Help

Need help?

Browse through FAQs and tips on everything from using MMR to PowerSearch.

 
 

General MMR Help

MMR Desktop Software FAQs

Internet MMR FAQs

General MMR Help

How do the values in MMR compare with traditional guide books?

It is not uncommon to find differences between MMR values and guide books. MMR prices are based exclusively on millions of actual sales that are updated daily. The statistical programs that compute the averages are completely neutral, using universally-accepted statistical techniques without editorial opinion or bias. MMR's programs do not use interpolation to compensate for insufficient data. Guide books, which do not have access to the same amount of data as MMR (much less on a daily basis), use editorial expertise and limited market observations to arrive at prices; for this reason, there may be differences.

Why is the MILEAGE different for each vehicle?

Because that's the way it is in the real world. For example, the average family car logs more miles than an expensive weekend-only sports car. MMR obsoletes the old-fashioned "mileage tables" that do not allow for differences in how a vehicle is used. The MMR statistical programs compute a separate average mileage and per-mile depreciation factor for every vehicle in its database.

How are the MMR averages calculated?

New calculations are performed every night in order to include the latest and most recent sales transactions in MMR's database. The statistical engines then analyze every transaction so that, for every vehicle, each MMR value - historical averages, depreciation factors, regional and seasonal adjustments, and price forecasting - is based on the most up-to-date information available.

  • The program begins by gathering all transactions for a specific vehicle.
  • If a statistically sufficient sample cannot be found from the previous 30 days, the statistical models progressively search earlier months until a sufficient number of representative transactions are found. Any auction transactions gathered from earlier months are "aged" to the current month.
  • Statistically unreliable records (outliers) are discarded from the sample. For example, the MMR statistical models may exclude a high-mileage vehicle that sold at a significantly higher price than similar vehicles with lower mileage, or a low-mileage car that sold significantly below higher-mileage cars. MMR also excludes salvage vehicles, specialty vehicles such as boats and motorcycles, heavy trucks, "lemon law vehicles" and vehicles sold in bulk.
  • The statistical engines are very responsive to data integrity and availability. For example, MMR does not provide estimates for mileage depreciation and price forecasts if there is an insufficient number of recent and statistically reliable transactions - MMR doesn't pretend to know something when it doesn't have the data to back it up. However, the moment reliable data becomes available MMR immediately applies the best statistical methods available to estimate MMR values.
  • It is this combination of statistical precision, access to same-day sales transactions, trim level data, historical averages, and depreciation rates, as well as immediate responsiveness to changes in data, that makes MMR so valuable. The resulting values are then presented in MMR.

Why do I get a different result than MMR when I average the transactions?

The results are different because you are working with a different set of data than the one used by MMR statistical models. For some vehicles, the difference is very slight; for others it is pretty substantial.

In addition, MMR has two components. The first component is the prices and mileage displayed in MMR. These are pre-calculated by MMR's statistical engines and then displayed in a file that is separate from the auction transactions. Your PC doesn't calculate the averages; it just displays them. The second component of MMR is the auction transactions displayed on the "Transactions" and "Auctions" summary tabs. These transactions only represent a sample of the previous 30 days of transactions, and are included solely to provide additional information about transactions in the wholesale auction market. These summary tabs are equivalent to a post-sale report with a few sorting features. However, MMR's statistical models base their calculations on ALL transactions for a specific vehicle; not just the most recent ones listed in the "Transactions" or "Auctions" summary tab.

Why does MMR pre-compute averages?

For many reasons, but the most important is that the statistical solutions for calculating averages from small data sets - such as brand new models or seldom-traded vehicles - requires a lot of processing time and horsepower to arrive at accurate averages. This kind of heavy lifting is outside the capabilities of desktop PCs.

How is the vehicle's condition determined?

Vehicle condition is a subjective judgment and MMR is objective. However, for the convenience of subscribers for whom condition is important, the MMR program simulates condition by showing values and mileages that are estimated above and below the average price and average miles. In the future, MMR will incorporate objective data, such as condition grades where available, as a parameter for improving the accuracy of the MMR forecast.

What does PROJECTED VALUES mean?

Projected or forecasted values are MMR's predictions of prices for today, next week, next month and next year. These projections are based on millions of auction transactions that are updated daily. These predictions are the result of MMR's comprehensive forecasting program. The accuracy of the modeling technique is tested daily against the most current actual auction transactions and adjusted based on the best available statistical model.

What is ESTIMATED RETAIL?

Retail values are shown in MMR only for the convenience of our subscribers who need an approximate retail price. These retail prices are estimated mark-ups of actual wholesale values. However, Manheim does not currently collect data on retail values and recommends users incorporate additional sources of retail information to develop a more accurate estimate for retail prices.

Are there plans for future MMR Enhancements?

Yes. In April 2008 the first phase of the MMR enhancements was implemented, and you may have noticed that MMR forecasts are more accurate and more responsive to changes in the market. This is because Manheim improved the statistical models that are used to calculate MMR.

MMR was improved to more accurately forecast pricing data and make better decisions about which vehicles to provide a price forecast. MMR implemented an improved statistical model to display historical data for 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months prior to provide the most accurate representation possible for historical transactions. Additionally, the transactions summary tab now returns a maximum of 100 sample transactions for display to make the MMR application more efficient. Future MMR enhancements are scheduled for 2009.

