taken.
 
(BaT) Auctions: Worth Listing Your Car or Not? If your name is Dean, the answer is a resounding "HELL YES".

Dean must be pulling in 7 figures annually (profit, not revenue!) when he's making easily $50k on a single flip like this.


$90k - "winner", using the term loosely
$88k - bidder #2
$65k - bidder #3
$41k - bidder #4
$40k - bidder #5
$29k - bidder #6
$26k - bidder #7

Excluding the 2 nutters, ±$40k looks like ballpark market value, which is semi-reasonable. One of the comments noted Hagerty shows concours/#1 value at $36k. I owned one of these, sold it to my sister (they still have it), and while the 2.5T a really nice car... the top three bids are crazytown, even accounting for the low odometer reading (23kmi).

Plus, this one is a total stripper, not one single option. At least it's not the Beige Overload version, so there's that.

EDIT: This car does have options! My bad - I was looking at a couple different cars and got mixed up. :doh: The $90k diesel does have optional ASD (quite rare) and heated seats. Oddly, it does not have headlight wipers, driver memory seat, or telescopic steering wheel. Usually ASD was combined with bun warmers and the headlight washers.

:yayo:
 
Last edited:
gsxr said:
(BaT) Auctions: Worth Listing Your Car or Not? If your name is Dean, the answer is a resounding "HELL YES".


Excluding the 2 nutters, ±$40k looks like ballpark market value, which is semi-reasonable. One of the comments noted Hagerty shows concours/#1 value at $36k. I owned one of these, sold it to my sister (they still have it), and while the 2.5T a really nice car... the top three bids are crazytown, even accounting for the low odometer reading (23kmi). Plus, this one is a total stripper, not one single option. At least it's not the Beige Overload version, so there's that.
Click to expand...
Dave - It did/does have ASR and heated seats, but that doesn’t change your point. There have been several nice 300d 2.5s on BaH over the past year or so, and this is just crazy. No one is ever going to consider a workhorse a museum piece unless I has 1M+ miles on the clock.

BTW - Miss your participation on BaH, but totally understand your reticence given your prior experience with their censors…
 
gsxr said:
(BaT) Auctions: Worth Listing Your Car or Not? If your name is Dean, the answer is a resounding "HELL YES".

Dean must be pulling in 7 figures annually (profit, not revenue!) when he's making easily $50k on a single flip like this.


$90k - "winner", using the term loosely
$88k - bidder #2
$65k - bidder #3
$41k - bidder #4
$40k - bidder #5
$29k - bidder #6
$26k - bidder #7

Excluding the 2 nutters, ±$40k looks like ballpark market value, which is semi-reasonable. One of the comments noted Hagerty shows concours/#1 value at $36k. I owned one of these, sold it to my sister (they still have it), and while the 2.5T a really nice car... the top three bids are crazytown, even accounting for the low odometer reading (23kmi). Plus, this one is a total stripper, not one single option. At least it's not the Beige Overload version, so there's that.

:yayo:
Click to expand...
:kapow:That’s a totally insane price. Dean must be very happy with the results. He is probably hoping the buyer doesn’t wake up and come to his senses.
 
w124fanMI said:
Dave - It did/does have ASR and heated seats, but that doesn’t change your point. There have been several nice 300d 2.5s on BaH over the past year or so, and this is just crazy. No one is ever going to consider a workhorse a museum piece unless I has 1M+ miles on the clock.
Click to expand...
YOU ARE RIGHT! I totally biffed that... previous post edited.

:doof: :wormhole: :hiding: :hide1: :jelmerian:



w124fanMI said:
BTW - Miss your participation on BaH, but totally understand your reticence given your prior experience with their censors…
Click to expand...
Yep, it's better for my blood pressure to not bother commenting. People can ping me through the forum if they have a question. Besides, we all know what opinions are like, and everyone has one, etc etc...

:flush:
 
Even BaHaT has odometer blindness! Read comments from bottom up on this 500-mile gem. Parked beachside for a decade perhaps?

bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: 500-Mile 2005 Toyota Camry LE

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 500-Mile 2005 Toyota Camry LE at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #178,328.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com
 
Bogeyman said:
Sold for $32K+
I would have bid but I heard it had been smoked in...
Click to expand...

