How much should I discount a private sale for a bad wheel bearing?

Question

I recently posted an old Maxima on Craigs list in my city. As my luck would go, I took it to the store this a.m. and for the first time, heard this squwaking and then scraping sound coming from the right front. I'm sure its a wheel bearing. I just want to unload this thing, and frankly, it won't be anything I can "hide" from a potential buyer. I was asking $2K. Should I come off that because of this new development?

Answer 1

I had a right front wheel bearing go out on my 95 Maxima once.  I took it to the dealer 3 times asking them to check it and the 3rd time even told them that the wheel/tire had play in it when jacked up, but they never did anything about it (I guess they thought that was normal, because they were also a Buick dealer).

By the time I took it to an independent garage, the bearing had eaten into the axle and I needed a new axle and front hub assembly.  I forget the cost, but that was years ago when I was doing a lot of parking lot slaloms (Solo II) and high speed autocross (race track) competition.  I still have the car (purchased May 94).

Answer 2

Just tell them about it when you are selling the car and they can haggle with the price. Or you can fix it.

Answer 3

If someone test drives the car and it makes "squawking and scaping" noises, that will signal major problems. (even if they are minor) And obvious repair problems are an indication to any buyer that the car has not been well maintained.

So in order to give the best impression and to show off a car that is worth buying you need to fix the car and keep your selling price high.

Nobody wants to buy a car with problems, regardless of the how much you "discount" the price.

Answer 4

Just tell them the price that you want for the car , when they saying someyhing about the noise, then tell them that you where asking 2200. for the car but, since it making the noise your knocking 200bucks off for the noise repair.

Answer 5

It can either be 'greasing the bearing' and may not be replacement.Get it fixed and get the full price.

Answer 6

you can drop it aobut 130 to 150, because thats what it would cost you to get it fixed