Let's say your W212 is now 10 years-old with 180,000 miles on the odo... Then you're probably in the same boat as my 2001 C320 is now 19 years old, with 130,000 miles on it. I am the original owner and can provide my complete DIY mtce record. The car drives fine, but I am finding any repair to cost 3X what the car is worth (Blue Book value is $450, LOL.) But heck, the headlights or taillights are worth more than that.
Let's say the car (or your car) is worth more to you/me as a beater driver, than as a trade-in. I could drive it until a wheel falls off. But then what?
What is the best way to dispose of an older car? I don't feel comfy selling to another consumer, as I don't what to be hassled the minute something goes wrong with it. I don't want to spend the time parting the car out, either, only to be left with disposing of a junk chassis. Where do old MBs go to die?
How do I sell to a car junk yard? Or some other option?
In my area the junkyards come with a tow truck and pick it up at your house and give you a check. I had a 93 500S which I owned for 12 years, awesome car, it rusted away. I sold all the parts I could get off easily to other Benz owners and had the shell towed away, took up a garage spot for two months, but I was happy the parts would help other Benz's live on. My 2003 S500 was totaled by a golf cart in 2016, so the same thing happened, Insurance company paid me and auto dismantlers negotiated for the car, then picked it up on a tow truck.Two weeks later, I went to drop off the second and third key I had to him and the car was already completely stripped to the unibody shell, everything else was gone. He didn't need the keys! I assume all those parts are in or on another Benz now, or at least that's what I'm going to believe.
Maybe you could give it to some one for free or donate it?
Sell it to someone on here who knows what they are getting into. I mean, if you've owned it since new and have all the records, then that is a huge plus. Even I might be interested.
Or do as suggested above - which is also a great idea - donate.
If you pay high taxes- donation might be the best for you.
But beware that in last years IRS red flagged the procedure and you can't deduct new car price for donating old junk.
Or if you have time to kill, you can part the car and pay the junk yard to pick up whatever left.
But that is going to be long and irritating procedure.
Than people make benches and BBQ from cut-off tail part. .....
I bit my tongue before, but since it come to this.
I had 2002 Truck Camper who had nice interior, but exterior faded and campers are not popular in CA and NV where I was trying to sell it.
So facing getting rid of it for nothing, I come with idea to use good interior in Sprinter conversion.
So here is the picture of old camper interior.
Than few things left like jacks, door, furnace and window blinds already brought me $1600 while I still have some parts for sale.
So when you have good imagination and some skills, possibilities are endless.
Hose reel (in the back of 1st picture) works excelent btw.
I have chevy truck I bought new in 2001 and she is valued around $4k trade in with roughly 160k miles.
I would then keep it and drive it as needed since insurance cannot be much nor any taxes if you have them.
Once she broke then I would either take her to scrap yard and get $500 or donate
My two oldest children grew up driving these Triumphs, my youngest got her Grandmothers 91 190E, she drove it for two years then wanted a car like all her friends had, so we sold it and got her a Nissan Sentra, to this day she says that was a bad car decision and misses "Baby Beluga" {Car was blue}
That car is still gorgeous, despite the "Desert Silver" I had an 2002 E320 that color! I also had a C 240 in black, I was driving 90 miles to work and back, plus to clients facilities all over the south and midwest. I put 95K miles on it in 2 1/2 years {Road Warrior} then sold it for the aforementioned E320. That car was serviced at 10 or 11different Mercedes dealers, wherever I happened to be at the time. I sold it to a local guy for his daughter to drive, She loved it and had it through her college years, worked out really well for her.
if everything works on it, I'd be willing to pick it up from you. My daughter will be starting driving this year and I need something cheap for her to learn in and drive. Having a 3rd MB wouldn't be a terrible thing...
I'm in Austin and can come and pick it up. just let me know how much you gotta have for it, maybe we can make a deal???
if everything works on it, I'd be willing to pick it up from you. My daughter will be starting driving this year and I need something cheap for her to learn in and drive. Having a 3rd MB wouldn't be a terrible thing...
I'm in Austin and can come and pick it up. just let me know how much you gotta have for it, maybe we can make a deal???
Do they still let people use those evil fossil fuels in Austin? LOL
My daughter will be starting driving this year and I need something cheap for her to learn in and drive. Having a 3rd MB wouldn't be a terrible thing...
This might be a good idea. I've bought cars for three kids when they learned to drive, and all three wrecked them before any mechanical repairs were needed. Two of these cars were totalled, both were brand new. Thankfully, no one got injured. But I learned the hard way never to buy a new driver a new car. So your idea is much smarter than mine.
Plus, these sturdy MBs with their 10 airbags are a good vehicle for a learner to have a first accident in.
The car is working fine at present. My return-to-the-nest daughter totalled her KIA Soul, so has driven the C320 as hers the last two years since I bought the W212. Until then, I was the only driver, and the car was garaged every night for 17 years. Of course, it sits on the driveway now.
I'll discuss with her if she wants to part with it. She has been making any repairs on it, spending far more than it's worth just to have a working car that's cheaper than buying something newer.
I started this thread to begin learning what to do months/years down the road. But maybe it's time to have it leave the roost while it's working well.
This might be a good idea. I've bought cars for three kids when they learned to drive, and all three wrecked them before any mechanical repairs were needed. Two of these cars were totalled, both were brand new. Thankfully, no one got injured. But I learned the hard way never to buy a new driver a new car.;;;;
Before my oldest come to driving age, I read too many horror story how young drivers kill not only themselves, but load of passengers in the car. That was before California made a law that young drivers can't take passengers.
Sad story was in San Diego when father from mid-class spoiled his 16yo son to new, sport Mitsubishi 3000, only to bury the son after he lost control on rural road.
So my oldest got 20 yo El Camino to drive and even we both are good drivers, I send him to full time driving school, the youngest got spoiled and got 8 yo Audi, but he is quiet boy and did not have the ideas his older brother had. .
My first car was my grandfathers 1966 Lincoln Continental, suicide doors vacuum windows,wipers and locks, swing away steering wheel and 5000 pounds, great party car! I believe I got it in 1975 it was buttercup yellow, very manly.
I got mine a 2002 toyota celica that only had 30000 with all paint and interior intact no rust and garaged too. Ran into a concrete barrier in less than 2 months. Following a girl, still drives all banged up. Did not fixed it for him or gave him anything else.
I would give a nice example to museum or something.
Thinking back on my own experience and that of my children, the basic problem with new drivers is that they don't realize how quickly an accident can occur. Milliseconds.... and you're left saying, "What was that?"
Once a new driver experiences the first, second, or third, accident, they start to realize how fragile their safety is on the road. You can coach them til you are blue in the face, but until they learn it first hand, they won't get it. That being so, it makes no sense buying a new driver a pristine, new car.
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