Hi Not an F question but couldn't figure out where else to ask! A colleague is looking at a personal import 500SL (94ish from HK I believe). Any idea what sort of discount should be applied vs an Aust. delivered and complianced car? Thanks in advance! Aedo
A Benz dealer or used prestige specialist is your best bet for an accurate indication. Short answer is "plenty" although that will only be one factor for a car that old, along with mileage, service history, colour, options, condition etc.
A friend had one,looked for a long time before he bought.Problem was finding one that all the electrical bits were ok,eg seats,windows,A/c,ect,felt that second and third owners skipped maintance issues.
Have you ever been to Hong Kong? Its a small Island crammed with people. Cars spend their life idling in traffic jams. Locals do not bother servicing them, even oil changes are ignored. Gearbox oil is guaranteed never to be touched. Benz V8's are aluminium with silica bores which can't be repared, if they're glazed from excessive idling, its throw-away the engine block time. Every motor trade person knows this, ex HK cars are very hard to sell. Take guide-book value of Aus delivered car then divide by 2. Then subtract value of a major service, replacing injectors, gearbox to driveshaft coupling, etc, etc. Minimum $8K. I doubt is the numbers will stack up.
correct only a viable option if you get it very cheaply, are under no illusions as to its potentially dubious past, and are aware of how hard it will be to on-sell later unless you practically give it away
Thanks all - I agree I'd not touch it with a barge poll. And as for servicing in HK it is all in the log book - but that seems to be missing at the moment. I'll give my colleage your thoughts.. Thanks again!
(my useless contribution) - a mate of mine brought an SL 500 from HK, and drives it around Geelong reguarly.. he knows nothing about it (gift from parents who bought a new one) and knows crap all about engines
Yes Hong Kong is a small island and lots of traffic. However since it's such small place, you will find cars here don't do many k's. The R129 SL was a very expensive car new, most of the owners here would have other cars. Sure it is going to be worth less then a Australian car but I certainly wouldn't think half. Remember, they are all made by the same people at the same factory. As far as servicing goes, they are generally well looked after as Mercedes are are common as Holdens in Aust. and cars are pampered.
buyers dont think that way... if theres a wide selection of immaculate aussie delivered cars....there would have to be a VERY large incentive (read: low low price) to coax someone into a HK import. sure maybe not HALF...but significantly less than an Aussie delivered example.
just from browsing it appears too many HK cars come with a totally unknown history, so people may like to set aside 10-25% of the purchase price for incidentals. you may indeed be getting a pampered and well-serviced vehicle, but if you're believing that from the guy who's selling it to you....
