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2013 and earlier-Mercedes-Benz C-Class Lease Questions

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Comments

  • mike02mike02 Member Posts: 13
    Hello:
    I got the following terms for 2008 C300 luxury edition with navigation package lease with European Delivery Program:
    39 months, 12,000 miles, residual 61%, money factor 0.031
    0% down, i.e. $1,665 at sign time which includes first month lease.
    With EDP they also give one month free (for the time they ship the car back from Europe). Monthly payments including taxes $450.00
    The dealer is in New England. Is this a good deal in your opinion?
    Thank you.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    Reading past posts, it sounds like there is no lease support on the 2008s and the deals are pretty wretched and comparable to or more expensive than deals you can get on an E or 5 series BMW. Money factors quoted have been really high. 7-8%?
    Are there many left over 2007s left that have heavily supported lease deals?
    I'm looking for $0 down 36 months 15K miles per year with payments in the $500s or less and without outrageous lease/bank/dealer fees added to the cost.
    Maybe a 2007 C230 with "medium" level of typical popular options..
  • drtraveldrtravel Member Posts: 395
    Reading past posts, it sounds like there is no lease support on the 2008s and the deals are pretty wretched and comparable to or more expensive than deals you can get on an E or 5 series BMW.

    Wouldn't expect any good lease deals until the supply-demand imbalance changes. Poor lease deals are also an issue with every new redesign - wait for 6 months or so and then check them out. Good lease deals are offered to move vehicles - don't think Mercedes needs that help right now with C class. The weird thing is that MB is advertising the heck out of their "Great Lease" right now on TV. The devil is in the details - high down, high MF, low mileage, and what are the acquisition and disposition costs? A 0.0031 MF works out to 7.44%.

    BMW almost always has much better lease deals. They routinely subvent their leases with artificially higher residuals and below market MF.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    So, what about a left over old-style 2007? Are there many left and is there good lease support on them?
  • aas5aas5 Member Posts: 50
    I also looked into leasing a C300 sport with just the multimedia package. I was told I could get it for $2K at signing and $462/month but I would have to wait for a factory order. The same dealer then offered and sold me a 2008 E350 4matic with navigation for $2.5K and $450/month for 24 months. There are crazy deals on E350 right now and after 2 years, the C class leases should be a lot more attractive, right now it only makes sense to buy them as MF is too high.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    Mileage matters when quoting payments. Is that only 10K miles a year on the E350?
    10k miles won't work for me since my commute alone is around 8K a year and I won't have much left to do any other driving with that severe mileage restriction.

    $450 for 24 months on the E350 sounds really good except for the 2.5K down. Maybe someone would be able to get 36 months and no down for around the same payment or maybe just skip the nav and other pricey options on the E.
    Still sounds better than a 2008 C class.
    I think many people would just get an E if it's cheaper to lease than a C.

    It might not even make sense to buy a C now if they aren't discounting today, but they will in a year.

    If I can get a 2008 E class without a lot of money down and 15K miles per year for 3 years and payments under $500, I might just do it.
    Maybe I would drive less and just do 12K per year since the E guzzles gas, but what's the point of a nice car if you can't drive it when you want because of overly restrictive mileage limits?

    I wasn't even thinking about an E because I just assumed it would be way out of my price range, but if what you quoted is realistic for an E350 in California, I will start looking at them.
  • drtraveldrtravel Member Posts: 395
    Here are some residuals and MF for 3 year/15K miles a year

    BMW 328i Sedan 61% and 0.00165 (3.96%)
    BMW 528i Sedan 60% and 0.00225 (5.40%)

    MB C300 59% and 0.00290 (6.96%)
    MB E350 52% and 0.00160 (3.94%)

    Right now MB is encouraging you to buy the C-series and lease the E350 - ONLY IF you get a big discount off MSRP to offset that weak residual. BMW routinely rents their best sellers so they almost always have good lease deals.

