I bought something on Facebook Marketplace, went to pick it up, and found this gem neglected in the carport. Not running, 100k miles on it. Sitting here for the past 2+ years from the registration and saftey check.
Condition Summary
Exterior/Body: Dirty but mostly intact from what I see.
Missing parts: Front bumper vent trim, cracked daylight lens, and possibly internal ducting are broken or missing.
Engine bay: Covered in residue — likely coolant from the failed water pump or even a coolant reservoir failure. There are visible signs of dried fluid spray.
Coolant reservoir: Shows corrosion around the cap; likely overheated.
Mileage: 100k miles — puts it at mid-to-high mileage for AMG ownership.
Tires/Wheels: Car is on jack stands, suggesting work was attempted or parts were stripped.
Unknowns: Transmission condition, electronics, turbo condition, brakes, suspension, interior state — all can sway value dramatically.
Assuming the vehicle was fully operational in its current condition, I'd estimate a value of about $17,500. Is that fair, too low, or too high?
Estimated Market Value (As-Is)?????
Considering the vehicle's current condition and mileage, what would be a fair offer?
Estimated Repair Costs???
Minimum (water pump + cleanup):
OEM water pump (part)
Labor
Coolant flush, new reservoir
Gaskets, hoses, misc.
Total: $3000-5000? Less?
If Engine Overheated or Hydrolocked (worst case):
Complete engine rebuild
Used engine swap
Transmission fluid flush/check
Turbo inspection/replacement
Air suspension? It's been on jackstands for a while.
Total possible: $10,000–$20,000?
I sold my 2005 E55 AMG in 2010 so we could buy our house but damn I miss that car! This would be a sentimental purchase for me and a fun project car with my older sons. They were infants at the time I had my E55. I hope this community can advise on the best and worst-case scenarios, offer guidance, and so on. I understand you cannot diagnose this from photos but hoping you can suggest and advise from what you see or the hidden unexpected.
Should I offer $________ and take a chance? Walk away? I'm not going to buy a fully operational one this old. Part of the fun would be putting it back together—wheels and tires, body work, interior, etc.
