I purchased a preowned certified 1991 Mercedes 300E from RBM in Atlanta back in 1997. Today I just found out from Auto Check that it was a salvaged and rebuilt car. RBM presented it to me that it was owned by a person in Alabama and was in great condition.

Is this common? I would like to sell the car. Should I just sell it for parts? It has 150,000 miles on it.

I feel completely betrayed by RBM and they took advantage of me.

Help? What should I do? Should I report this to the Better Business Bureau? Is this common?

You've owned the car since 1997? Have you many problems with it?

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Does the Title you have in hand have "salvage" or "rebuilt" on it?

Sounds like 10 years is a good run for any car, and yours is regarded as one of the best built and most reliable and durable of the newer Mercedes cars.

How reliable is Autochex?
I don't know really, but mistakes can be made sometimes. I had a Ford where later CARFAX reported the mileage incorrectly, because the smog tech who worked on the car typed in the mileage incorrectly, and 113,000 miles showed up as 131,000 forever after on CARFAX due to that mistake.

Are you just panicking because you discovered "salvage title" on Autochex and want to get rid of the car, or is there some other reason to sell it?

A salvage title can occur for many reasons. Flood cars are the worst, rebuilt accident cars are bad, but sometimes theft recoveries are ones with replaced parts sometimes and can be all right.

It is true that "Salvage title" often degrades the resale value of a car up to 50% and rightly so, for often they are rebuilt junkers, but they can still be good cars in some cases, though not flood cars.

Junking a good running car with a salvage title is not necessary.

As for RBM, if it is true they knowingly and willfully sold you a salvage car and represented it is not salvage, perhaps there would be legal recourse, ............ten years ago, but unlikely, now.

New car dealers don't traffic in salvage cars because to do so would ruin their reputation.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Actually, not very many. I did the regular maintance and had an extended warranty.

Jim B,

I thought it was a good car for 10 years and the reason I am selling it now is that I am taking care of my 82 year old mother. We live together but have to pay for a caregiver to stay with her while I work and travel. Her meds are very costly. I am living the healthcare crisis in America with my Mom.

The title I have is clean. But on this report, on 3/27/97 the title shows ReBuild /ReBuildable and then on 4/18/97 the title with the same number does not have Rebuild listed. Do you think this is a mistake?

Thanks for your feedback.

Run a CARFAX to double check. If it comes through as salvage car, make sure you note that in your ad. Most people these days run checks, so it's in your best interest. Show all your receipts (or therelackof) to potential buyers and extol the virtues of this car.

There's a very nice '91 300E FS near me. 79k miles for $8500. All services completed. That said you're looking at most a few grand.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Thanks The Swede! I will go to CarFax to confirm.

Let us know what happens. I work with new/used car dealers (managers and salespeople) and wholesalers everyday.

There are some decent guy/gals out there

A good deal of them, however, have such low self esteem, self loathing and of course money-centric egos, that they will do just about anything to sell a car. When I overhear sales people talking to customers, it makes me cringe. Especially when I know the story behind the car.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

The car might not be a salvage or rebuilt title car at all.

It is hard to say from the information given on the report, which with two entries is conflicting. Obviously, one is a mistake.

One of the sources for that information is that reported to companies like CARFAX and AUTOCHEX by insurance companies. Perhaps, a mistake was made, it does happen.

I am sorry you are contemplating selling it (though your honesty about the salvage issue is commendable), so I guess, disclosing it is a good thing, but you will get hammerred on the price because of it.

The fact that the vehicle MIGHT be a salvage vehicle is highly mitigated by the fact that you received ten years of satisfactory service from it, though.

A good esample of a '91 300E can be expected to last for hundreds of thousands of miles, as the inline six engine they had were excellent, and overall the 300E was an excelllent car.

I apologize if I pried by asking why you sold it but only thought a panic sale on a possibly flawed reason might be unwise. If there is any way to hold onto the car, I think you should consider doing so. Considering what you would get to replace it, and what it would bring in resale right now, and what buying another car would involve in costs and risk, versus a known 300E that served you well for 10 years is a slam dunk in my opinion.

Also, the '91 300E is a HUGELY safe car, which is a great argument to keep one. It was far ahead of its contemporaries for that, and protects its occupants in ways other cars simply can't, especially in grave accidents.

Of course if you own two or more cars and this one is surplusage, that is another matter to think about.

The "real" cost is in the end measured in cost per mile, and probably you have done well with that car on that basis.

The issue of health care and our seniors is a difficult and often tragic one in this country (know this personally!) so I can only offer my best wishes to you in that regard, my own beloved folks passed last year, at 92 years of age within two weeks of one another going, being married 64 years can do that I guess.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

If paper (interntet trails) lead to more confusion, take it to a good body shop and have them look it over. If it's clean, get a letter from them and a few other shops saying it's not a salvage vehicle.

I don't know how one would correct a mistake on a vehicle history report (?)

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Jim B,

Thanks for your reply. I have loved my benz for a long time. I appreciate your advice and I am not hating RBM as much now as I did earlier. Ok...maybe I still hate them. Today was a shocker and I sincerely did not know what to do. Finding you and The Swede on this site has really helped me.

You are so right about the impact on the price. Do you think I should go to the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Georgia to see if he can help me get more information?

Also, I am sorry to hear about the passing of your parents. It is really tough. Nothing ever really prepares you. We just have to do the best we can.

Thanks again for your help and kindness!

The Swede,

You are so right about car sales people. This was my first car I negotiated and purchased for myself. I went to college with the sales manager at RBM at that time and thought he would take care of me. YIKES! I was so wrong. I am sure he was laughing all the way to the bank. I think he moved to California shortly after. I probably financed his move and living for a while.

I do have a shop that I can take the car to inspect it. I am sure they will give me a letter if the inspection is clean. Great suggestion.

I appreciate you and Jim B helping me. Thanks again!