    PS Never put any money down on a lease.
  • aas5aas5 Member Posts: 50
    My lease is for 7.5K miles a year. The downpayment includes all fees, taxes and the first month payment, so the real downpayment is only $300.
    The C class is discounted in NJ, when I was negotiating a lease deal I was offered invoice, so I think it may make sense to buy C or lease E for 2 years and get C ater that.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    I would need double the mileage you got on your lease, so maybe an E is not going to be affordable for me.
    Without the $2500 down, your payment could be over $500 and with 15K miles a year, it could be over $600 per month before tax and I don't even know if the E350 deal with your terms is available in California.

    I can use the Leasewise service that should be able to get me the best available deal for a $335 fee, but they can't get me a deal that doesn't work mathematically based available lease terms, so I don't want to risk using them and throw away the $335 if all the dealers come back with deals that look like what comes up in the lease calculator on the MBUSA website ($700+ payments on 24 month leases with 15K miles unless you put lots of cash up front).

    I would only get an E350 if I could lease one for 24 months with 30K included miles, $0 cap cost with payments under $600 including sales tax.
    If that is impossible to do, then I will go back to looking at cars with MSRPs under $30K.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    Based on those numbers, the BMW 328i should be the cheapest to lease by far (especially since the BMW has a much lower MSRP), but I don't understand how people here are posting lease deals on the E350 that make it sound like I could get one for the same cost or less than a 328i. Many BMW dealers routinely mark up the MF beyond the base rate though.
    Confusing. I'll take a bargain E350 lease if I can get it, but I don't want to waste my time trying to get something that's not really available.
  • aas5aas5 Member Posts: 50
    you should reread my message.
    my cap cost reduction was $300, everything else was fees - first month, plus bank fee, plus MV fees, plus taxes, plus doc fees. You can't not pay those upfront, except for taxes. So with almost no cap cost reduction, my payment is $450/month with 7,500 miles, I assume you can be in low $500's with 15K miles.
    Call the NJ guys and have it shipped.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    I ran the numbers of cap, residual for 15K miles per year and the MF and, even if I got a E350 with no options with cap price right at invoice, I'm getting payments coming out in the $700+ range for 24 months. Something is not adding up.

    I'll check around California to see if there is anything from dealers comparable to what a few people in the NJ area are quoting. It will probably cost $1000 to ship the car out to the west coast and then to have to go back there for lease return would be too much of a hassle, plus I need a vehicle with CA emissions controls anyway.
  • aas5aas5 Member Posts: 50
    yep, I agree, numbers don't add up, when I was calculating my deal, I was in the low 600s at best, but this is the deal I got and I think a lot of people on the east coast are getting similar deals. I think there is a very heavy discounting going on with E class. I can tell you on my lease documents, the price of the car was something like $48K and I have an option to buy for something like $38K. This is on a brand new E350 4matic with P1 and ipod and metallic paint with 11 miles:)
  • tbtmediatbtmedia Member Posts: 21
    Thx for the link to the articles. I do have one quick question. Can you explain exactly what the "Cap Cost Reduction" figure means and what I "do w/ that"---the dealers keep bringing it up but I am unclear.
  • niclaf77niclaf77 Member Posts: 40
    carman:
    i am considering leasing a 2008 mercedes c300 - automatic with leather and maybe premium package. i am due to turn in my audi a4 by mid december. looking for some figures but am a little concerned with that outrageous money factor which hopefully will go down for december. i am also considering another a4, and a bmw x3.

    - i live in NJ
    - looking to lease for anywhere from 36-42 months
    - 12,000 miles per year
    - what would be december residuals on this car and money factor?
    - what fees should i expect to pay upfront on this car and are any of them negotiable?
    - what should i strive for over invoice on this car? it seems that invoice on this car is about 34,500?
    - also, any incentives i should be aware of for december?
    - lastly, anyone know difference between sport model and luxury? i can't seem to figure out what is different between the two.

    thanks!
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    I am looking to lease a C 300 sport 4MATIC and in the NJ area.

