G55K for £37K

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Stuckmojo
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-MERCEDES-BENZ-G-CLASS-5-5-G55-AMG-SUV-5DR...

My thoughts on this as I ponder if I should sell my G55 in Dubai and buy another one in UK. I thought the price gap would be much wider, as I can't see cars comparable to mine for less than £55K

- It has been painted - Did they have matt black in 2004?

- more importantly, this is a K engine and if I'm not mistaken this was introduced only in 2005

-36k miles is very low. (2,500 miles per year? )

 

Thoughts?

Theo
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Re: G55K for £37K

I doubt that it has been repainted, that is probably foil;

you are right, this is most likely a non-Kompressor engine, the Kompressor engine was introduced in 2004, however, the new model deliveries tend to start in autumn; 

the seller is not knowledgeable or at least the description of the car is not precise, the wheels look like correct 18-inch wheels to me;

as it seems to have a complete service history, check that the mileage has progressed steadily over the years (i.e. the car has not been garaged for a couple of years); if this is the case the low mileage is a plus, otherwise an engine rebuild might be a possible scenario (except of course if it has been stored properly, i.e. the storage centre brought the engine to temperature a couple of times a year).

Stuckmojo
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Re: G55K for £37K

Theo wrote:

I doubt that it has been repainted, that is probably foil;

you are right, this is most likely a non-Kompressor engine, the Kompressor engine was introduced in 2004, however, the new model deliveries tend to start in autumn; 

the seller is not knowledgeable or at least the description of the car is not precise, the wheels look like correct 18-inch wheels to me;

as it seems to have a complete service history, check that the mileage has progressed steadily over the years (i.e. the car has not been garaged for a couple of years); if this is the case the low mileage is a plus, otherwise an engine rebuild might be a possible scenario (except of course if it has been stored properly, i.e. the storage centre brought the engine to temperature a couple of times a year).

 

you're probably right about that being a wrap. Not an issue in itself.

[img]http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=0355d267bd944a05bd8d1e772d6b2a96[/img]

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=0355d267bd9...

 

That's a supercharged engine. 

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611029373475?logcode=v...

 

as for the engine, this is the photo on Autotrader. 

 

 

Arnie
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Re: G55K for £37K

The picture with the engine cowl shows the super-charger.

 

 

Theo
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Re: G55K for £37K

e-bay ad should probably read Reg. Date 1/10/2004 and not 10/1/2004 but 54 plate is the clue.

Stuckmojo
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Re: G55K for £37K

bona fide G55k then. 

Something to think about for me if it doesn't sell in reasonable time. Interior etc looks very good. Mine has the later Command system which isn't any better at all.

Simon666
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Re: G55K for £37K

The other thing is can you get Mercedes to check if they have service history recorded for a car?. You can also do a search against the MOT history . I've attached a version I found quickly here of the official Gvt. site but there are others. I think I got about 8 years worth when I got my G500.. Worth a call I would have thought.  Just noticed it says at the last MOT it had 58k miles on it, rising at the rate of about 8-10,000+ a year, so unless the testing station has put a KM odometer reading in, which might be right as 58,000km is about 36,000 miles, it is at least something to watch for/question. Ta. Simon

 

Stuckmojo
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Re: G55K for £37K

Good point on the mileage and service. 

It does look like an early G55K then. Potentially a good buy if you ask me. 

What are the values for these early Kompressor cars? What do they sell for? I thought they'd be closer to £50k but better if they aren't. 

Theo
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Re: G55K for £37K

We are talking about a low number of cars and inflated asking prices for Gs in the UK, especially AMG Gs.  My observation (not just an observation, I bought my car on this basis, at the time 3 months old and 900 miles on the clock) is that prices paid in the UK are similar to the prices in Germany (i.e. RHD = LHD).  I did an online check on "Wirkaufendeinauto.de" [= webuyanycar.com in the UK] and they value a 2004 G55k with up to 80,000 kilometers on the clock at Euro 32,725. 

If your research confirms the above, you might consider buying a RHD G55 instead (either 2006 or 2011/12).

Stuckmojo
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Re: G55K for £37K

Theo wrote:

We are talking about a low number of cars and inflated asking prices for Gs in the UK, especially AMG Gs.  My observation (not just an observation, I bought my car on this basis, at the time 3 months old and 900 miles on the clock) is that prices paid in the UK are similar to the prices in Germany (i.e. RHD = LHD).  I did an online check on "Wirkaufendeinauto.de" [= webuyanycar.com in the UK] and they value a 2004 G55k with up to 80,000 kilometers on the clock at Euro 32,725. 

If your research confirms the above, you might consider buying a RHD G55 instead (either 2006 or 2011/12).

 

good point. Still, RHD G55S are incredibly rare as far as I can tell.

Prices are very high. like, double. 

£69K

http://www.prindiville.co.uk/supercars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-g-class-5-...

£65k

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611079536094?onesearch...

these are very hard to find even in Japan as LHD is perceived as a luxury. 

 

 

Theo
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Re: G55K for £37K

slowly catch the monkey, asking prices do not equal prices paid;

in terms of numbers: about 300 RHD G63 and about 50 RHD G55; now have a look at Autotrader how many G63 are for sale; watch over time which cars sell and at which prices; the summer is near, the Arabs are coming and the London based dealers have the "I saw you coming" mentality;  however, the new G class is coming next year and nobody want to be seen dead in last year's model, no way to cosmetically fudge it as the new model is 10cm wider;

in summary, if you can wait, wait for a G55 to come up (and they come up regularly), ideally from a private seller, make an offer based on the value of a LHD G55 in Germany and you are most likely in business;  the G63 is easier to live with (suspension, gearbox, vibrations), therefore, if the G63 prices come down so will the G55 prices.
 

markhowes
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Re: G55K for £37K

Interestingly (to me anyway) is that the £65,000 G55 is valued by webuyanycar.com at £40,600.

OK, so the dealer has to make some kind of profit but even so that's a huge difference.

And that one at Prindiville has been there for about a year.

 

 

Stuckmojo
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Re: G55K for £37K

Interesting comments. Good points on the gap between aspiration and reality (on the £65k G55, when G63 can be had at about the same).

I'm currently leaning towards keeping mine and import it. We'll see in the next couple of months as relocation time gets nearer.