EQE 500 SUV Lease Situation — 9 Payments Left, Over Mileage, Considering One-Pay / Buy / Transfer — What Would You Do?

Ask the Hackrs Buy/Finance
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1

Yes I did use ChatGPT to clean up and organize my wall of text.

Looking for some advice or creative options here. Not sure if there’s a good solution, but figured I’d ask the experts.

Background / Context

I recently had an unexpected cross country move to Texas, which completely changed my driving habits. Before the move, my mileage was well within my lease allowance. Now my average monthly driving is 1,500–1,800 miles, and everything is spread out.

On top of that, the EV charging inconvenience and range anxiety has become a real factor. I’m constantly thinking about how far I can go, where to charge next, and trying not to go over miles, which has made the car more stressful than enjoyable.

Current Lease Details

  • Vehicle: 2023 Mercedes EQE 500 SUV

  • Monthly payment: $870

  • Remaining payments: 9

  • Current mileage: 33,100

  • Lease allowance: 36,000

  • Mileage overage: $0.25/mile

  • Lease payoff: $61,741.66

  • Location: Texas

At my current driving rate, I’ll be significantly over miles by lease end, and I’ll also hit upcoming maintenance which is another $900. I may also need to replace a tire.

What I’m Trying to Figure Out

  • Does it make sense to just keep the car, accept the mileage overage, and turn it in at the end?

  • Is there any realistic early exit option that doesn’t completely torch me financially?

  • Any market for a lease transfer on something like this, or is that basically unrealistic given miles + EV resale?

  • Are there any lesser known Mercedes programs, pull ahead, or dealer strategies worth exploring?

For what it’s worth, my next car will likely be a purchase unless I find a one pay lease with 15K + miles as I’ve seen some one pay 12 month leases with 15k+ miles like a Porschse Cayenne so I’m trying to decide whether reducing stress now is worth the financial hit versus just riding this out.

Appreciate any insight. Thanks in advance.

2

Just pay the overage at 25 cents a mile you are already paying close to 75 cents a mile for the lease.

2 Likes
3

Try calling MBFS to buy more miles, I believe they will allow you to purchase it at a lower rate.

4

If I recall correctly Mercedes doesn’t allow lease transfers unless you live in Connecticut so that option is out. Plus nobody would be interested with so few miles left.

I believe these are your options but there may be other possibilities:

-ride out the lease and pay overage on miles. I agree you can try to prepay for them

-turn the car in early to save on mileage overage, tires, service etc but you are still on the hook for payments but can cancel insurance early etc

-I don’t believe Mercedes has a pull ahead. Anything your dealer may describe as a pull ahead is likely burying the cost elsewhere and won’t make financial sense

-insert tongue-in-cheek classic “snowy overpass” or “leave the car in the path of a hurricane with the windows open” option here

3 Likes
5

So I have tried to call MBFS and asked them if I can pre-pay for miles and apparently that’s not an option and it’s the same 25 cents per mile.

1 place I heard MB may have a 3 month pull ahead program, but not too sure about that. I’ve also heard of 6 month pull ahead in the past, but nothing recently.

So realistically speaking, just need to ride this out, suck it up for the 9 months and pay the overage. That also means then I’m not bound to another MB.

6

Nope tried to call them, that was my first thought too, but they said I cannot. It’s the same 25 cents a mile.

7

IIRC at one time it was a thing across the brand, then stopped, and more recently has had targeted 3/5 month windows - either into or out-of depending on what and when.

If MBFS isn’t currently offering a pull-ahead, keep driving this one and check back the first week of every month to see if one pops. If not, ride it out and move on to another brand.