    10K miles a year is good enough for me, i'm trying to figure out what ball park i am in for monthly and what i need to bring to the table in terms of cap cost reduction.

    If anyone has recently scored a nice deal in NJ, would appreciate any details, dealer info.
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    pkutina, i'm also in central NJ and looking to lease a 300, $465 a month was for the sport edition or standard?. was that your final deal?
  • tbtmediatbtmedia Member Posts: 21
    This seems like a good deal. I had a dealer tell me that the C300 sport with Premium 1 and multi-media would be about $650/month with $2,200 down (15,000 miles/year). I don't have the residual and money factor #'s handy----I'm frustrated b/c this seems like a lot of $. I am trying to get the monthly lease down to $500-$525. Any advice??
  • aas5aas5 Member Posts: 50
    I think it is very difficult to get a good deal on C-class, they are hot and so the dealers/MB can get away with high MFs. Having said that, I was offered invoice pricing at a dealer in NJ for C sport with automatic and Multimedia package, which came to about $465/month for 3 years with 7.5K miles and about $2.5K of fees, first month payment, dealer fees and other upfront. You would pay more for more miles. I was ready to take this deal but there are no cars with multimedia but without P1 and I didn't want to wait for a factory order.
    If you have any flexibility, wait a couple of months (may be a while). I got an E-class for 2 years and after that I will look for C-class to be more affordable for a lease.
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    This seems pretty decent to me, your thoughts?:

    C300 4 matic in Steel Grey with Black MB tex…Sport package and 6 disc Cd changer.
    The program offered is for 39 months
    The money factor is .00260 and the residual is 63%....
    10,000 miles
    $468 plus tax per month….Your inceptions will require you to write a check for $1850.00 there is no Cap Cost Reduction added.
    The car I used is $37,775 MSRP……
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    anyone ?:) i'm debating pulling the trigger on this one, hoping someone can confirm if this is a deal.
  • jgurajgura Member Posts: 16
    Doesn't seem bad, but you might be able to do a bit better.
    I recently was offered in NJ a C300 4Matic Luxury with P1 at $480/mth incl Tax with no Cap Cost Reduction. Didn't take it since I need to get out of my last 2 mths on an 04 C240 first.

    I suggest you bid them at 480 with Tax and see what they do....

    Do me a favor and email me your dealer and final deal negotiated so I can use when I go back.....(jgura@verizon.net)
  • jonanongjonanong Member Posts: 6
    Hello everyone, I am new to this site and had a couple of questions. I am looking to lease a either a c300 w/ auto, mm pack, c300 auto, c350 base, or c350 mm pack. I am able to recieve an employee discount of 12.5%, want to lease for 39mnths, and 15,000 miles. My questions are how much should I be paying a month on my choices and if i pay monthly taxes I only have to pay taxes on the down payment upfront correct?
  • samicasamica Member Posts: 3
    I am buying out my leased car at the end of the lease. The residual is around 12 for C230 2DR 2003. Mercedez is quoting $980 sales tax for this- Does this sound right? I had read some time ago that there is a way to get around it by going to a middle man a.ka carmax.com and something like that.. I don't remember the whole thing but I remember previousl messages about this.. can some body help me out? and then what is the best price I should negotiate for this car? thanks,,, samantha
  • ninabeemerninabeemer Member Posts: 8
    Does anyone have the December Mercedes Benz Financial official C-Class 300 buy rate money factors and residuals (12K mi / yr, say 36 months)? Looking to negotiate a deal soon and would like to know their bottom line.