Seller was elusive and slippery.
"Sold" at BJ two weeks ago, but for some unknown reason didn't actually sell.
Digging into it made me even more resolute to only transact with individuals.

Hagerty even did a post-BJ write-up on that (supposed) sale. Though they didn't actually grasp that it didn't change hands.
www.hagerty.com

1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC VIN WDBCA45D3JA393306 | Hagerty Valuation Tools

Have you seen this 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC VIN WDBCA45D3JA393306 auction result?
www.hagerty.com

Condition​

#3 Good​

Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
About Hagerty’s condition ratings
Bought new by Johnny Carson, who kept it until 2003. Extensive refurbishing in 2017. Good paint. Clean wheels and tires. Some of the exterior trim is a little dull. Showing 86,832 miles. Some of the interior trim is cracked, which is common on these cars, but the interior is mostly good. A nice but unremarkable SEC with celebrity history.

Market commentary​

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He was no Jay Leno when it comes to automotive enthusiasm, but Carson nevertheless owned some cool cars. The result for this one is spot-on for the condition with no notable premium for the celebrity seat time. It is immediately being flipped on Bring a Trailer.
 
Is it just me or is car market falling a little bit? I’ve seen some stuff hold, but some stuff fall pretty hard. Maybe just leveling out after the crazy high of COVID.

I also believe a lot of auctions were pump and dumps, driving prices up a lot more than they should.

Edit: Forgot to respond to the C&B thing. BaT is 100% eating their lunch, C&B investors really thought they could fight the beast.
 
puchak said:
Is it just me or is car market falling a little bit? I’ve seen some stuff hold, but some stuff fall pretty hard. Maybe just leveling out after the crazy high of COVID.

I also believe a lot of auctions were pump and dumps, driving prices up a lot more than they should.

Edit: Forgot to respond to the C&B thing. BaT is 100% eating their lunch, C&B investors really thought they could fight the beast.
Click to expand...
market is definitely soft all across the board for all things like cars, art, and watches so if you're in the market i would get some things. only the very special cars are holding rn, i was actively bidding on a few cars when i'm bored

Bat had a lot of weird ones that i still go back to in regards to pumps and just the quality of the cars that roll thru are garbage...

- a honda accord??
- camry's with rust?
- a bently w/ really questionable history

and the peanut gallery just regurgitates what they heard from an influencer video about wiring harnesses/headbolts/rod bearings...

and i kinda ike C&B a little better and i think it's a good alternative b/c sometimes bat have made similar cars compete against themselves..
 
duuder said:
market is definitely soft all across the board for all things like cars, art, and watches so if you're in the market i would get some things. only the very special cars are holding rn, i was actively bidding on a few cars when i'm bored

Bat had a lot of weird ones that i still go back to in regards to pumps and just the quality of the cars that roll thru are garbage...

- a honda accord??
- camry's with rust?
- a bently w/ really questionable history

and the peanut gallery just regurgitates what they heard from an influencer video about wiring harnesses/headbolts/rod bearings...

and i kinda ike C&B a little better and i think it's a good alternative b/c sometimes bat have made similar cars compete against themselves..
Click to expand...
Today Wal-Mart gave a pretty dire earnings report with not a great outlook. Tanked the Dow 600 points plus, before it recovered a bit.

We may be in for a rough ride. Need to watch other "consumer" company quarterly reports to see what is happening with spending outlook. Inflation rose in January, of course the news media blamed that rise in inflation on Trump.
 
Harv said:
Looks like rough days over in Doug-ville. Fired the majority of the staff.
Click to expand...
Never seen a more "emotive" and dramatic guy in my life. He'll be fine, he has such a large following on YouTube that he's taking in plenty of money to stay afloat (at least personally).

I'd expect him to sell his platform out to someone with more financial muscle who can perhaps compete more effectively with HaT.
 
gerryvz said:
Never seen a more "emotive" and dramatic guy in my life. He'll be fine, he has such a large following on YouTube that he's taking in plenty of money to stay afloat (at least personally).

I'd expect him to sell his platform out to someone with more financial muscle who can perhaps compete more effectively with HaT.
Click to expand...
I thought he already did cash out, but was remaining active as the face of the company, sort of? Not sure if it was made public how much Doug personally profited from the "cash infusion", if at all.

As long as he didn't blow all his dough on exotic cars (which have now tanked in value), yep, he should be fine.

:watchdrama:
 
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