Hmm, anyone that can provide a free CarFax for me?

"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
05/02/2018 at 10:53 • Filed to: carfax, yes I'm cheap

WDDHF9BB4EB009080

I know it’s been in 1 accident, believe it to be a 1 owner FL car, but would be nice to see more detail- thanks in advance!

DISCUSSION (24)

Teh Penguin of Doom > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 11:08

In case nobody here has it, you can get it on Ebay for under $5.

HammerheadFistpunch > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 11:08

it appears to be a Mercedes

WilliamsSW > HammerheadFistpunch
05/02/2018 at 11:08

That’s good, cuz it sure looks like one!

Aaron M - MasoFiST > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 11:09

https://www.vehiclehistory.com/paging-vin-report-data/new-report-wva.php?vin=WDDHF9BB4EB009080

Accident is described as running over a traffic sign support at speed. Check undercarriage for damage and evidence of repair.

WilliamsSW > Aaron M - MasoFiST
05/02/2018 at 11:14

Thanks! — the weird thing is that it says this in the accident detail:

Vehicle Action: Vehicle In Transport

Like it was on a carrier, not being driven?

Also, the “Edmunds True Market Value” is an insane crack pipe number (and wayyyy over the ask on this car FWIW).

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 12:10

Never trust Carfax.

Bring a mechanic/bodyman and look it over yourself.

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager
05/02/2018 at 12:11

I don’t, and believe me, I will - - it’s just another data source that can help point me in the right direction.

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 12:33

Figured you were smarter than that.

I just see far too many people take Carfax as the only word.

I’ve also seen too many misreported info and unreported things to even begin trusting anything they offer. 2 such cases:

1. Friend is trying to sell his 2004 Chevy 2500. Ends up selling it for $5k because it had a salvage title according to Carfax, so no one would touch it. The truck had a clean title and had only 1 minor accident in a parking lot when he first got it new (he bought it new).

2. Looking at a 2004 Sentra Spec V. Dealer touts it as clean Carfax (the report was spotless). I get to digging and inspecting to find the whole passenger side of the car had been replaced, including the main structure. It had been totaled and repaired without any claim, so it was never reported.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 12:42

How is the “True Market Value” greater than the original price?!

WilliamsSW > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/02/2018 at 12:47

It makes no damn sense. I have looked (online) at EVERY one of these for sale nationwide (there isn’t many of them), and they run from high 20's for a high mileage private sale up to the low 40's for a couple of low mileage, well equipped “I know what I got” CPO cars.

$60k would get you a really nice, low mileage, CPO E63 from 2014, not this car.

Also, the original MSRP is wrong, too — $61,400 was the base MSRP. This car would have been around $70k.

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager
05/02/2018 at 12:52

Hey the reminder never hurts, just to be sure! ! !

I already had an Autocheck on the car, and wanted the Carfax for backup/more detail. Based on what those reports say, I’m pretty confident that it was in an accident in 2016. Seems to be a minor one, but buyer beware. Does that mean that it’s only been in 1 accident?? HELL NO!

Damn that really sucks about the Chevy p/u. Can he go after CarFax for that bad info? It’s costing him money.

And the Sentra is the sort of thing that everyone should be wary of when using CarFax or whatever.

I’m half curious to look up my own cars, but just for entertainment - IRL they’re all 1 owner accident-free cars, and I know that for a fact.

EDIT - reason I was asking for this was to try to get a little more info on the known crash to help me zero in a bit (useful because I wouldn’t have looked as closely underneath otherwise), and see if there was any evidence this thing has been title-washed from flood or other.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 13:03

I *think* that means the car was towed from the scene.

As for the TMV: yyyyyeah.

WilliamsSW > Aaron M - MasoFiST
05/02/2018 at 13:07

Ah, OK - that makes a heck of a lot more sense.

The help is much appreciated!

As I replied to Eric, it’s amusing that on the same page, they underestimated the original MSRP (number shown is base w/o any options) and grossly overstated the ‘market value’ by ~$25k.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 13:09

Yeah. For better or worse, the site is a scraper, so those are probably just the easiest “estimates” they could get with a PHP script and without paying anybody.

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 16:08

He tried going after Carfax on it. They pretty much told him to piss off. They said once it was in the computers there was no way to change it or some bs like that (it was 5 yrs ago, I don’t remember all the details anymore).

Good luck.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 16:11

It’s had batteries replaced under warranty. Some air suspension work under warranty. New front brakes at 27k. Services all done early, however, the last one I see was at 23k. Personable the next service wasn’t done at a dealer. Decent history, no mention of accident damage, but this only only dealer service history.

Well optioned and a nice color combo! Worth checking out for sure!

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/02/2018 at 16:17

Aha - thanks! Odo is only at 32,650 now, so may have had service elsewhere between 27k and now.

AFAIK it’s got P1, Panoramic roof and Distronic Plus, but that’s it? I haven’t seen the car in person yet.

And having looked at a few of these, it appears that they have a penchant for killing batteries and tires?

Thanks!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 16:48

It’s got all the driver aids and climate controlled seats!

Auxillary batteries were an issue for a while, but it’s been replaced so hopefully you’re good to go there. Not just an E550 or 212 problem. Main battery, not so much, usually a result of something the owners do.

Tires... Depends on the driver and the tire. But obviously you’re not going to get the same kind of tire life as you might on a Civic.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/02/2018 at 16:58

Ha - I was hoping you’d tell me it had the massage / contour seat! I’ve driven a couple of them, and coincidentally they both had that, and it’s pretty damn nice, TBH.

The seller here (you may know who it is) doesn’t necessarily know what they have, if you catch my drift.

Yeah, I forgot that they have an aux battery. I’ve read through at least half a dozen CarFaxs on E550's and battery / single tire replacements seem like a common occurrence. Of course they don’t spell out which battery it is - I’d bet $$$ it’s the aux battery.

I’ve seen at least 1 car that has had 4 *single* tire replacements inside of 40k, and they all seem to have 1 or 2. But yeah, you’ll have an occasional issue with low profile tires, I get it and can deal with it.

Thanks for all of your help- - BTW, I have completely narrowed my new car search to a 2014 E550 sedan. Which is leading me to cast a wide net, since they’re not very common.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 17:07

Link?

Yup! Vented, heated, multicontour seats!

Single tires are often from big potholes or non-repairable punctures.

Nice. I approve of this car choice

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/02/2018 at 17:09

Seriously, the seller didn’t know that the car had any driver’s aids or the multicontour seats. And it’s Carmax.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/02/2018 at 17:11

I have it on hold, so not sure if this will work:

https://www.carmax.com/car/15487449

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
05/02/2018 at 17:18

Looks like a good one. Are you going to get a warranty? And a pre purchase?

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/02/2018 at 17:37

Yes on the first one, still working out the details on how to accomplish the 2nd but plan to yes (and I’m not buying it until at least someone smarter than me takes a closer look for oil leaks in the cam sensor/solenoid).