Used GNS 430/530 prices

[onegreen]

I have a working 430W just removed from my panel, listed in the classified section. I was hoping to get 4K for it, but since I had zero interest at that price point I might be too optimistic.

I was just curious what folks here think a good price would be. 
 

I see listings on eBay asking 4-7k. I doubt now any are selling in that range.

I think my target market is the guy whose 430 died, and wants a quick replacement. If your 430 died today how much will you want to spend to replace the 430 with a used unit. At what point do you bite the bullet and upgrade?

Thanks for the input

Mark

 

[MikeOH]

Good question.  I have a 430W and it bricked on me some years ago.  I sent it off to Garmin and it cost me $1500 flat rate.  While they can no longer deal with failed displays I believe Garmin will still accept GNS units for repair.  I'm sure they want a lot more now; that would be your price point for the guy looking at the lowest cost way to replace a failed GNS.  I would look at buying a used unit as a bit of a risk whereas a Garmin repair has some, short term, warranty.  So, maybe a bit under Garmin's flat rate cost?

In my case, if my 430W dies again I'm going with the Avidyne.

[DCarlton]

37 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

Good question.  I have a 430W and it bricked on me some years ago.  I sent it off to Garmin and it cost me $1500 flat rate.  While they can no longer deal with failed displays I believe Garmin will still accept GNS units for repair.  I'm sure they want a lot more now; that would be your price point for the guy looking at the lowest cost way to replace a failed GNS.  I would look at buying a used unit as a bit of a risk whereas a Garmin repair has some, short term, warranty.  So, maybe a bit under Garmin's flat rate cost?

In my case, if my 430W dies again I'm going with the Avidyne.

Same here.  I had my GNS430 (non WAAS) overhauled by Garmin a few years ago while they still had displays.  It's in great shape.  If it were to die now, I'd likely go with an Avidyne IFD too.  I might spend $2K for a good 430W replacement but that's about it.  A commercial pilot might pay more to have one right now.  Don't know.  

[Pinecone]

eBay has the ability to show you completed sales to see what things actually sell for.

A while ago a friend saw some Corningware in my house and said that the piece was selling for over $30,000 on eBay.  Hmm, I like numbers like that.  So I looked, and there were ones offered for $30K - $40K, but others at $10.  

So I looked at completed sales and NONE were above $10.

[EricJ]

You can also get an Avidyne IFD 440 and slide it in where the 430 is.    That's more expensive than buying a used unit, but much less than paying for a new installation of something else.

 

[onegreen]

7 hours ago, Pinecone said:

eBay has the ability to show you completed sales to see what things actually sell for.

A while ago a friend saw some Corningware in my house and said that the piece was selling for over $30,000 on eBay.  Hmm, I like numbers like that.  So I looked, and there were ones offered for $30K - $40K, but others at $10.  

So I looked at completed sales and NONE were above $10.

Thanks for the tip Pinecone

i checked, and a few have sold in the 2-3k range 

 

[Z W]

I sold a 430W last year for $4,000.00, removed for an upgrade.  I posted it here and on Beechtalk, never got to Ebay.

Someone posted here that was way too much, but someone on Beechtalk bought it the day after I listed it, no questions asked.  They were being listed for that or a little more at the time everywhere I looked.  It was in really nice shape.

Prices may have gone down, but there's one data point.  Best of luck to you.

[McMooney]

ebay, facebook, beechtalk, you need eyes.  personally i'd expect 4500-5500$  that prices is FAR FAR FAR under what it would take to replace with anything close to modern.  

just looked at ebay and bennet, they seem to be listed openly between 5000 and 8000,  i'd list somewhere around 5000$ see what happens

like seriously i could by 3 used for the price of an avidyne  or 5 used for the price of an installed 650, just  nuts

 

Edited November 17 by McMooney

[Paul Thomas]

The ones I see move quickly are in the low 3,000, high 2,000. The market is someone looking for a replacement or a guy installing it himself in an experimental (will need tray, antenna, etc).

With the cost involved for a fresh 430 install in one of our airplane, you may as well get Garmin's newest products.

[DCarlton]

The one thing that concerns me is how long you'll be able to continue to update the data cards.  I corrupted a couple of cards and spent hours on the phone with Garmin after trying to use an Apple (which they said was compatible).  I later learned that the Apple OS was feeding the card something it didn't like.  Might need to hang on to an old Windows computer to successfully update the cards down the road.   I'm "scared" every time I update a card now.  

