23,000 kg173 hpMarket avg. €67k · 12 listed · 5 below market
Asking prices land at €48k – €90k, around 5% above the market average.
Across independent European dealers, used Caterpillar 324 listings currently run from €48,360 to €90,214, with a market average around €66,659. Year, operating hours and configuration move the price within that band. Based on 12 active listings, refreshed daily.
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Each row is a step the desk runs through when you ask for a model. Counts come from the live European market: what we read this week, what we'd flag, and what we'd send if you'd asked.
Nearest competitors auto-selected by category and weight class. Specs from manufacturer datasheets; prices from recent dealer listings.
The Caterpillar 324 is a 23-tonne class hydraulic excavator producing 173 hp and fitted with a 1.1 m³ bucket capacity. It occupies the upper range of the mid-size excavator segment, bridging standard mid-range machines and larger production-class units. As a Caterpillar product it carries the manufacturer's established dealer network and parts availability reputation across global markets.
Machines in the 23-tonne class are well suited to bulk earthmoving, foundation excavation, road construction, and quarry floor cleanup where a larger bucket swing and ground-bearing footprint are acceptable. They are commonly deployed on civil infrastructure projects, pipeline trenching, and site preparation work where a smaller machine would require multiple passes. The 1.1 m³ bucket capacity makes this class productive on material-loading cycles into rigid dump trucks in the 20 to 30 tonne payload range.
Inspection of a used 23-tonne excavator should prioritise undercarriage wear, as track chains, rollers, and sprockets represent a significant refurbishment item on machines with high accumulated hours. Buyers should request full service records and verify that scheduled hydraulic filter and fluid intervals have been observed, since deferred maintenance on the hydraulic system is a common source of hidden costs in this class. Boom and stick pins and bushings should be checked for play, and the slewing ring should be rotated under load to detect any roughness or backlash. Structural cracks around the boom foot, counterweight mounts, and upper-frame pivot areas are inspection priorities, particularly on machines that have worked in demolition or rock-breaking applications. Confirming that all auxiliary hydraulic circuits are functional is advisable if the machine is being purchased for use with a specific attachment.
The Caterpillar 324 sits at the upper boundary of the 20 to 25 tonne mid-size excavator segment and is cross-shopped most frequently against the Hitachi ZX225US and the JCB 220X. Relative to the Hitachi ZX225US, the 324 carries a higher operating weight at 23000 kg compared with the ZX225US class positioning, reflecting greater counterweight and structural mass that contributes to lift stability on heavier duty cycles. The JCB 220X competes on comparable digging forces and a strong European service network, though the Caterpillar 324 exceeds it in rated operating weight, which influences which machine is specified for heavier applications. Within any given segment of the used market, the attributes that move a machine toward the stronger end of its band include low recorded hours, factory-fitted attachments such as hydraulic quick couplers or long-reach booms, documented service history, recent undercarriage replacement, and overall structural condition. Machines configured for specialist tasks, such as demolition or deep-dig work, attract buyers from narrower application pools, which can affect liquidity.
Market average ask shown as delta against the class average (€67k).
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