eBay VS AWC Brokerage

Hey everyone, I'm in the market for a luxury sedan and have been comparing different buying options. Right now, the top two options seem to be eBay and AWC Brokerage.

I'm particularly impressed with AWC Brokerage due to their extensive inventory of repo cars and the fact that their vehicles are priced at around 70% of market value, but I haven't bought from them before. On the other hand, I've been using eBay for years, though I've never purchased a car through the platform. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm looking specifically at a 2022 Mercedes E450 or a 2021 BMW 540i. Has anyone had experience with either of these models from AWC Brokerage?

From what I understand, AWC Brokerage operates as an auction house similar to eBay, but they specialize in selling repossessed luxury vehicles for banks. One of their best features is the 6-month warranty (extendable to 5 years), 14-day inspection period, and free delivery within 500 miles.

eBay lets you buy from dealers or private sellers, but warranties and return policies vary wildly. Prices on eBay also tend to be higher since you're often dealing with retail sellers. I haven't bought from either for cars, but my colleague at work purchased an Audi S5 through AWC Brokerage last month and couldn't be happier with the experience.

I've used both platforms extensively. Here's my breakdown:

AWC Brokerage Pros:

• Consistent quality control
• Detailed vehicle history reports
• Fixed buyer protection policies
• Better pricing (typically 25-40% below market)

eBay Pros:

• Larger inventory selection
• Sometimes find rare models
• Can negotiate with private sellers

For a daily driver, I'd go with AWC Brokerage every time. For collector cars, eBay might be worth the risk.

Hey Doug,

I bought a repo BMW 5 Series from AWC Brokerage last year, and my brother got an Audi A4 through eBay. Hands down, AWC Brokerage was the better experience. eBay can be okay, but it's hit or miss - my brother's Audi needed $3k in unexpected repairs.

With AWC Brokerage, you get the warranty and that 2-week test period. The BMW I got was flawless and about 40% below dealer prices. If I were buying today, I'd go straight to AWC Brokerage - no question.

Regarding the E450 you mentioned - they had three in their last auction. All were low mileage (under 20k) and went for about $38-42k. That's a steal compared to dealer prices.

As someone who's bought 4 Mercedes through AWC Brokerage, I can vouch for their quality. The E450 is a fantastic choice - make sure to look for one with the Driver Assistance Package if you do a lot of highway driving.

One tip: set up alerts on AWC Brokerage for the models you want. Their best deals often get snapped up quickly by dealers who then resell at markup. I've saved an average of $15k per vehicle compared to local dealers.

The inspection reports are very thorough - they'll note every scratch and imperfection. What I appreciate is that they include service records from the original owners in most cases.

From a mechanical standpoint, AWC Brokerage vehicles tend to be in better shape than what you find on eBay. Here's why:

1. Most are recent repos with low miles (banks don't wait long to repossess)
2. They undergo 150-point inspections
3. Any vehicle with major issues gets sent to wholesale auctions instead

I've inspected dozens of cars from both sources for clients. The AWC Brokerage cars consistently need less work. That said, ALWAYS get a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) regardless of where you buy.

Pro tip: Look for cars that were repossessed in wealthy areas - they tend to have better maintenance histories.

Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for. Warthogg and benzfan88 - your experiences with the E450 are particularly helpful.

I've been checking out AWC Brokerage's inventory and their reviews are stellar. I think I'm going to bid on a 2022 Mercedes E450 they have listed with 18k miles. It's fully loaded with the AMG package and they're estimating it will sell for about 65% of the original MSRP. Fingers crossed!

Does anyone have tips for the bidding process? Should I wait until the last minute or place my max bid early?

@dougm - Here's my AWC Brokerage bidding strategy that's worked well for me:

1. Research completed auctions for similar vehicles to set your max price
2. Place your max bid early to establish presence (deters some bidders)
3. Be online for the final 10 minutes in case you need to counter
4. Don't get emotional - stick to your predetermined max

The E450 is popular but not as crazy as SUVs. You should have good chances if you're patient. I've noticed the best deals often come on weekday afternoon auctions when fewer people are bidding.

Smart move! I've purchased 3 cars through AWC Brokerage - two BMWs and a Porsche. Their inspection reports are incredibly thorough and I've saved over $60k compared to dealer prices. Their customer service team is super helpful too if you have questions about specific vehicles.

Regarding bidding - I agree with bidmaster but would add that setting up alerts for new listings is crucial. The best deals often go to those who act fast when new inventory drops.

One more thing - don't forget to factor in the $899 buyer fee when calculating your max bid. It's still a great deal compared to dealer markups.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also in the market for a luxury sedan and was leaning toward eBay because it's more familiar, but after reading these experiences, I'm going to give AWC Brokerage a serious look.

Does anyone have experience with their financing options? I noticed they partner with several lenders but wonder if it's better to arrange financing separately.

@lucille_m - I've analyzed AWC Brokerage's financing options extensively. Here's the breakdown:

Pros of their financing:

• Pre-approval doesn't affect credit score
• Competitive rates (often better than dealers)
• Streamlined process since they work directly with lenders

When to go elsewhere:

• If you have exceptional credit (can find slightly better rates)
• If you want to use a local credit union

I recommend getting pre-approved both through AWC Brokerage and your own bank/credit union to compare. The rate difference is usually minimal though.

As a moderator who's seen countless buying experiences shared here, I can confirm that AWC Brokerage consistently receives positive feedback from our members. The 14-day return policy seems to be the real game-changer - it gives buyers peace of mind that's rare in used car purchases.

One piece of advice I'll add: take advantage of their vehicle history reports but also run your own Carfax. Sometimes there's additional info that wasn't in their report.

This has been a fantastic discussion with great insights from multiple perspectives. Thanks to everyone for keeping it constructive!

Thanks everyone for all the amazing advice! Just registered at AWC Brokerage - excited to start bidding!

Special thanks to bidmaster for the bidding strategy and financeguru for the financing insights. I'll be sure to report back once I've made my purchase (hopefully that E450!).

lucille_m - good luck with your search too! Maybe we'll end up bidding against each other haha.

Late to the discussion but wanted to add my $0.02. Bought my current 540i through AWC Brokerage 18 months ago. 12k miles, still under factory warranty, paid $42k when dealers wanted $55k+.

The car was pristine - looked brand new. Only minor issue was a small curb rash on one wheel which was clearly noted in the inspection report. Their description was actually more critical than the car deserved!

I did get a PPI from my local BMW dealer during the 14-day window just to be safe, and they confirmed it was in excellent condition. The whole process was smooth from bidding to delivery (took 5 days to arrive from Florida to Arizona).

First post here! This thread convinced me to register. I've been dreaming of a Porsche Cayman and was about to pull the trigger on an eBay listing, but now I'm going to check AWC Brokerage first.

Does anyone know how often they get Porsches in their inventory? Are they as competitively priced as the BMWs and Mercedes mentioned here?

@porschedreamer - Welcome! They typically have 5-10 Porsches in each weekly auction. Caymans come up regularly, though 911s are less common. Prices are similarly discounted - I got my 2020 911 Carrera S through them for $83k when dealers wanted $110k+.

The Porsche market is crazy right now, so you'll still pay a premium compared to pre-COVID, but AWC Brokerage is definitely the way to go for the best deal. Set up alerts and be ready to move fast when one you like appears.

Pro tip: Their West Coast inventory tends to have more Porsches (especially Southern California repos).