E500 worth buying back?

[speeder]

The best thing to do with a totlaled car, assuming the drivetrain/interior/etc. is good and you get it cheap, is to use the parts to make another good car. One with a clean title, no accident history but maybe a blown engine or something. Then sell off whatever you can quickly liquidate and crush it.

[Adam]

Obligatory.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

It looks like my friend is getting $15K for the car and can buy it back for $2500. he wants to know if he should and then we could part it out. I can see $5K to even $10K net from parting the car, but I think it would take a year and would probably all go on eBay, which sucks.

Any thoughts on it being worthwhile to part out? I don't think so.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

It looks like my friend is getting $15K for the car and can buy it back for $2500. he wants to know if he should and then we could part it out. I can see $5K to even $10K net from parting the car, but I think it would take a year and would probably all go on eBay, which sucks.

Any thoughts on it being worthwhile to part out? I don't think so.

If this is his first rodeo in scrappin' a car, without help he is just going to end up with some new lawn art. If he is good with tools and likes to get his hands dirty, then he might make some coin.

If you are going to help him and would provide most of the know how and elbow grease, work out the pay scale before you start. Your time is worth something and he needs to realize this now. Storage isn't cheap either. There is a chance to make money but it requires effort from both parties. Ask yourself now if your friendship is good enough to survive if this goes south.

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

It looks like my friend is getting $15K for the car and can buy it back for $2500. he wants to know if he should and then we could part it out. I can see $5K to even $10K net from parting the car, but I think it would take a year and would probably all go on eBay, which sucks.

Any thoughts on it being worthwhile to part out? I don't think so.

I would buy it back at that price and part it. The key is whether he has the time and space to part it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've parted something like 10 911s down to surgically cutting complex panels for rust repair. I would do most of it and make most of the profit.

Is there a ready market for these parts? I can make an 84 911 disappear in 30 to 60 days. but there's an enthusiastic market that is easy to reach. late E500s?

[MRM]

Not that I know of. I know people who use the next model of E-550s for fun winter cars up here and love them. I was going to get one and found that while they are not common, 2007-2009 E-550s are about a $20,000 car buying at retail from a used car dealer. In my opinion the upgrades in 07 to the E-550 make them a much more attractive car than the 06 and older E-500.

I don't see a real cult following for that car. I think anyone who buys it is just looking for cheap, classy transport and is likely to dump it when it needs something major. Maybe that means there is a demand for used parts but I don't see it being worth your while.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Mike, that's what I thought. have a nice weekend!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by speeder

The best thing to do with a totlaled car, assuming the drivetrain/interior/etc. is good and you get it cheap, is to use the parts to make another good car. One with a clean title, no accident history but maybe a blown engine or something. Then sell off whatever you can quickly liquidate and crush it.

This is the truth....

[speeder]

Where you are seeing $5-10k in easily sold parts is beyond me. As someone who has a storage facility full of valuable MB parts that don't seem to sell, I see a couple grand from the engine and maybe another g from the trans, assuming they are documented low mileage and still in the car to be started/tested with odometer present. And I'm not sure that there is any real market for that engine, ie. why would someone need a new one?

Other than the drivetrain and maybe the wheels, you're going to have a long sit with the rest. You are competing with guys whose ancestors have been doing this since the time of Christ and they generally are in it for the real estate angle.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I thought $5K would come from drivetrain and suspension. All are new from Mercedes. the 4Matic in good working order must be worth $1K.

Anyway, thanks for your help, it's going away on Monday.