    Dr. Travel, if you're out there, I've seen postings from you before on this topic so I'm hoping you can help. Also, I know this isn't a B-mer forum, but I'm between the C-Class MB or the 528 B-mer. So if the same info on the 5 series is handy, pass that along too! :) Thanks all. Great forum.
  • rmbalisarmbalisa Member Posts: 129
    jonanong, since you are an employee, I wouldn't even bother with the C. What you will probably pay for the C, which has virtually no great incentives, you can get the E with the fantastic rebates for lease ($3000) and money factor (0.00008). I believe from the MVP deal, you can get an E350 4matic with P1 and heated seats for $389, plus taxes and fees. So you are looking about 450ish a month if you roll in the acquisition fee.
  • jonanongjonanong Member Posts: 6
    Hello, sorry to mislead you. I have a family member working for mercedes and the discount is through him. Thank You for the great information on the E class and if you could, would you also provide some info on the C class; so that I may compare the two. Any further help would be appreciated.
  • damattinglydamattingly Member Posts: 1
    Sounds like a good deal to me. I live in NJ and am looking for exactly the same deal. Can please send me contact information for your deal? mchin23@hotmail.com

    Much appreciated.
  • tbtmediatbtmedia Member Posts: 21
    I just finalized a lease with MB on the C-class---it was for 39 months/15K per year;
    C-Sport 300, P1, Multi-media, i-pod integration. $559/month with $2,100 down (bank fees and 1st month payment). MB is picking up 1/2 of my last Audi payment, $265/month.
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    that sounds like a good deal, i was quoted 575 for the same but it included 4matic. $559 does not include 4matic i assume does it include tax, which dealer? if you can emial me i would greatly appreciate it ray@wassef.org
  • mistaspaklesmistaspakles Member Posts: 1
    New to leasing, but i've done quite a bit of research online. I read a lot about negotiating leases through msrp, cap costs, etc. However I couldn't find anything on negotiating lease specials. Currently, MB has a lease special on the C300 Sport 4matic. $419/mo, 39mo, $2750 cap cost, 10K miles MSRP $37,065. Since this is their lease special, can there be any negotiation? Or is this pretty much "this is our special so this is what you pay" kind of deal?

    Thanks!
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    The special's usually revolve around specific variables, money factor and dealer incentives, etc..

    Negotiate as you would normally, I was recently offered the following:
    15k milies, 39 months 300 4matic sport with P1 and Navigation for $550 (including 7% NJ tax) and 0 cap cost reduction.
  • gwyntersgwynters Member Posts: 9
    raymondw7
    I've been working on basically the same car / lease but not doing that well. What dealer are you working with?
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    whats your email address i'll send you specifics
  • gwyntersgwynters Member Posts: 9
    Not eager to post an email but have enabled it in my profile.
    thanks..appreciate it.
  • gwyntersgwynters Member Posts: 9
    Will the .75% cut translate into a lower MF? How long will it take for the MF to reflect the cut?
  • gwyntersgwynters Member Posts: 9
    I went to 3 dealers looking for a white C300 P1, Multimedia, 4matic lease. These numbers were in January. The numbers in December were better. The dealer said there was a 450 price increase in Jan. ( which I didn't pay ) and the MF / residual were different then the deals posted here in the 550 range in Dec.

    39 months, 15K and no Cap reduction.
    Dealer one offered 630 something with 2000 in fees for a car without MM. Didn't waste too much time on this one.

    Dealer 2 offered 630 something with 2200 in fees with MM. They called repeatedly but wouldn't go any lower. I didn't really check their numbers but said I was getting a 750 discount.

    Dealer 3 offered 584 with 2000 in fees.
    I don't have the numbers in front of me but did check the calculations at the time.

    40,200
    38,030
    00250 (6%)
    57%
    7% sales tax
    and they waived my 350 lease disposition fee.
    I wanted the Sport grille. quoted (1st) 500, (2nd) 600, got it for 350.

    BTW: love the car. the audio is outstanding.
  • raymondw7raymondw7 Member Posts: 25
    i'll email you the details of the dealer i recommended (550 deal), someone recently took them up on the offer (last week I believe).
  • amacrisamacris Member Posts: 3
    Hi Folks,

    Been watching this list for a few days hoping someone would provide some new intelligence. Looking to make an opening offer for the following:

    C300 sport
    auto trans
    P1 package
    iPod integration
    Paladium Silver exterior
    Black/Grey MB Tex Interior (no leather)
    12,000 miles/yr
    39 month lease
    MSRP according to MBUSA site is $36,350
    Invoice is $33,503 according to Carsdirect. (target price of $34,990)

    Only one MB dealer in town (Jacksonville, FL) -- Bruno's. Though I've also asked for a quote from a dealer in Gainesville (an hour away or so)

    Credit is 785+, owned multiple homes, plenty of credit history

    Never leased before. What kind of deal should I open up with. Anyone know the February money factors and residual on this car?

    thank you! Want to complete a deal this weekend if it's a good one.

