Don't Be Fooled: Here Are the Risks of Owning a Used European Luxury Sedan

BOGOR, KOMPAS.com - The market for used premium European cars in Indonesia presents a very tempting picture. Imagine, flagship or top-tier sedans such as the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class from older models can now be purchased with relatively minimal capital. Many units that appear to be in good condition are offered at prices below IDR 100 million. However, behind the first-class comfort and price comparable to used Low Cost Green Cars (LCGC), there is a “hidden trap” that is ready to ambush the wallets of novice owners. When these premium cars experience damage, the price of new components still follows luxury car standards. “The problem is that if the parts are damaged, the cost exceeds the price of the car. It could be like that,” said Effry to Kompas.com, recently. As an example, Effry cited one of the repairs on the door area of a luxury sedan such as the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class. If one of the electronic modules or vacuum mechanisms has problems, the cost can immediately make people shake their heads. This means that if two or three doors experience similar problems at the same time, the repair costs could already equal half of the car’s purchase price. This is what often makes novice enthusiasts give up and are forced to abandon their cars due to limited funds. However, Effry said that premium “motuba” (motor vehicle) owners in Indonesia are actually somewhat helped by the ecosystem of the automotive hobby world in Indonesia. An alternative solution to reduce exorbitant repair costs is to hunt for used components. “Fortunately, in Indonesia there are many car dismantling places/spare parts waste, so it can still be overcome,” he said. Using components from dismantled cars can indeed cut costs by more than half. However, for those who intend to maintain a top-tier sedan from Europe, make sure that their mindset and budget are ready to face the price of new spare parts, not just ready to buy it.