HappyAndy wrote: When you get it for less than scrap price, its hard to call it a stupid move.
When you pay $3k+ for a rebuilt transmission for it I know what I would call it...
HappyAndy wrote: When you get it for less than scrap price, its hard to call it a stupid move.
When you pay $3k+ for a rebuilt transmission for it I know what I would call it...
In reply to 2002maniac:
Stop trying to harsh his cool. Wouldn't transmission 'sploded time == cheap domestic V8 & trans swap time?
You could do this thing up a lot of different ways on the cheap and have a lot of fun with it. Good purchase. And thank-you for the tips on how to buy cheap!
ok - more story please - if the seller says blown engine, why would you be pretty sure it ran fine? I get confused. In wheeler dealer land a 2,000 boxster with a non-working transmission turns out to need fluid and a filter and works perfectly well. A benz with a "blown" motor needs a $15 switch to run. In my world the blown engines are real. Although I'm guessing, lots of patience and being ready to act play a big part...
That's the thing–there was no more story.
Here's the ad:
Seller said: 1989 Gold Mercedes Benz station wagon TE 500 bucks great car, gold, leather interior, automatic locks and windows, automatic transmission, sunroof, nicely maintained. 267000 miles, Call Sierra and leave a message if I'm at work. Thanks :) Since sitting it has developed an engine issue..Needs timing belt or starter. Turns on but smoking. Im unable to fix it, Must sell
http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/4653574802.html
Diagnosis makes no sense, and there are no pictures.
When I texted her, she said it had a blown engine and was being sold as-is. Wasn't really very good at texting or emailing, and couldn't call. So, I figured it was just something simple–these engines are pretty reliable, and she obviously wasn't up to the task of diagnosing anything. When I turned the key in park and nothing happened, then it turned over in neutral, I knew what it was. The smoke is nonexistent–simply the product of a car sitting too long and being driven too little. It was just running rich at startup.
And yes, it's luck and patience, too.
I will be watching the board like a hawk for the day it's ready for a new owner. I can haz when you're done?
I think I posted in the build forum section my 2002 wrx find for $1500. Sure, it had a blown motor, but it also had about $2k in parts I could sell off.
Tom posted what you need. Cash in hand, trailer/a way to remove it immediately, and a knack for spotting easy fixes.
I once bought a mk3 golf that needed the switch behind the ignition cylinder to be replaced. I bought it for $1500, sold it for $2800. Needed a $50 part.
Tom Suddard wrote: Yes, it has the 3rd row seat. The answer for how you buy a car like this? Time and effort. I take 20 min a day and look at what's cheap on Craigslist, and look at something a few times a month or so just for fun. This ad didn't say what car it was or have any pictures, but it was local so I grabbed a buddy and went to look at it just for sport. I had little intention of buying it. When I look at something, I come with cash, a trailer, and a friendly, honest attitude. "I'll give you cash right now and it'll be gone in five minutes" is a remarkably good negotiating tactic. I brought the trailer for this one, even though I was pretty sure it ran fine, because it just so clearly shows that you are the solution to their problem, and they know they won't get a call 30 minutes later asking for a refund. I also take the time to show the seller exactly why I'm offering what I'm offering. In this case, I showed her that it ran fine (she didn't seem to understand). I also took the time to pull interior panels and show her the cockroaches. That dropped the price A LOT.
Great advice - I used exactly this system to talk a guy down from $3K to $2K on my current DD (2003 Golf).
Showed up with cash, a tow dolly and the costs related to each repair (my brother gave it a quick look for me as it was a 300 km drive).
I'm still trying to figure out the stupid part. :) Wash it, Bug bomb it, and fix the neutral switch and sell for $1800. Pocket the 1200-1300 profit.
bmw88rider wrote: I'm still trying to figure out the stupid part. :) Wash it, Bug bomb it, and fix the neutral switch and sell for $1800. Pocket the 1200-1300 profit.
+1. Before something expensive blows up.
DARN! JUST UPPED MY INVESTMENT.
Total spent: $310
It took me splitting the title transfer fee ($120) with her in order to get the title straightened out. Long story short, she didn't have a title in her name and had no idea what to do. I'm a little peeved I had to pay some of the fee after the bill of sale said $250 with a clear title, but she didn't really have the means to make it happen otherwise. Oh well, we both left happy and I now have a title!
Lack of a trailer and a garage has probably saved my marriage more times than I will ever know. I still look though.
chrispy wrote: Lack of a trailer and a garage has probably saved my marriage more times than I will ever know. I still look though.
You ain't kidding brother!
bmw88rider wrote: I'm still trying to figure out the stupid part. :) Wash it, Bug bomb it, put a big red sized lexusequese December to remember bow on it and give to wife for Christmas, profit.
fixed! bonus points for monoblocks and 5% tint as well.
See, and now I'm thinking about how I don't have a trailer or a truck to pull stuff with and I don't know what friend I'd rope into something like that because I really don't know any folks interested in cars like this that are local. So that kind of stinks.
You wanna see stupid? I can show you stupid.Well done young Suddard.
Was it centrally located?? Ahhh just messing with you Tommy! Good score, seller could have gotten more than that for scrap value. Let us know how it goes.
Beats my $300 Mercedes. Next I need to find one for $200.
Tom Suddard wrote: But it's cool, no?
It's cool, yes.
Great score
I had a grand in mine with a fresh trans so it can be done, I sold it for 2400 to the first person who looked at it also.
Nice score!
pres589 wrote: See, and now I'm thinking about how I don't have a trailer or a truck to pull stuff with and I don't know what friend I'd rope into something like that because I really don't know any folks interested in cars like this that are local. So that kind of stinks.
AAA Gold gets you THREE 100 mile tows per year for $90. I think Platinum is something like 5+ for $130, but I never had to upgrade. Use the same AAA tow company and if you get a good one ask for the same guy. By the second tow he'll be calling you with scores=instafriend for going on crazy car buying adventures with. Bonus: you now know a guy with a tow truck!
Tom - not stupid! Not at all. I've had my W124 sedan for about three years now, and it's my favorite car that I've ever owned. Full disclosure: I, uh, didn't pay $250 for mine...
If the transmission does pack up, you can get a freshly rebuilt one for $1750 on exchange from Sun Valley. They have an excellent reputation on the benzworld W124 subforum.
Speaking of the W124 subforum on benzworld, that's a good place to go check out. Also, bookmark this: a fully indexed W124 shop manual.
Anyway, that looks like a great find. Looks like the self leveling suspension works, too, that's great.
If it's a 4-matic, though, you should have known better.
Why am I thinking that would make a really cool race car. Gutted suspension worked over. Add standard trans roll cage. Some sort of motor swap.
nice score. One of my bucket list cars.
By the way not stupid on your part. I would say brilliant is the proper description of what you did.
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