Last edit by: IB Nolan
Table of Contents "S55's Endless Build Thread"
1. Car Forklifted Onto Delivery Truck Because Auction Had No Key
2. Finally Sees Car and Damage In Person on Delivery Truck
3. Videos of S-Class Forklifted Off Delivery Truck And Slid Into Garage
4. Additional Rear-End Damage Photos
5. Cost Breakdown For Vehicle and Parts as of 3/12/16
6. Key Arrives! First Start Up.
7. First Test Drive, Warning Lights Abound
8. Fixed Electrical Issues(?), Replaced Battery and Alternator
9. New Woodgrain Steering Wheel Installed
1. Car Forklifted Onto Delivery Truck Because Auction Had No Key
2. Finally Sees Car and Damage In Person on Delivery Truck
3. Videos of S-Class Forklifted Off Delivery Truck And Slid Into Garage
4. Additional Rear-End Damage Photos
5. Cost Breakdown For Vehicle and Parts as of 3/12/16
6. Key Arrives! First Start Up.
7. First Test Drive, Warning Lights Abound
8. Fixed Electrical Issues(?), Replaced Battery and Alternator
9. New Woodgrain Steering Wheel Installed
I finally bought it Fellas!
#2103
Don't really have a horse in this race but you saw it through to completion and this thread provided quite a bit of laughs. Somewhat at your expense, but hey, you're young and in 50 years who will care? If you are happy with the results that is all that matters.
You've learned, we learned. We laughed and cried together.
Looking forward to the fridge project. I expect some cans of Busch Light in that dang thing.
You've learned, we learned. We laughed and cried together.
Looking forward to the fridge project. I expect some cans of Busch Light in that dang thing.
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mercedesbenzs55 (05-24-2016)
#2105
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Looking forward to see the results. To think, you were going to tie the bumper to a tree at one point. Glad that didn't happen. You didn't do it for $1,000 like originally planned, but I applaud your fortitude in getting the project this far.
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mercedesbenzs55 (05-24-2016)
#2109
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2015 S550
It looks like you still have a small dent in the left quarter panel. Please take some straight on close up shots of where the dents are/were. Your side photos with reflections mask the details. Were you using a 1.3 MP camera from a flip phone?
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mercedesbenzs55 (05-25-2016)
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Pics were taken on a Nokia Lumina 20mp phone w/ Karl Zeiss lens.
Last edited by mercedesbenzs55; 05-25-2016 at 12:56 PM.
#2113
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Not bad at all. You overcame and conquered. So you're an example of putting in the effort and getting solid results.
My one questions would be what would you have done different if you had to do it all over from the beginning if you'd have done it at all?
My one questions would be what would you have done different if you had to do it all over from the beginning if you'd have done it at all?
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mercedesbenzs55 (05-25-2016)
#2114
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mercedesbenzs55 (05-25-2016)
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2016 S63, 2013 SL63
Good job man!
Think of all the money and time you would have wasted if you did everything that was suggested. ****! You got a great looking wood steering wheel and a fridge for free!
Prolly even have extra money in your pocket.
Vince
Think of all the money and time you would have wasted if you did everything that was suggested. ****! You got a great looking wood steering wheel and a fridge for free!
Prolly even have extra money in your pocket.
Vince
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mercedesbenzs55 (05-25-2016)
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It sounds like he went about $4-5k over his original budget of $1000 and mallet whacks. Overall a decent result as most of us expected it to cost much more than that.....and it would have if the repairs were done in a conventional manner deserving of a Benz. He certainly took the unconventional path for a high end car like an S-class by repairing it like it was a 10 year old Chevy Cavalier that was being taken to the dealer for trade-in. But from what I've seen so far, it doesn't look horrible. Perhaps not up to Benz' self-proclaimed perfectionist standards, but it could have been a lot worse. I have to imagine that there are plenty of stress cracks in the paint in the spots where the PDR was used...because paint shouldn't stretch that much without cracking. If there are no stress cracks in the paint, I'll be truly amazed about Benz paint.
What I'm most disappointed about was that he didn't get to use that mallet to bang the dents out.![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)
Now the real fun begins: owning an undocumented 10 year old NYC S-class with 80k miles and zero warranty coverage.
What I'm most disappointed about was that he didn't get to use that mallet to bang the dents out.
![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)
Now the real fun begins: owning an undocumented 10 year old NYC S-class with 80k miles and zero warranty coverage.
