Hello everyone,
As business moves forward with Oliden Group, I would like to check on whether there is any interest on developing a PPI network across the USA. In the six years that I have been on Peachparts I have met many exceptional individuals, and would like this wonderful community to form part of my business, if willing.

What's a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) network?
Simple. Most mechanics are NOT mobile, or familiar with the peculiarities/rust nooks of old Mercedes. When a car is advertised anywhere in the USA and need someone to look at it, I require a fast response and a knowledgeable visual inspection.

What am I expected to do?
—Look at chosen local cars, test drive (if possible), take pictures, follow a simple item check-list and take notes. Just as you would if you were to buy the car for yourself.
—If it checks like a good car, collect and send bill of sale, note down seller's info and hand in deposit.

What are the requirements?
—A minimum degree of seniority in the PeachParts community.
—A minimum familiarity with mechanical components (duh!)
—Schedule with enough free time to check out a car, should one arise.
—An absolute degree of trust, integrity and professionalism.
—A vehicle that won't dry your wallet (+22MPG).
—A camera/Smartphone that can take pictures.
—The ability to upload and send pictures and pdf's via email.
—A Whatsapp number (easy to get, it's a free phone app).
—A Paypal account.
—A Skype account is nice but not mandatory.

Compensation
Transportation costs are paid in advance, PPI compensation is paid after the PPI report is handed in. We can negotiate speficic PPI cost one-to-one. All is done through Paypal, unless you feel utterly uncomfortable and prefer other method.

My mailbox is approaching maximum capacity, so please send me an email instead. My address is olidengroup (at) gmail (dot) com.

I hope many of you join me in this entrepreneurial adventure!

MODERATORS: if this post violates PeachPart's rules, please delete it or move it to a relevant location. I am aware it's a little bit unusual, so I apologize in advance.

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

I would be game. I know about W123s. I am OK driving up to 100 miles to investigate an automobile. I have driven as far as northern VA to check one out. I need to sharpen my technology skills, but I have my son who is a computer / electronic geek.

Great idea!

Fantastic! If you have a smartphone, Whatsapp is very much like Facebook Messenger. It's a free instant-message application to get info in real time.



Sent you a PM!

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

LOL .. I have an old school flip phone.

BUT, I have a nice digital camera now and I can operate that. I have a video camera which I am working on. Started videotaping my injector rebuilds (son is filming of course). I would suggest both photos and video. I would video tape the drive so you can "feel" the car and hear it too. Photos work for certain things too. I suggest at least 15-30 minutes once over the car. Also, folks seem to gravitate to a certain model. Having folks which "know" about their car and broken down by models may be helpful. Just my .02 cents.

I also thought of this. If you could get the moderators to make a sticky, you could have a map of the USA where members are located and their "zones" of operation. So, you could draw a circle around Columbia, SC for example which extends 50 to 100 miles, et cet. which would touch most of SC since Columbia is in the middle, sort of. I could reach Augusta, and Charlotte, NC also.

I'm game. Not much action here in the Panhandle, but whenever a classic mbz pops up, i'm all over it!

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1982 300TDT
1991 190D
2022 Metris

Yeah, there's a very low likelihood that nice cars pop up in remote areas... but you know that when they do, they sometimes make it to the national news!

I PM'd you.

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Well there's someone I know in Holland who might help out...

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Interested in getting more specific info on the compensation package? Dallas - Fort Worth, and perhaps other parts/cities in Texas/surrounding States. PM your specifics.

Hey Skid Row Joe, your privacy settings do not allow me to send you a PM. You can send me an email to olidengroup(at)gmail(dot)com and we'll get talking.

Thank you everyone so far! I am preparing the info package.

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

I can offer the following:

I won't need to charge for the mileage. I plan on boot strapping the drive for other purposes to head out in a particular direction, so I would not double dip so to speak unless I am driving way into the country into Tim-Buk-Two.

BUT, I would like to get paid for my time. So, if I spend 1 hour checking out a car and filming it, photographing it, and another hour uploading a video, uploading pictures, and providing whatever that is needed in writing and the EPC check, then 2 hours is the "bill". I am thinking $25 bucks an hour is OK by me since I am tossing in the driving for free. If it's PP, then add 4%. I can also mail to the person a copy of the film on a CDR along with the photos. I would take a few hundred snappies. That is at no extra charge, so USPS priority mail at $5.75 and the price of a disc is included in the $50.00. I think that is fair for a decent once-over of a car.

The only issue for me is figuring out a "quick" method to upload videos. I have successfully uploaded a few videos (finally) on YouTube, but it took forever.

So, Miguel, any ideas on speeding up the uploading process? I am thinking that if a person is really interested in a car and willing to pay another, they want that info ASAP.

If a person wants a COPART review in super detail, then that would only be $25.00 since COPART in Gaston, SC is only 30 minutes from me and I sort of enjoy going there to check out cars, et cet. Same as above, I would upload a video, and take 200+ pictures so the buyer really knows what they are buying. I would need to tack on $7 bucks for the disk and postage if the person wanted that.

However, any car review that I would do would be virtually the same as if the person was there checking out the car himself.

Oh my - final salary pensions - company cars - cash for strippers - complimentary visits to the UAE! What a club!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

PM sent.

BUMP

Florida covered.

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed