Flippin' 500E's?

[gsxr]

This car *just* sold on eBay for $9300:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0426973121

Then it immediately appeared on Craigslist for $13,500! Guess the new owner thought it was a bargain, and is trying to "flip" it for a quick profit? Hmmm:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/1411438795.html


Gerry, the VIN is: WDBEA36E1PB882199

Rare color, looks nice in the tiny photos. Low miles, wonder if it's accurate.

 

[gerryvz]

I'll check this out when I get home. I seem to remember this VIN though - I think I have record of this car.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[MDA]

That's a cool color, anyone have any idea of the paint code for that?

I wonder how the "flipping" thing would work. If you're not a registered dealer in CA, you're required to pay ~10% sales tax on the purchase transaction, particularly if purchasing from a dealership which appears is the case here. Kind of makes the economics of such a transaction look marginal at best.

MDA

 

[Dan]

maybe this guys a dealer or...to avoid tax and registration tell the dealer your registering in another state. You can tow it off the lot and avoid the sales tax that way.

 

[gsxr]

Color is #485, Rosewood Metallic, aka Canyon Brown... has to be very rare, I've never heard of it before. I think it was only offered for a couple of years, it's in the 1993 paintwork brochure, but not 1992 or 1995 (I don't have a '94 paintwork brochure).

Had I not been in the process of closing a deal on an E500, I might have looked into this one more seriously on eBay, give the miles & price. The E500 deal fell through, but after the eBay sale had ended - oh well. It's less enticing at $4k more though. If it's really clean and has no serious issues, it's definitely a decent deal.

 

[Sacco_Fan]

I love the detailed description. If the seller thinks it's worth $13.5, why not provide some details about condition and history? An honest description and good photos will really help sell it, esp if I am 1000 miles away.

 

[2phast]

I have seen this color on one other 500e and on several other W124's, definately rare in the US, seems to have been more popular in Europe and Japan. Saw a JDM W124 cab in Canada a few months ago, same color, plaid cloth interior (yuck)

The Rosewood 500e burnt to the ground, it was owned by Yyrbenz's (don't remember his name) father.

Even if this guy had to pay sales tax at 10%, he is somewhere in the $10,300 range, so he is looking at a 3k profit if someone buys it at his full asking price.

 

[MDA]

Hmmm, seems like a lot of bother for ~$3K if one's not a dealer.....

After looking at the ebay listing pics, a few questions arise. Appears to have had some frontal work (grill's been refitted/build plate on rad support looks odd) and it's got the wrong rear glass/defrost.

Still like the color...nice to see something different amongst the sea of 199's.

MDA

 

[gsxr]

Rumor is, the eBay/Craigslist Canyon Brown car may still be available... drop me a line if you want the new owner's contact info. I don't believe it's currently posted for sale anywhere but it may be soon.

 

[gsxr]

From this thread:
http://www.500eboard.com/forums/sho...on-Brown-Cream-Beige-65kmi-15k-(Roseville-CA)


Mileage Date Reported
31,993 03/09/1999
10,615 04/08/2000 Possible Odometer Rollback/Rollover

21,224 03/06/2002
31,336 03/19/2004
44,286 03/21/2006
55,540 02/13/2008
63,000 06/08/2009
63,000 06/10/2009


My guess is, the speedo was replaced sometime in 1999, and the car probably has ~82,000 miles or so. (???)


Comment from KarlC in Dec-2009:
I got a good look at this car, it’s pretty trashed and needs a lot of work. It’s had some body work and repaint; the interior needs a lot of work and all kinds of mechanical work. Looked pretty clean on Ebay, sure goes to show when you must get a PPI !!!!!! ... I did drive it, it pulled good and seemed to shift fine, BUT has big and unsafe suspension issues so bad that the current owner was not sure about driving it at all.


Comment from previous owner in Nov-2009:
hi fellows,
iam the new owner that won the bid on ebay. just to clear the story, i am actually not out to make a quick buck on the car, infact i have been
looking for w124 for quite sometime. (my wife drives w210 e55). i kind of won the bid on ebay unintentionally - (didn't think i was going to win the
bid.), make story short, my wife does not want me to have a used car, only new. currently iam actually still waiting for the delivery of vehicle, i
have been travelling this last 1 1/2 month, and the dealership has it stored, its been paid in full w. taxes. i will be looking for a new great home for
the car when it comes in, i will have it inspected here locally at mb garage in san mateo and see what they come up with. - www.mb-garage.com
i will post addtional photos when the car delivers this week, and share more information as well. my fingers are crossed, it was an blind buy, and
car fax did not provide much info.