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!
#2178
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#2179
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2015 S550
If he is, then he's preparing to scam some unsuspecting chump out of a bunch of cash. Resale value of his car, in as-repaired condition, is worth no more than what he paid for the wreck and shipping.
IMO, he's just looking to stir the pot as this board has become quite boring since this ridiculous thread died down. I really don't think he's planning to sell it.
IMO, he's just looking to stir the pot as this board has become quite boring since this ridiculous thread died down. I really don't think he's planning to sell it.
#2182
Senior Member
Well done on Benz55 for sticking to his guns, being smart enough to disregard a lot of bad advice from self-proclaimed experts, and fixing a cheap car cheaply (who buys a salvage at auction then turns it over to a Dealer for crying out loud???). Looks sharp and clean.
S-class is the standard for large luxury cars, so every Tom Dick and Harry seems to want one and will do anything to get one. There are many paths to the same result. This is one of the most cost-effective for sure.
I wish other posters would be as honest, intelligent, forthcoming and good at documenting as Benz55. He is a credit to this forum.
S-class is the standard for large luxury cars, so every Tom Dick and Harry seems to want one and will do anything to get one. There are many paths to the same result. This is one of the most cost-effective for sure.
I wish other posters would be as honest, intelligent, forthcoming and good at documenting as Benz55. He is a credit to this forum.
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compaddict (06-16-2016)
#2183
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
How to do a low budget fixer-upper job on a salvage car so that it looks good on small low res pics?
Do you know how it drives and what condition the engine/drive train/suspension is in? The things that can cost real money when issues occur...
If you want to get an S-Class for cheap, there are plenty on auto trader or craigslist with clear titles that could be taken for a thorough inspection before purchase.
Prices would be close to what he paid and I bet that the overall cost of ownership will be less.
#2184
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The cheapest S550 4Matic for sale anywhere in the country with under 100K miles is $18,875, according to autotrader. Most are around $22K. Benz55 spent around $14K if I recall. He did extremely well. He will likely have the same nightmarish reliability issues going forward as any other owner.
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I applaud him for sticking with the project. He's a little goofy and f'ed up in the head IMO, but he took on something that nobody else in their right mind with any knowledge of these cars ever would and made it look a lot better than when he got it.
Wolfman is right in that the car looks OK with low res pics. Honestly, it probably looks similar to any other 10 year old car with normal wear and tear. The problem is that he had it fixed on the cheap and it will never have the same structural integrity of a car that never sustained a high impact collision with frame damage. I just hope for his sake that he never gets rear ended (enter Mike) in that car again as the rear crumple zone is no longer the same as it used to be.
I believe he has around $17-18k into that car. It should not be compared to a non branded title car as his is only worth about 60% (perhaps a little less) than a similar car that has not sustained that kind of accident and never been branded. His car's actual resale value is likely worth no more than what he paid for it prior to any of the repairs.
I think Sloan's BJ is a little out of touch with reality. Many of the people who he thought offered "bad advice", which I'm sure he'd consider me one of them, were offering realistic advice to make his car proper and safe. The OP chose to take the cheap route to make the car look like a 10 year old Benz that might not be noticed as having been totaled to the average observer, but it has lost the rear safety aspect and cannot be compared to a car that never sustained an impact like that.
If he keeps it at least a few years and the car services him well, then this project won't look as stupid since it will keep depreciating no matter what. In a few years when a non-branded car with $120k+ miles is worth $10k, his might be worth $6k. So the value gap will keep narrowing over time.
There are actually plenty of sub 100k mile S550 4matics available for under $20k. Here's a sampling:
https://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...=GN_REFINEMENT
Wolfman is right in that the car looks OK with low res pics. Honestly, it probably looks similar to any other 10 year old car with normal wear and tear. The problem is that he had it fixed on the cheap and it will never have the same structural integrity of a car that never sustained a high impact collision with frame damage. I just hope for his sake that he never gets rear ended (enter Mike) in that car again as the rear crumple zone is no longer the same as it used to be.
I believe he has around $17-18k into that car. It should not be compared to a non branded title car as his is only worth about 60% (perhaps a little less) than a similar car that has not sustained that kind of accident and never been branded. His car's actual resale value is likely worth no more than what he paid for it prior to any of the repairs.
I think Sloan's BJ is a little out of touch with reality. Many of the people who he thought offered "bad advice", which I'm sure he'd consider me one of them, were offering realistic advice to make his car proper and safe. The OP chose to take the cheap route to make the car look like a 10 year old Benz that might not be noticed as having been totaled to the average observer, but it has lost the rear safety aspect and cannot be compared to a car that never sustained an impact like that.
