rlddlr53

I found an 05 C55 AMG. It has 114k miles and he is asking $13,400. It has a broken cup holder in center console, broken left fog light, needs front rotors , needs engine mounts. some minor scrapes on left rear bumper.

Drives nice, but it has a reassigned VIN on the door jamb on drivers side. Regular spot for VIN on left front of windshield is black, no numbers.

WTF does this mean? I have called many people and looked online and no answer.

It says State of Texas with the vin number. VIN checks out with autocheck score of 93 ( wtf does that mean.) and last reported mileage was 22k when the owner bought it.

Sold in Florida, went to texas at 20k miles, sold at auction in TX at 20k, sold in CA at 22k


HELP! Should I make him an offer or run the other way?

Quicktwinturbo

I would spend more money and get something with clean title... But that's just me

rlddlr53

It is a clean title. It just has that sticker on the door jamb.

I ran the autocheck/carfax on the car.

i_am_amused

there is obviously some "story" that comes with the car

for me, if I want a story I read a book, I don't buy a car

Viper98912

What the heck is a reassigned VIN? Was it previously stolen?

rockjock

If certain parts are replaced that have a vin plate and the owner uses junk yard parts (with a diff vin plate) it can be reassigned.
While I don't putna whole lotmof faith in auto count or carfuchs-check with a local MBZ dealer to see if they can run a history for you (service,ect)-and talk to the owner about who he bought from.
While the damage is a little rough for the year and miles-having a correct vin really wont mean anything to anyone (warranty is out-aftermarket is pointless at this stage).
Make sure you see the orig title (maybe check with your state and see if they can provided you with a title number and you can compare them).

AMG140.6

For a little bit more money you can find a cleaner one w/ no stories.

Why would you want an AMG with a re-assigned VIN ? especially a C55, which IMHO, is one of the best AMG's ever made.

If you buy that one, you'll most likely be the end user...which might be ok I guess.

A blackened out OEM VIN tag is a massive fail in my book.

Dingleberry

not worth it dude, for a little bit more I'd buy a real car, like a 335i - the ultimate driving machine.

Newzchspy

Yes Dingle, a New 335 iS at $60 K will do the trick for this guy!!!

ddtham

But then the 550i will come up at that price as well... decision decision...

Viper98912

Reeks of stolen, salvaged, totaled, reassembled, or just plain stupid to me. If you buy that, hope there's nothing wrong with it (which there is), and good luck ever trying to re-sell it.

Dingleberry

you dont know wtf you're talking about. that's like telling someone who is looking for a BB gun to shoot bottles with to go and get a rocket launcher instead. the 335i is about as fast as an AMG, but the 335iS is already in supercar territory (you can tell from the pricetag alone, well not you, but anyone who knows anything about supercars). if this guy was looking for a salvaged mercedes SLS, then the 335iS would be the optimal choice.

rlddlr53

lol I turns out that the car was stolen at some point, and was not deemed salvage and the insurance didnt pay out. Hence the reassigned vin.

This is a car for my gf. We found a 02 c32 for 8k w/ 120k miles that we can buy. I told her if we get that she can drive it until it dies

Newzchspy

OK, why re-assign a VIN if the car was recovered? Still too many unanswered questions!

mrobinso

The OP is obviously looking for a dirt cheap C32/C55 and is not concerned with high (100k+) mileage. That being the case, there really isn't a lot to work with in C32/C55 department.

Since the car is for your girlfriend, have you/she thought about a Crossfire SRT-6. I did a quick search on cars.com and found this clean Crossfire SRT-6 located in Montclair, CA for $13,999 list with 55,000 miles. http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

IMHO, you would be way better off with that vehicle than buying a 115,000 mile AMG that has in all likelihood been beat to hell over the years/miles. The Crossfire SRT-6 has the Mercedes 3.2L supercharged V6 found in the C32 (its actually built in the U.S. to Mercedes specifications) and the SRT-6's body was actually manufactured at the Karmann plant in Germany, the same plant used to produce CLK and other Merc lines. The SRT-6 330hp is nothing to laugh about.

rlddlr53

We threw out that c55. She wants a red or white c32 but cannot find one :/

mrobinso

Any reason you aren't just looking at a C280 sport or other comparable c-class model that you can get for the same price with half the mileage and in all likelihood, better condition than these higher mileage vehicles? I know it isn't my place, but in my opinion I wouldn't want my girlfriend driving a 349hp beast (no offense to my girlfriend's driving of course!), unless I was planning on driving the car more than her.... I think I see your plan now...

Newzchspy

+_1 and is a LOT more modifiable than a C55!!! In addition, the engine bay in the SRT-6 offers more space to add mods and work on than in the C32 MB. Same exact engine, different car!!

Newzchspy

Mars Red C32 and white are the more difficult to find. Black (mine) and silver are pretty easy!!

rlddlr53

Well I have a 03 c32. I was contemplating selling it. But she likes how it drives but wants a red/white one. Leaning more towards white. She said she would take black too. Just looking for a really good deal on one.

reflex92

go for it

c32kompressor

white: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

red: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

dont know where your located and if your willing to travel, but here are two of the ones your looking for. there are other white ones as well, and a black one with 6 exhaust tips lmao

rlddlr53

Thanks! We are willing to travel or have it shipped.

Viper98912

GF? Tell her to buy her own damn car before she goes and later breaks up w/ you and your expensive purchase :P

MIKESV8

+1
girlfriend's car = http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2207197214.html (that's a real CF hood!)

wife's car = http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/2202675814.html