    Drew
  • amacrisamacris Member Posts: 3
    I'm flying blind here -- I can't seem to find February money factors and residual value for the car I spec'd out above.

    Dealer says he will give them to me, but only in person. How can I independently verify I'm not being sold a bill of goods?

    Bueller? Bueller?
  • greenbaygreenbay Member Posts: 3
    Here's the deal....

    2008 c350
    leather
    p2 package
    multimedia
    pano roof
    46,150 msrp
    43,650 cap cost
    0 cap cost reduction
    2650 drive off (includ 1000 acquisition fee)
    39 months
    12k miles
    $778/mo.

    what do you all think? need help! thanks!
  • vinnynyvinnyny Member Posts: 764
    $1,000 acquisition fee? Is he going to charge you $50 to put air in the tires and $20 per page for your copy of the lease paperwork?
  • asr515asr515 Member Posts: 30
    Anyone recently lease a C300 in the NJ area? Here's what I'm looking at:

    AWD Sport
    P2
    Multimedia
    Ipod
    Sunroof

    15k/year
    36 mos.

    Any help would be appreciated!

    Amy
  • greenbaygreenbay Member Posts: 3
    dealer tells me this is the corporate standard.....
  • vinnynyvinnyny Member Posts: 764
    I'm sorry, but I missed your response earlier. If you're not hell bent on going with MBUSA for your lease, there are lots of lease companies out there who won't charge you crazy fees. A $1000 acquisition fee is absurd--whether it really is the corporate standard. Remember, MSRP is "corporate standard" too. the only time anyone remotely considers paying MSRP is for a really hot car that you've just "got to have".
  • asr515asr515 Member Posts: 30
    I was recently quoted the following from a local dealer. Am I stupid if I don't take it or do you think I can squeeze him a little more!

    C300 4matic Sport
    Palladium Silver
    Multi
    P1
    Ipod
    40,400
    38,446
    57%
    .0025 (6%)
    15k/year
    39 mo.

    $587/mo (includes tax)
    approx. $2k in fees due

    Thoughts?
  • gwyntersgwynters Member Posts: 9
    Looks like almost the exact deal I got. I went to 3 dealers, and the best I could do was 584 including 7% sales tax, by the third dealer I was tired and just wanted it to be over..bought the car.
  • tangobostontangoboston Member Posts: 1
    Edmunds lists the $399 on C300, P1 sport and $419 on C300 4Matic sport. Has anybody been able to get these? I was just wondering if I can reverse engineer the money factor/cap from there, and then add other options, but it always comes out to be pretty low.

    The same are quoted on mbusa site, but are very restrictive (10k/yr, .25c/mile over).
  • waydownwaydown Member Posts: 9
    That $399 cost assumes a $3100 down payment. From what I have been reading on these boards, it is recommended to not put any money down.
  • asr515asr515 Member Posts: 30
    Surpisingly, I didn't give up (I was very close). I talked to about 4 dealers. I ended up getting the following:

    C300 4matic Sport
    Multi
    P1
    Ipod
    Palladium Silver

    40,795
    37,700
    57%
    .0025
    $569 (includes taxes)
    $2k out of pocket for inception fees

    It was for the 39mo/15k lease.

    Apparently, they were able to give me some type of discount because of the company I work for -- whatever, I didn't care, it was a good deal! I knew I wasn't doing any better than this so I jumped on it. Picking up the car Saturday!

    phew.....now I need a drink! :shades:
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