p.1 #1 · 70-200 vr2 with Squeaky AF Motor.....What's it Worth?
I am selling (locally) a great condition 70-200 vr2 with one issue....a squeaky af motor. The lens sat in a bag for a few years. When I took it out, at first af wouldn't work. I rotated the manual focus ring back and forth several times, and voila the af worked...but now it squeaks. I told all of this to the local buyer, and they still have interest in buying the lens. If in perfect shape I was selling it for $625, but I have no idea what number to put on it now. It could work fine and squeak for years, or the af motor could die in a few weeks....which is what I told them. The lens is for a high school kid, so they probably think it is worth the risk.
So what do you think it is worth as is? I was thinking that if it has a 50% probability of incurring a $500 repair, I should take off $250...but would like to hear from others. Thanks
p.1 #3 · 70-200 vr2 with Squeaky AF Motor.....What's it Worth?
Around 10 years ago Nikon wanted $400 to fix a squeaky AFS motor. These days it is probably $600+. The lens sells for around $750-$800 in the secondary market when fully functional.
A squeaky AFS motor can be anything from an annoyance to an impending failure. Check with Nikon what the repair estimate is.
p.1 #4 · 70-200 vr2 with Squeaky AF Motor.....What's it Worth?
Your buyer should be informed that all available intel indicates that this lens could lose its ability to auto focus at any time, and the repair is hundreds of dollars if Nikon still has parts. I'd probably buy a copy of this lens in otherwise good condition at a bargain price of $375 knowing that the lens is likely to self-convert to manual focus only. As long as the failure of the AF motor still allowed manual focusing I'd be fine. Does your buyer have the same expectations? Ask the buyer if they want to try it as a manual focus lens. Is that doable or would it be out of the question?
p.1 #5 · 70-200 vr2 with Squeaky AF Motor.....What's it Worth?
It only took a couple of weeks for my 70-200 VRII's AF-S motor to fail completely once I started having intermittent focusing. Rotating the focus ring limped it along at first, but that didn't last long. It cost $680 to have the motor replaced in 2023.
Having had that experience, once we're at the point of having to move the focus ring around to get it to work, I'm not pricing it as a working lens anymore.
p.1 #6 · 70-200 vr2 with Squeaky AF Motor.....What's it Worth?
I explained all of the above to the buyer. I believe in full disclosure. I actually said I'm not that comfortable selling the lens to them, but after going through all the scenarios--the squeak works its way out, the squeak stays but lens continues to work, or the motor fails, requiring an expensive fix (not unlikely)....they still want to buy the lens. It is for a high school nephew of theirs, so I guess they just want to get a good lens in his hands, hoping it doesn't have to go back to Nikon. If they want it, sounds like I may be on the right track in the $300-350 range.
