Epic junkyard visit

[speeder]

Actually an insurance auction lot. This is where totaled cars go to rest before being put on the chopping block. Coparts is a national company with sites all over the place, this is just one Los Angeles area lot.

I went to look at an old MB parts car that I was thinking about bidding on, good thing I put eyes on it first because I do not want it now. What I saw when I got there blew my mind a little. Any luxury or sports car you can imagine, some with really minor or no apparent damage. A lady in the office told me that some of them were flood cars from hurricane Sandy, they are shipping them all over the country because there are so many of them.

A few of what I saw, and no I do not know the story behind any of them. They would all be on coparts's website with description of damage, though.

New Fiskar:


Every type of bike, including a BMW R1200GS and a bunch of Ducs:



Bentleys up the wazoo plus all this:





Cayman S:

[speeder]

914 engine fire, how rare:


And forget all the bad things I said about Corvettes, I would so drive this biotch:

[Bill Douglas]

Blimmin' 'mericans wastin all that good stuff.

Here in New Zealand we would get a tub of autobody filler and a bit of sandpaper...

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Blimmin' 'mericans wastin all that good stuff.

Here in New Zealand we would get a tub of autobody filler and a bit of sandpaper...

dont forget the no. 8 wire.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Blimmin' 'mericans wastin all that good stuff.

Here in New Zealand we would get a tub of autobody filler and a bit of sandpaper...

Oh, don't worry. These will all stay on the road. Maybe not the 914.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

dont forget the no. 8 wire.

LOL





Number 8 wire. That's what we would use for major chassis repair.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Damn, that's some temptation right there. But I honestly can't imagine the potential problems when you mix salt water and ECUs.

[speeder]

These cars pictured are not necessarily cars that have gotten wet.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yeah, but they're all there for a reason. If they're cosmetically perfect, flood damage is a pretty safe assumption.

[speeder]

Maybe, but I don't know how a car that has been submerged even to the floorboards could not show it really obviously. The Corvette is the only car pictured w/o accident damage and it smelled and looked like a new car.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I've heard of cases where entire lots full of brand new cars were totaled without any inspection due to the potential liability of selling a "flood damaged" car. A friend of mine does Hummer diesel conversions and loves the things, he picked up a brand new H3 with under 20 miles and a salvage title, it still even had the plastic on the seats. Turned out that the car lot was flooded, and even though this H3 didn't even get water to differential level it was totaled with everything else. Some cars on the lot did have legitimate damage so they totaled them all. Not a bad deal if you are careful.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Damn, that's some temptation right there. But I honestly can't imagine the potential problems when you mix salt water and ECUs.

Yep, a Sandy victim at a local shop, Dennis, how would you like to have this





How wet do you think it got

[onewhippedpuppy]

I wonder if a G-wagen carries the ECUs high enough that you might be ok? I know that Jeep Wranglers don't have much of anything mounted on the floor. Assuming that it didn't get mostly submerged, you might have a fighting chance.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I wonder if a G-wagen carries the ECUs high enough that you might be ok? I know that Jeep Wranglers don't have much of anything mounted on the floor. Assuming that it didn't get mostly submerged, you might have a fighting chance.

Water was as high as the dash

Sad loss.............

[intakexhaust]

Seems a big risk getting any used part these days. How does anyone know a component, rebuilt or not came from a salt laden car?

Funny this thread started as just yesterday, someone I know who buys used MB on a regular basis mentioned his bud. He picked up some late model salvaged title SL with a 5.5L V12 for dirt cheap. What dirt cheap is I don't know, but apparently is driving it.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I wonder if a G-wagen carries the ECUs high enough that you might be ok? I know that Jeep Wranglers don't have much of anything mounted on the floor. Assuming that it didn't get mostly submerged, you might have a fighting chance.

Who needs an ECU? Throw some carbs on there and drive it.

[manbridge 74]

Love junkyard threads. Here in CO, they'd get a ticket to China or Mexico.

Lazy americans doesn't even come close, but any more said is all PARFY.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Love junkyard threads. Here in CO, they'd get a ticket to China or Mexico.

Lazy americans doesn't even come close, but any more said is all PARFY.

It's common to take them across the border, fix them for cheap, then bring them back to the USA for resale. Over the years I've encountered LOTS of poorly written "se habla espanol" Craigslist ads for salvage title cars in TX.

[Gene-o]

Is anyone seeing the irony of a flooded out G-Wagen? Weren't they supposed to be driven in water up to the dash? It's an army vehicle!!!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Gene-o

Is anyone seeing the irony of a flooded out G-Wagen? Weren't they supposed to be driven in water up to the dash? It's an army vehicle!!!

If you submerge your 4x4 while fording a creek, you are doing it wrong.