I am considering buying a low-milage 94 SL that has been water damaged (flooded).
It currently has a rebuildable title, and my understanding is that most of the electrics work, with the exception of the power seats, and the engine runs, but poorly.
Presuming the price IS right (it will have to be to make this worthwhile), what should I be looking for before I plunk down my cash.

Thanks, Barry

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Barry

Unless you are going to buy it for Parts! You will have numerous problems and you will never resell it.

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2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

Another car!

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Dale, R129
W202

I would not recommend any car with a flood damage! Not only you will have a hard time to sell it, the car may be plagued with problems. I will never recommend anyone to buy a SL unless it comes with Starmark warrenty. Everything on this car is expensive.


95 R129
98 W163

I have a bridge you might e interested in. This is a loosing proposition. You will have an easier time selling cancer than this car. Corrosion in the electrical system will be the biggest problem. It spreads like cancer.

I know a guy who bought a BMW 850 real cheap, or so he thought. Three years later, it still won't run.

Run, run like the wind!

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Mr. BILL

91 300E 120K
90 300SE 275K (sold)
92 BMW 525iM 120K
90 BMW 525iA 175K
85 300D 175K (sold)
84 300SD 245K (sold)

Now HANG ON A MINUTE, GUYS! Don't jump to conclusions until we've heard the details! How deep did the water get? If it only got up to the floorboards, probably no problem except for the wheel bearings and center bearing. If it got up to the top of the seats, probably no problem except for the console switches, shifter switch, taillights, etc. If it got any higher, don't even think about it! SOMETIMES a deal like this can work out, but you need to know what you are going to have to deal with up front, cause all those electrics are expensive, even more so than the mechanical stuff. If it got high enough to cause engine problems, it probably got too high. If the price is right, it might work out as a parts/sheetmetal car, though...

Richard Wooldridge

A few things to consider:

- Most states require a designation to be placed on the title of a car that has incurred significant flood damage. This follows the car around for the rest of its life and will greatly suppress resale value, not only for the current owner, but for you, no matter how effectively (or expensively) you repair this car.

- Water immersion plays hell on a car when water enters oil pans, automatic transmissions (clutch packs hate water), differentials, hydraulic brake systems, etc. If the car entered the water briefly, and was IMMEDIATELY brought to a shop to drain and replenish ALL fluids you would have a fighting chance. If not, corrosion damage has already occurred in/on iron and steel components in these systems.

- Upholstery and sound insulation pads soaked by flood water and left to mildew will acquire interesting aromas that, sans replacement, cannot be effectively eliminated.

- Outside of other Mercedes models, I am at a loss to come up with another vehicle that has more wiring, sensors, switches and relays than a W129 Mercedes. All of these components are vulnerable to water damage and therefore a shortened life. Have you ever heard of Chinese Water Torture? The German variant involves the random (but premature)failure of these components over the next few years on a flood-damaged Mercedes.

In my opinion, the price is NEVER right on a flood car that is as complex and expensive to repair as this one will be. Run! Buy an older 560 SL if you want a Mercedes SL but don't want to (or can't) spend the money to buy a W129 that wasn't flooded. Even a 1990 300SL with 150,000 flood-free miles will be more trouble free and hold a higher percentage of it's value over the rest of its life than the car you are considering.

Good luck on your search for a good used SL. They're out there and affordable for almost any budget. Be selective, and you won't regret it.

A friend of mine bought a brand new BMW at what he thought was a steal. This car was flooded with fresh water from a ruptured water line. In the next 5 years he equaled the cost of the vehicle in part replacement. The scary part in flooded vehicles is that wholesalers can wash the flood titles and total salvage titles by applying for new titles in states where a clean title is issued. Run as fast as you can from this vehicle.
John

bbrewer,

I took apart the complete electrical system of my C class and this was kind of: "just for fun".
NEVER would I buy myself a flooded car with the intention to drive it myself or sell it...
If the car were flooded entirely, I would turn and walk in the opposite direction! It will bring you nothing but trouble...and trouble with a R129 SL will always turn out expensive.

greetingz,

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1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

i drove a fresh water flood 250k miles with no problem. the water got to the middle of the door in a flash flood in texas. i bought the car at a insurance pool sale, replaced the computer(under the seat) and the car is still going. the car was only in the water 30 minutes or so cause i called the original owner. the title was marked flood damage. all states conform to marked titles now, that follow to other states.

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85 300 sd 168k current driver
85 300 sd parts
81 380 sl 125k
84 190 d 160k just bought!

Was the car and SL or another model?

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Dale, R129
W202

im sorry i should have said the car was not an m-b. it was a honda accord, the point being there is hope for certain situations. in fact in my experience their is big demand for flood salvage. if the price was right i would try to get the car checked out and then decide to keep it or not. most insurance adjusters know what to look for.

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85 300 sd 168k current driver
85 300 sd parts
81 380 sl 125k
84 190 d 160k just bought!