mercedesbenzs55

Maybe in LA the prices are cheaper and quantity is more plentiful. But in my area there isnt a single one selling for under $21000.

http://portland.craigslist.org/searc...edes-benz+s550

xpl0sive

i think you're in denial my friend. Bottom line is that you can get a similar car with a clean title and similar issues/wear/tear for around $15k. Doesn't matter if it's in LA or Portland. You had the wreck shipped from NY, I'm sure you would have flown down to LA and drove the car back to WA if you actually did your homework before buying the wreck

JonMac

Yes, I'd agree with Benzs55 about the available numbers near him.
But I'd imagine that the NY market (and not the portland) would be easily the same as LA ?

JonMac

Just wanted to give you a heads up on this one in case you're not aware...
Airmatic suspension uses rubber airbags which WILL fail over time... hard driving or not.
If he's only just replaced for the first time at 110-120k all four bags, thats more than I expect from them (80 to 100k) to last...
And as part of the price of ownership, you get the awesome privilege of paying between 2-3k per FRONT pair and 1-2k per back.. (halve it if you're doing the work yourself but i hear the fronts are PITA to do, at least on my W251. I do know mine were replaced less than 20k ago)
And thats not counting air compressor (1.5-2k), lines, et all ... much fun

Do you know if / when Cede's bags were ever done?

nycphotography

What do you care, you shipped yours in from NYC.

Maybe you should be buying them for 13000 and selling them for 18000.

(Oh dear god, please forgive me for even putting this thought in his head)

xpl0sive

he doesn't have $1500 to get his fixed. what makes you think he's got $13k to buy another one to flip?

mercedesbenzs55

Just scoping out the current prices for the W221. The played the LA market for the S600/S550, and they are going for more then they are worth over there(even with the higher quantity of wrecks available).

There are almost no S550s on Copart around here. I had a choice to wait, but if I did the prices would increase for the summer season.

Around this time, the damages are greater due to less rain/snow. More attractive cars also get a greater audience at the auction.

DaveW68

1. Pretty stupid assumption about AMG bodied cars being driven harder. It's the same motor with a factory body option package. I'd take that higher mileage car over your non-documented POS in a heartbeat (even if yours wasn't a wreck), especially since it has full maintenance records with the all air struts being replaced recently. The air struts are subject to failure in all of these cars no matter how hard they are driven. It's the nature of the car.

2. Colors are fugly inside and out. I wouldn't consider this car no matter how cheap, although I'd certainly take it over a salvage car if I was forced to buy one or the other.

3. With a dealer selling it, then it has to meet at least minimum standards. Still better than your wreck, even if it doesn't have a fully documented service history. It also means that you can likely negotiate the price lower.

You purchased a NY wreck which has likely taken a lot of abuse and sustained lots of salt baths over the last 9 years. Then to top if off it's a damaged car without a service history that had a CEL with misfire codes and hasn't been properly scanned to see what else is wrong with it. Even if you get the body straightened out and looking good and get the engine issues resolved, it still wouldn't be worth more than what you paid for it at the auction. I understand about you wanting to take on a project and are now aware that it is a loss leader. But there's no reason why you shouldn't be spending $150 to have the car fully scanned and inspected and a proper Benz facility so you know what unknown issues you will need to address.

mercedesbenzs55

The previous owner didn't say if they were done, I'm assuming they haven't. I checked them out and the outter protective boot isn't frayed or cracked so lets see how long before they blow.

mercedesbenzs55

Dave, you know from earlier posts that the misfires occurred from bad spark plugs.

I'm embarrassed to take it to the MB dealer in its current state. When I took it to the dealer last time to get the service history, I peeked outside and two dudes in suites were pointing and giggling at the rear. lmao

mercedesbenzs55

Not at the moment. We are purchasing a new L-shaped couch for the living room and a lawnmower. This is our first house and the lawn is looking shaggy compared to our neighbors.

...Wheres Mike?

DaveW68

Yes, it's definitely better to keep embarrassing yourself over and over again within the safety net of an internet forum instead of facing the dealer for an hour because you're embarrassed to let them see your smashed rear end. I'm sure they've never seen a MB roll through their dealership with any body damage in the past.

There's a lot more going on with your car than you know. But you'll never know because you're afraid to drive it to your local dealer. Interestingly, you're not afraid to drive it without insurance with hundreds of other drivers around.

DaveW68

You just reminded him that he needs to tune up his lawnmower. Hopefully he won't be embarrassed to take it in for a tuneup with the chipped paint and stuck on grass clippings.

Bluemax

And hopefully he has a 5/8 socket in his roll away.

mercedesbenzs55

Have been safely driving since my teenage years. I got it because I need to pull my own weight in society.

And so Mike wouldn't boycott the thread. But WTF, he bounced to the W205 forum anyways.

xpl0sive

so you only purchased insurance for your vehicles because some guy on the internet threatened to boycott your thread? what the ****...

Mike5215

I've been very busy on the 205 forum telling newbs which wax to buy.

Zakira

^^ Did they listen to you?

Mike5215

No. It's a friggin C Class. Pick it up, put it on the kitchen counter and spray it with Pledge for crying out loud.

mercedesbenzs55

Its not top tier granite like in your beautiful kitchen, but close enough.

Mike5215

I guarantee they'll be fighting over Windex vs Pledge now.

just1time

Just picturing this...LMFAO

The Thomas J

I thought you were saving for your first house?

mercedesbenzs55

First house we are renting. Yes, we are saving for a large down payment on a house. That is untouchable money.

goosesedan

This Thread is not Real.