If he keeps it at least a few years and the car services him well, then this project won't look as stupid since it will keep depreciating no matter what. In a few years when a non-branded car with $120k+ miles is worth $10k, his might be worth $6k. So the value gap will keep narrowing over time.
There are actually plenty of sub 100k mile S550 4matics available for under $20k. Here's a sampling:
https://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...=GN_REFINEMENT
#2186
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According to Edmunds.com (more reliable and realistic than KBB), a non option packaged 2007 black S550 4matic with 80k miles in Portland, OR in average condition has a private party value of $14,911.
#2188
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An impulsive buy by a reckless but earnest kid who didn't know his own limitations, but willing to take criticism and learn.
Not an easy fix for a set of tail lamps, a deck lid and bumper at $1000 including repairing both quarters with a mallet. But not a total disaster repair scenario either.
Very entertaining thread. How many threads run that long and spawn a Hollywood screenplay in the middle? I hope he keeps the car and gets to enjoy it for awhile. A lot of work just to flip it.
Not an easy fix for a set of tail lamps, a deck lid and bumper at $1000 including repairing both quarters with a mallet. But not a total disaster repair scenario either.
Very entertaining thread. How many threads run that long and spawn a Hollywood screenplay in the middle? I hope he keeps the car and gets to enjoy it for awhile. A lot of work just to flip it.
#2189
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Dave, a car is worth what i can buy (or sell) it for, not what some wonks say it's worth from their publishing office.
The cars.com link was a reasonable expression of FMV. And autotrader is another reasonable expression of FMV.
KBB and Edmunds are complete figments of the insurance industries imaginations. If I'm feeling generous. When I'm not feeling generous KBB and Edmunds are vile evil products produced covertly by the insurance industry to maliciously defraud claimants with fictional "values" far below any real marketplace.
Once you're under 20k for an S class, "branded title" means a whole lot less than you seem to think. There are plenty of people who understand that cars get "totalled" for lots of reasons, and many of them were easily repairable, but weren't for various reasons. Sometimes the adjuster cheats the claimant on FMV. sometimes the claimant is psychotic and things diminishment of value should be 10k on a 22k car. But once the claim is settled, there are a number of people who make a living picking up the salvages and "working them".
If there weren't, then the salvages wouldn't be selling for $11k.
The cars.com link was a reasonable expression of FMV. And autotrader is another reasonable expression of FMV.
KBB and Edmunds are complete figments of the insurance industries imaginations. If I'm feeling generous. When I'm not feeling generous KBB and Edmunds are vile evil products produced covertly by the insurance industry to maliciously defraud claimants with fictional "values" far below any real marketplace.
Once you're under 20k for an S class, "branded title" means a whole lot less than you seem to think. There are plenty of people who understand that cars get "totalled" for lots of reasons, and many of them were easily repairable, but weren't for various reasons. Sometimes the adjuster cheats the claimant on FMV. sometimes the claimant is psychotic and things diminishment of value should be 10k on a 22k car. But once the claim is settled, there are a number of people who make a living picking up the salvages and "working them".
If there weren't, then the salvages wouldn't be selling for $11k.
Last edited by nycphotography; 06-17-2016 at 12:00 AM.
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An impulsive buy by a reckless but earnest kid who didn't know his own limitations, but willing to take criticism and learn.
Not an easy fix for a set of tail lamps, a deck lid and bumper at $1000 including repairing both quarters with a mallet. But not a total disaster repair scenario either.
Very entertaining thread. How many threads run that long and spawn a Hollywood screenplay in the middle? I hope he keeps the car and gets to enjoy it for awhile. A lot of work just to flip it.
Not an easy fix for a set of tail lamps, a deck lid and bumper at $1000 including repairing both quarters with a mallet. But not a total disaster repair scenario either.
Very entertaining thread. How many threads run that long and spawn a Hollywood screenplay in the middle? I hope he keeps the car and gets to enjoy it for awhile. A lot of work just to flip it.
#2191
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Dave, a car is worth what i can buy (or sell) it for, not what some wonks say it's worth from their publishing office.
The cars.com link was a reasonable expression of FMV. And autotrader is another reasonable expression of FMV.
KBB and Edmunds are complete figments of the insurance industries imaginations. If I'm feeling generous. When I'm not feeling generous KBB and Edmunds are vile evil products produced covertly by the insurance industry to maliciously defraud claimants with fictional "values" far below any real marketplace.
Once you're under 20k for an S class, "branded title" means a whole lot less than you seem to think. There are plenty of people who understand that cars get "totalled" for lots of reasons, and many of them were easily repairable, but weren't for various reasons. Sometimes the adjuster cheats the claimant on FMV. sometimes the claimant is psychotic and things diminishment of value should be 10k on a 22k car. But once the claim is settled, there are a number of people who make a living picking up the salvages and "working them".
