Yeah....AMG cars always took a big depreciation hit.

Here's an example...a high-mileage clean-title 07 E63 for $42K!
Mercedes-Benz : E-Class:eBay Motors (item 150402339426 end time Jan-13-10 08:12:44 PST)

 

Honestly, I can not see any reason to buy a brand new AMG car, unless you REALLY want a color other than black, white or silver. You can find all of them one year old with <10k on them and that $$$ depreciation already paid. If you can get a good lease on a new one, that is fine, but I don't really like the idea of leasing anyways. Enjoy your new E63, it is a great car! But if you must get rid of it, I think that using one of the lease-trader sites would be your best bet.

 

Unfortunately Ms and AMGs are produced in rather large numbers such that they aren't that exclusive barring their price... and most people will only pony up for a car that has not been touched or titled... there are too many on the market otherwise. There are pages upon pages of 1,2,3 year old E63s and M5s on cars.com/autotrader/etc. all competing for buyers, with some heavy discounting.

Depreciation of value is a curve that drops very rapidly... unfortunately most auto loans have an opposite curve. Buying a one-two year old car has definite advantages. Selling in that same time frame from new is not going to be pretty.