[EricJ]

3 hours ago, McMooney said:

ebay, facebook, beechtalk, you need eyes.  personally i'd expect 4500-5500$  that prices is FAR FAR FAR under what it would take to replace with anything close to modern.  

just looked at ebay and bennet, they seem to be listed openly between 5000 and 8000,  i'd list somewhere around 5000$ see what happens

like seriously i could by 3 used for the price of an avidyne  or 5 used for the price of an installed 650, just  nuts

 

There's a significant difference in capabilities and expected remaining support and service life for the newer units than a 430.   You get something for the extra money.   That said, a 430 is a very capable unit when it is working.

[Echo]

4 hours ago, McMooney said:

ebay, facebook, beechtalk, you need eyes.  personally i'd expect 4500-5500$  that prices is FAR FAR FAR under what it would take to replace with anything close to modern.  

just looked at ebay and bennet, they seem to be listed openly between 5000 and 8000,  i'd list somewhere around 5000$ see what happens

like seriously i could by 3 used for the price of an avidyne  or 5 used for the price of an installed 650, just  nuts

 

You knew what P.T Barnum said: "There is a sucker born every minute".  Good luck with your sale.

[MikeOH]

2 hours ago, DCarlton said:

The one thing that concerns me is how long you'll be able to continue to update the data cards.  I corrupted a couple of cards and spent hours on the phone with Garmin after trying to use an Apple (which they said was compatible).  I later learned that the Apple OS was feeding the card something it didn't like.  Might need to hang on to an old Windows computer to successfully update the cards down the road.   I'm "scared" every time I update a card now.  

Ain't that the truth!

I had a similar expensive 'learning experience' early in my ownership...I toasted both the terrain and IFR data cards and Garmin told me to stick it!  I was out some ridiculous amount of money for their proprietary data cards!!  While internet 'experts' disparaged my explanation, I still believe it was the gate card reader at my airport: I would put the data cards in my wallet, containing my gate card, then swipe my wallet. At first I had to 'program' the cards twice..the next cycle they wouldn't program and I was forced to buy new cards (actually a local avionics shop took pity on me and gave me a used terrain card) and I only had to buy the IFR data one.  That was six years ago and no problem since I now put them in my shirt pocket.

And, yeah, I've got an ancient Windows XP computer I use to update the cards...when it dies I'll have an issue

[kortopates]

The one thing that concerns me is how long you'll be able to continue to update the data cards.  I corrupted a couple of cards and spent hours on the phone with Garmin after trying to use an Apple (which they said was compatible).  I later learned that the Apple OS was feeding the card something it didn't like.  Might need to hang on to an old Windows computer to successfully update the cards down the road.   I'm "scared" every time I update a card now.  

I wouldn’t be worried. but the proprietary cards are the weak link of the GNS’. But Jepp makes them and will always have data for them as long as there are users.
But these days a non-waas unit is living on borrowed time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kortopates]

…
And, yeah, I've got an ancient Windows XP computer I use to update the cards...when it dies I'll have an issue

I’ve always been able to get a new PC to run old s/w like that using compatibility mode. You can experiment with different setting but going straight to XP service pack 3 should work perfectly for this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[McMooney]

2 hours ago, EricJ said:

There's a significant difference in capabilities and expected remaining support and service life for the newer units than a 430.   You get something for the extra money.   That said, a 430 is a very capable unit when it is working.

service life yes, but capabilities, not really.   esp given how most ga use these products direct direct done

heck even flying approaches and complext flight plans,  they function substantially the same.   

to be honest, i'm experiencing buyers remorse right now,  i replaced my gns480 with a gnc 355a,  it's prettier but except for flight plan transfer from the ipad, does nothing the old unit couldn't do.  actually the old unit had a few more features( ignoring vor ).  

also consider the units will only be ran for maybe a thousand hours over 10 years,  you could probably get buy with used  while watching the new stuff go obsolete

 

[1980Mooney]

2 hours ago, kortopates said:

But these days a non-waas unit is living on borrowed time.

Does your outlook apply to all brands/series of NAV units or just the Garmin GNS variety?  

