Buying a USED C32 AMG
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 11
From: Rocket City
'02 AMG C32, Mk5 VW R32, #2469/5000
I can pick up a c32 dirt cheap localy. It has 243k miles on it, guy said it over heated, and sat for a while. Claims the engine will spin but not start, the engine oil shows no sign of water contamination. The guy is asking $1600 body and interior look decent, passenger seatback is off, but there. No rust, one quarter sized dentand scuff that will need paint correction on the passenger front fender with a broken marker light in the same position. So, is it worth the risk? I am a mechanic and have experience with mercedes benz, but the high miles and no start worry me. What would yall pay?
Just my opinion, but doesn't sound remotely worth it to me.
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 11
From: Rocket City
'02 AMG C32, Mk5 VW R32, #2469/5000
Potentially something, as long as you have some way to verify functionality of the parts. The various computer modules are worth something if you can verify they don't draw excessive current while inactive. Transmission is a tough one, with that mileage - even if you had a way to verify it works fine it's still really high mileage. Nevertheless it could still be worth something to someone wanting a good candidate to rebuild (having to take their car off the road only for the duration of the transmission swap rather than the duration of the entire rebuild plus the swap). I've found that there's a lot of part-out value from little things that are often overlooked, like interior trim pieces and miscellaneous small stuff in the engine bay. Good body parts (like wheels, panels, lights, lenses, bumper covers, skirts), particularly ones that are specific to the AMG models, are good to keep too, as long you're willing to sit on them until you find someone who needs them. You could hang onto some of that stuff for years until someone gets into a fender bender and needs a nice used taillight or bumper cover. Again this is just my opinion (and bear in mind I've parted out a lot of watercooled VWs but never a Mercedes), but I personally wouldn't pay more than a few hundred in this particular case if I was going to part it out, because I'd want to actually make some profit to make it all worthwhile. The combination of the non-running motor and the high mileage just really kills it for me.