When requesting data, which transactions are considered invalid transactions and excluded from MMR?

The following transactions are considered as invalid transactions: Total Resource Auction (TRA) - Salvage, Mark III, Specialty Vehicles, Collision, Distribution Center, Heavy Truck, Salvage Unit not TRA

How often MMR updated?

All pricing is completed nightly, Monday - Friday. The process begins Monday through Friday evenings beginning at 10:00 p.m ET. and finishes between 12:30 - 2:30 a.m. ET the next morning. The process also runs on Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m. ET and typically finishes around 7:30 a.m ET.

Can I sort my search results?

Yes. By clicking on a column heading, you can view the results in ascending or descending order.

Can I view MMR in a pop-up window?

Yes, just click on the "View in a pop-up window" link at the top left-hand side of any MMR page, under the main navigation.

Where is the link to Handheld MMR?

Handheld MMR is no longer available for new subscriptions. To access MMR values, please visit Internet MMR. To get a list of MMR values for an upcoming sale, go to the PowerSearch and execute a search that lists the next sale for your location, and then print the results as a run list.

About Internet MMR

Internet MMR is a tool that will help users find pricing on vehicles that interest them most, across all of Manheim's inventories. In addition to basic information, Internet MMR provides users with pricing projections, transactions listing, auctions listing, summary information and a variety of reports based on their selection.

Manheim's Internet MMR can help you research vehicles quickly and easily - Internet MMR can target specific vehicles nationally or by region.

Internet MMR Searches

You can perform an inquiry on the Internet MMR page by either selecting:

  • VIN - Enter all 17 digits of the VIN number or just the first 10 digits.

OR

  • Fill in the "Description" fields: choose the year, make, model and style, region
  • Fill in the "Option" fields: "region" and "seasonal adjustment" ("yes" or "no")

MMR Desktop Software FAQs

How do I get the MMR desktop software?

All subscribers to Manheim.com can download the latest MMR software from the Manheim.com web site. Navigate to the MMR main page and click on the link labeled "Download Latest MMR Software." Follow the instructions on the web page to download the file.

Will I be notified when the MMR software is revised?

Every time you start MMR Desktop, it checks the web site for new MMR software. If a newer version is available, you be prompted to download it.

How do I use the Update Scheduler?

MMR is updated every day. This gives you the freshest possible prices and transactions and it makes updating much faster than the previous weekly updates.

You can perform the update manually or MMR will automatically do the update for you. Click Update/Schedule on the menu bar. Your computer must be turned on. The Scheduler will make the connection to the Internet. If you normally leave your PC turned on every night, then we recommend selecting all seven days. After making your selections, be sure to select "Enable automatic updates" from the FTP Update Options window.

New files are usually ready by 2:00 p.m. Eastern every day. If you want MMR to be updated first thing in the morning, then we recommend scheduling updates two to three hours before the start of your normal business day. An average daily update will require 15 to 30 minutes, depending upon your connection speed.

Are there any special instructions for first-time users?

The first time you start MMR, the database will be empty. MMR will prompt you to get the latest data. The Update Wizard will take you through the process step-by-step. Use your Manheim.com user ID and password. The first update could take up to 40 minutes depending upon your Internet connection speed.

I Am A First-Time User And I Only See Transactions For The Last 10 Days.

This is MMR's normal behavior when it is first installed. MMR was installed with an empty database. (If we filled the database with transactions, it would require about more than two hours to download from the web site.) The first time MMR is run, you were prompted to run an update to start filling the database. The default for this first installation is the last 10 days of transactions. It will take a couple of weeks of daily updates to get a month of transactions.

Remember that MMR's prices and the transactions are separate. Prices are always accurate regardless of how many transactions are in the database. In fact many users elect to not download transactions. They get prices only.

Internet MMR FAQs

What is required to use Internet MMR?

Internet MMR supports Internet Explorer 5.5 and above with frames supported and cookies enabled.

How do I enable cookies?

To enable cookies do the following:

  • Click on "Tools" at the top of the browser
  • Select "Internet Options."
  • Once the "Internet Options" dialog displays, select the "Privacy" tab.
  • From within the "Privacy" tab, press the "Default" button or set your settings to Medium.
  • Press the "Apply" button at the bottom and then the "OK" button.

I want to print my results out for each vehicle I look at but I only get the lower half or the upper half to print out. How do I print it all at once?

This is because the application uses frames. Try printing using one of these methods:

The "Printable Version" link in the upper-right corner.
Or:
The print option of the browser.

  • Click on "File" in the upper-left corner of the browser or Ctrl+P.
  • Once the print dialog displays, select the "Options" tab.
  • From within the "Options" section select "As laid out on screen."
  • Press the "Print" button at the bottom.

I keep getting the same information in the "Prices" section for every vehicle. How do I fix it?

The page has been cached and isn't reloading. The cache setting must be set to "automatic" for the browser.

  • Click on "Tools" at the top of the browser.
  • Select "Internet Options"
  • From within the "Internet Options" section, press the "Settings" button.
  • From within the "Settings" section, select "Automatically"

I keep getting the same error "Cookies ERROR: Please enable cookies and try again" although I have cookies enabled. How do I fix it?

We have found that some anti-virus software removes the cookie that is required.

  • Try changing the settings of your anti-virus software or turning it off for the time being.
  • Close all browsers and try to access Internet MMR once more.