If there weren't, then the salvages wouldn't be selling for $11k.
The cars.com link was a reasonable expression of FMV. And autotrader is another reasonable expression of FMV.
KBB and Edmunds are complete figments of the insurance industries imaginations. If I'm feeling generous. When I'm not feeling generous KBB and Edmunds are vile evil products produced covertly by the insurance industry to maliciously defraud claimants with fictional "values" far below any real marketplace.
Once you're under 20k for an S class, "branded title" means a whole lot less than you seem to think. There are plenty of people who understand that cars get "totalled" for lots of reasons, and many of them were easily repairable, but weren't for various reasons. Sometimes the adjuster cheats the claimant on FMV. sometimes the claimant is psychotic and things diminishment of value should be 10k on a 22k car. But once the claim is settled, there are a number of people who make a living picking up the salvages and "working them".
If there weren't, then the salvages wouldn't be selling for $11k.
I disagree about your assessments of KBB and Edmunds. I believe Edmunds is a pretty accurate valuation tool, especially trade-in values as they do seem to follow auction prices fairly accurately. Market value of "some" cars can be off by quite a bit, especially specialty models like BMW's M cars and AMG's which usually bring higher prices than what those companies claim the values are. But Edmunds for regular cars is a good tool to use.
#2192
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Guys not all Nyc cars are driving in NYC!! plenty of open roads in Ny. And Long Island is a vast place. (also in Ny)
Daves just upset that his 07 s600 with a clean title is only worth 5k more...
Daves just upset that his 07 s600 with a clean title is only worth 5k more...
#2193
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But I'd still estimate about half the S550's in the NYC area are used for car services, and they know they're going to cycle them out at 85-100k miles.
So buying without provenance, you have to pretty much assume the worst. Particularly transmission services, brake fluid flushes, power steering flushes, and any ABC flushes likely never got done.
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I'll buy every 35k mile, brand new condition, full service record S600 with a 7 year warranty for $17k that I can get my hands on. Do you have any leads for me? I have a couple of buddies at work who said they'd pay $35-40k for that privilege. This would give me a great opportunity to turn a tidy profit.
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Manofsteelpt (06-18-2016)
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I know in the NW these cars seem to command a premium, maybe because outside of Seattle and Portland, there are not a lot of them. There are several brokers around here that buy cars cheap in Cali or the east coast and then truck them here for sale and seem to make a profit. Still, I doubt the OP will make more than a couple grand on this deal if that. And at some point you have to decide what your time is worth. Maybe he is gun shy about the first big breakdown that will erase any profit he could hope to make, or worse yet be upside down with a car big time.
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
I don't know how anyone can say Benzs55 is not a credit to this forum. There are several legit portions of this wonky thread that will be useful to members going forward. Regardless, on how he got to his intended outcome, he allowed us all to partake in the journey. This is exactly what the forum is for. Even some of the advice he did not follow will be helpful for someone else on a similiar path in the future.
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#2198
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True. Although the exact same thing could be said if he'd bought a baby alligator and decided to raise it in the bathtub of his apartment. Informative and entertaining, but probably not a great idea.
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The problem with "not a great idea" is that it is one of those value statements, you know an opinion, this is almost always expressed as if it were an absolute fact.
Maybe he knew he was willing to risk the $14k for the learning experience? Maybe he understood that if the whole thing went boom, he could still part it out and come out almost flat?
Maybe, and here's a really shocking thought that nobody on the internet ever seems able to grasp, maybe he knows his own circumstances better than we do? GASP! NO, that can't be possible. I mean we KNOW it's a bad idea. We KNOW he's an idiot. We KNOW all sorts of stuff...... that we don't actually know but we sure like to think we do.
THAT is my problem with the "it's a bad idea" judgement in general. It's arrogant. It's presumptive. And even though it's right for the speaker, and maybe even actuarially right in general, it completely dehumanizes the individual its being directed at by assuming them to be average, normal, and/or not capable of directing their own life and their own results.
Maybe he knew he was willing to risk the $14k for the learning experience? Maybe he understood that if the whole thing went boom, he could still part it out and come out almost flat?
Maybe, and here's a really shocking thought that nobody on the internet ever seems able to grasp, maybe he knows his own circumstances better than we do? GASP! NO, that can't be possible. I mean we KNOW it's a bad idea. We KNOW he's an idiot. We KNOW all sorts of stuff...... that we don't actually know but we sure like to think we do.
THAT is my problem with the "it's a bad idea" judgement in general. It's arrogant. It's presumptive. And even though it's right for the speaker, and maybe even actuarially right in general, it completely dehumanizes the individual its being directed at by assuming them to be average, normal, and/or not capable of directing their own life and their own results.
Last edited by nycphotography; 06-20-2016 at 02:10 PM.
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