I am thinking of purchasing a flood damage.

Tiny
LYNDAALVAREZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 MERCEDES BENZ R350
  • 90,200 MILES
I am thinking of purchasing a flood damage Mercedes R320CDI ( I could not find the model listed in the heading). Would it be safe to say to change all electrical wiring and brain computers from a wreck vehicle to have longevity with this vehicle? Estimated hour labor?
Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AT 10:13 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
LYNDAALVAREZ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
What would be your suggestion in buying these car from a salvage recovery insurance yard, Mercedes Benz is the better machinery to survive a flood, taken the proper precautions.
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AT 10:24 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
I believe that you will be the owner of a money pit if you do this. Even changing from a donor car, which will still be very expensive, down thew road you will have nothing but electrical issues that you will be fighting forever.

I suggest looking for a high mileage model you want rather than this. The value is maybe 50% of any book value and it will be even harder to insure.

Think hard about this before commiting

Roy
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AT 10:28 PM
Tiny
LYNDAALVAREZ
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Ok, what should I look for in the salvage yard that has front in and rear in damage and repairable? I am looking for a diesle merceds only to change into a vegetable car.
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AT 10:32 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Thats a much better choice, I dont know what model you want but call around to salvage yards and tell them what you are looking for

Roy
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AT 10:46 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
With my experience in Cadillacs day, and with water leaks totally flooded floorboards. I agree with ASE on this one. After the repair they come back I stripped the interior again totally and find connectors with green corrosion allover the wiring pins and connectors. I doubt whether any of the computers were damaged but you'll have to remove all interior take on the connectors apart thoroughly clean them with wiring contact cleaner. Also you will need to replace the carpeting because it smelled like funk. When the jute [noise insulator] on the back of the carpet gets wet. So you will need new carpeting as well. You could go pull all the wiring harnesses out of another car at the junkyard that go along the floorboard. But then you have the nightmare of removing and installing the wiring in your car as well as the carpet so you need to pick your poison either way. While guys see you around
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Friday, April 5th, 2013 AT 4:22 AM

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