[Ragsf15e]

4 hours ago, kortopates said:

 

I’ve always been able to get a new PC to run old s/w like that using compatibility mode. You can experiment with different setting but going straight to XP service pack 3 should work perfectly for this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Im surprised you guys have issues running garmin’s navdata update app?  I’m using a relatively up to date windows computer and Garmin’s installed update software (not the older web browser update).  It works perfectly for GNS cards.

[kortopates]

Does your outlook apply to all brands/series of NAV units or just the Garmin GNS variety?  

The GNS was major step in capability when it came out in ‘98 and pretty much replaced the only real competition it had from the older BK 89/90/94 gps’s. it only really competition was the Apollo CNX-80 that was the first WAAS ifr gps. but it wasn’t long till Garmin provided the GNS upgrade to WAAS for $1500 which most folks took advantage of.
The GNS or Apollo paired with a MX-20 providing satellite weather was state of the art for several years till we had other newer options.
But yes a non-waas gns with lnav only approaches is very limited by todays standards for many reasons including flight planning, raim checks, and limited rnav approach capabilities.
Whereas a GNS waas units paired with a Flightstream is essentially far more capable despite also no longer supported and somewhat on borrowed time because of it.
All my personal opinion of course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kortopates]

Im surprised you guys have issues running garmin’s navdata update app?  I’m using a relatively up to date windows computer and Garmin’s installed update software (not the older web browser update).  It works perfectly for GNS cards.

Well i never used Garmin data. Garmin was pretty late to provide GNS data. It was all Jepp for a long time. I had migrated to the GTN before garmin offered GNS data. Even as a GTN user i still use Jepp data. Unfortunately Jepp hasn’t had the best reputation for supporting Mac users either although all my experience is with PC interfaces.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ragsf15e]

14 minutes ago, kortopates said:

Well i never used Garmin data. Garmin was pretty late to provide GNS data. It was all Jepp for a long time. I had migrated to the GTN before garmin offered GNS data. Even as a GTN user i still use Jepp data. Unfortunately Jepp hasn’t had the best reputation for supporting Mac users either although all my experience is with PC interfaces.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ahh, yes.  I used Jepp for a while as well and it was a little quirky even on windows.  Garmin initially had a browser based system when they started providing navdata, but now they have an “app” that you download and run from windows.  Ive had great results with both a G1000 and my gns430w.

[onegreen]

12 hours ago, Z W said:

I sold a 430W last year for $4,000.00, removed for an upgrade.  I posted it here and on Beechtalk, never got to Ebay.

Someone posted here that was way too much, but someone on Beechtalk bought it the day after I listed it, no questions asked.  They were being listed for that or a little more at the time everywhere I looked.  It was in really nice shape.

Prices may have gone down, but there's one data point.  Best of luck to you.

My takeaway here is I should have done my upgrade last year;)

[1980Mooney]

1 hour ago, kortopates said:

But yes a non-waas gns with lnav only approaches is very limited by todays standards for many reasons including flight planning, raim checks, and limited rnav approach capabilities.
Whereas a GNS waas units paired with a Flightstream is essentially far more capable despite also no longer supported and somewhat on borrowed time because of it.
All my personal opinion of course.
 

So then it would seem that the newer Mooney's with non-WAAS G1000 without an upgrade path to NXi are also on borrowed time.  Every other aircraft manufacturer that installed the G1000 over the past 20 years, as far as I know, now have an upgrade path to NXi.

Edited November 18 by 1980Mooney

[EricJ]

21 hours ago, McMooney said:

service life yes, but capabilities, not really.   esp given how most ga use these products direct direct done

I consider the improved user interface a significant capability difference.    For people who are very comfortable with the older buttonology it's not a huge issue.   I go back and forth between my Avidyne, a G1000, and GTN and GNC systems, and the improved user interfaces seem like they're worth a lot to me.

[201Mooniac]

18 hours ago, kortopates said:

Unfortunately Jepp hasn’t had the best reputation for supporting Mac users either although all my experience is with PC interfaces.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've always been a Mac user (well at least since 1992) and I've used Jepp data in all of my units (GNS and GTN) and never had an issue with Jepp support for Mac.  In recent years I used the Jepp app on my iPhone with a Wombat to program the datacards (before getting my FS510) and that worked incredibly well.  I wouldn't have any fear of Jepp data sewrvice from a Mac.