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#2117
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![Talking](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif)
It sounds like he went about $4-5k over his original budget of $1000 and mallet whacks. Overall a decent result as most of us expected it to cost much more than that.....and it would have if the repairs were done in a conventional manner deserving of a Benz. He certainly took the unconventional path for a high end car like an S-class by repairing it like it was a 10 year old Chevy Cavalier that was being taken to the dealer for trade-in. But from what I've seen so far, it doesn't look horrible. Perhaps not up to Benz' self-proclaimed perfectionist standards, but it could have been a lot worse. I have to imagine that there are plenty of stress cracks in the paint in the spots where the PDR was used...because paint shouldn't stretch that much without cracking. If there are no stress cracks in the paint, I'll be truly amazed about Benz paint.
What I'm most disappointed about was that he didn't get to use that mallet to bang the dents out.![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)
Now the real fun begins: owning an undocumented 10 year old NYC S-class with 80k miles and zero warranty coverage.![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
What I'm most disappointed about was that he didn't get to use that mallet to bang the dents out.
![nix](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/nixweiss.gif)
Now the real fun begins: owning an undocumented 10 year old NYC S-class with 80k miles and zero warranty coverage.
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
I still have to hang a panel out so the mallet will see use.
Yours is the only car that smells like citrus Dave.
#2118
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lol! Good times. Amazing how much hate from the heart there was. At times it was near crippling. I'm happy for all the people that encouraged and guided me. Without you, I may have given up and scrapped it.
#2120
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Unless you are a mechanically inclined like Expl0sive or Alx, Quadcammer, ect., This it's not a project for you.
I will do this again someday. I feel at the end of the day I have learned alot from people on here with much more life experience. I learned how to get a car in shape on a budget. If sold within 14 months ill make money on this car.
Last edited by mercedesbenzs55; 05-25-2016 at 04:17 PM.
#2121
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The only time my car smells like citrus is when I'm using Goo Gone to remove the prior year city sticker. Otherwise it smells like new Napa leather.
#2122
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Very good question. I would have not supported a a high end car cross country. Many cars get parts taken off/replaced during transport cooking from auctioned like Copart. I would not have bought a car from a salt state or one with such heavy car traffic.
Unless you are a mechanically inclined like Expl0sive or Alx, Quadcammer, ect., This it's not a project for you.
I will do this again someday. I feel at the end of the day I have learned alot from people on here with much more life experience. I learned how to get a car in shape on a budget. If sold within 14 months ill make money on this car.
Unless you are a mechanically inclined like Expl0sive or Alx, Quadcammer, ect., This it's not a project for you.
I will do this again someday. I feel at the end of the day I have learned alot from people on here with much more life experience. I learned how to get a car in shape on a budget. If sold within 14 months ill make money on this car.
If you sell your car for more than what you have into it in the next 14 months....or at any point, you truly will be the Jedi master at finding a sucker. Your branded title repaired car likely isn't worth any more than $10-11k right now after the repairs....and will keep depreciating as time and miles pile on. But I hope that you decide to keep it long term and not pawn it off on some unsuspecting person.
#2123
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Just came across this hilarious thread. What a treat! Kudos to Mike and Dave for the screenplay efforts. Couldn't put my iPad down!
Re. the car itself, it does look fine from a distance (or maybe even close-up) but I am not sure that any savings were realized for the added risks. I come across local S550's with clear titles and well optioned (sport package, tail light updates, night vision, wood steering wheel) that are within $1-2K of the money spent.
That's without the work and risk (to your life and wallet).
The biggest risk is still repair and maintenance costs that can come up anytime. Much more relevant than resale value.
I remember having more than $8k in repairs on our SL600 during one year (with more to follow).
Re. the car itself, it does look fine from a distance (or maybe even close-up) but I am not sure that any savings were realized for the added risks. I come across local S550's with clear titles and well optioned (sport package, tail light updates, night vision, wood steering wheel) that are within $1-2K of the money spent.
That's without the work and risk (to your life and wallet).
The biggest risk is still repair and maintenance costs that can come up anytime. Much more relevant than resale value.
I remember having more than $8k in repairs on our SL600 during one year (with more to follow).
#2124
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Then I'll try to sell it to Mike and Ed from Wheeler Dealers and let them work their magic. Although they may have a hard time finding a profit in it after Ed's work. It's anybody's guess how many problems still haven't been uncovered yet.
#2125
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Yes....I'm willing to go $5500 on his car....as long as the fridge is part of the deal.
Then I'll try to sell it to Mike and Ed from Wheeler Dealers and let them work their magic. Although they may have a hard time finding a profit in it after Ed's work. It's anybody's guess how many problems still haven't been uncovered yet.
Then I'll try to sell it to Mike and Ed from Wheeler Dealers and let them work their magic. Although they may have a hard time finding a profit in it after Ed's work. It's anybody's guess how many problems still haven't been uncovered yet.
There are no other problems as of yet. After fridge is installed I could get my money back.