My parked C55 was wrecked by a drunk driver a couple weeks ago. Insurance has declared it a total loss (rear axel and wheel destroyed, etc.). The good part is insurance is offering $12k for the loss, which is great since the car had 155,000 miles, and needed some work (ABS/Check Engine warning issues). Insurance also offered to subtract $1,800 from the $12k and I could keep the damaged vehicle. Question...should I keep the vehicle and try to sell for parts? I'm not sure what it's worth parted out. I assume the engine could be worth something? Or should I just cut my losses and take the $12k??
If you've got storage capacity and have the time and skills to dismantle and part out the car without further damage, buy the car for $1,800. I used to do that with Lotus Europas and Elans back in the 1970's and 1980. The major drive train components are worth a small fortune. Look up used C55 engines and trannies on Ebay and see what's available and I'll bet you'd be surprised.
For example........here's an engine.......$3,000 plus buyer pays shipping! https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...acat=0&_sop=16
Engine s worth 1k easy. Part outs end up being a pain in the *** unless you have time and space. If you let the car go, someone might buy it at the auction and fix it but worse case someone else will part it out.
I am located in Maryland. I don’t have the mechanical background to part it out myself. I wonder if there are valuable parts that I can easily disassemble? The hydraulics on the front hood don’t even work now due to impact.
I have to agree with keeping it for 1800. **** its just rear end stuff so the engine and trans is good, Interior is good, can part that out, exhaust is good, if you know people or want a good engine for a swap bam. In fact, I'd buy that bumper off you! Since I need one for my CLK. If you don't want the engine I'd buy the heads and the fuel rail too!
I have to agree with keeping it for 1800. **** its just rear end stuff so the engine and trans is good, Interior is good, can part that out, exhaust is good, if you know people or want a good engine for a swap bam. In fact, I'd buy that bumper off you! Since I need one for my CLK. If you don't want the engine I'd buy the heads and the fuel rail too!
The owner has no garage, no mechanical skills, and probably no tools. Used Mercedes parts aren't worth much and are hard to sell. This isn't a Honda.
Parting out is a huge time consumer as well as space hog. And when you're done, you still need to pay someone to come pick up the leftover frame and junk it. That alone will cost hundreds.
And you have limited mechanical skills? So I also assume that means limited tools, jacks, cranes, etc.
And you're parting out a low production car that's over 15 years old, that isn't exactly a widely sought after car, like a 60s or 70s Camaro. You'll only sell something when someone out there in the world needs something. I don't foresee many people who buy non-AMG W203 C-classes stepping up to the plate to upgrade their under $5-10k cars with AMG parts. And then most will complain it's too expensive to ship and you'll lose the sale anyway. And you'll continue to "keep" this junk in whatever area you decide to put it on, for a long, long time (years).
Take the $12k and run. You're lucky (very lucky in fact) they're not giving you $2k.
PM sent just in case. Thanks for all the feedback. I think I’m going to just take the $12k and be done with it. Seems like quite the hassle to part out.
PM sent just in case. Thanks for all the feedback. I think I’m going to just take the $12k and be done with it. Seems like quite the hassle to part out.
I tried to send you a pm, but your pm storage has reached capacity. This was time sensitive.
I had to search for over a year for another C55 when mine got rear ended. For $10,200 difference, that'd be more than enough to have the car repaired properly by a body shop. No mechanical skill on your part required. You'd even have money left over for diminished value.
An E55 certainly has its appeal though, but it won't handle the same.
Remember they only imported 1750 into the US with about 4000 total worldwide. It's a great little performance car (and RARE) for the money. Look at what an E46 M3 is going for these days... I really hate to see yet another one go to the scrap heap.
I had to search for over a year for another C55 when mine got rear ended. For $10,200 difference, that'd be more than enough to have the car repaired properly by a body shop. No mechanical skill on your part required. You'd even have money left over for diminished value.
An E55 certainly has its appeal though, but it won't handle the same.
Remember they only imported 1750 into the US with about 4000 total worldwide. It's a great little performance car (and RARE) for the money. Look at what an E46 M3 is going for these days... I really hate to see yet another one go to the scrap heap.
I bought a ‘17 C63 a couple months ago, so I’ll be fine. I just hate to see my C55 go out like that (first car I ever bought). Oh well it was a great car while it lasted!
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Not if You a buyer on hand but guess I’ll keep a eye on compartment see what it goes for 
