salvage titles - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lyle_H · #1 01-22-2007, 04:17 AM

ok boys...i am getting ready to bite on the 84 euro 500 in a month. she is in and out of the doctor in northridge, ca prior to my purchase with no issues

if i say that the owner tells me that she has a salvage title and no maintenane records from the previos owner...is that an automatic STAY AWAY FROM ME SIGN???

i was taken aback by the no maintenance records...owner tells me female owned and SALVAGE TITLE due to auction....

opinions please....

lyle

lyle_H · #2 01-22-2007, 04:48 AM

i just got the CARFAX report for the gray market mercedes that i am looking at....it came back clean...the only knock was that it failed california emissions one time but has passed the last two times/...

no accidents...no frame damage...no other flags..

do i still stay away from it because of a salvage title??

opinions are appreciated..

lyle in fresno, california

nhdoc · #3 01-22-2007, 06:59 AM

Just because carfax doesn't say there was an accident doesn't mean there wasn't one. Salvage title is always a big red flag and you should try to find out from DMV why the car has one. Some states have the reason right on the title.

You can try to call your insurance company and see what the implications are to getting insurance. Some companies won't insure salvage title cars at all and some require an inspection before they will. In any event, if you do buy a salvage title car keep in mind it is very hard to sell one and make sure the price is adjusted accordingly to make it worth your while.

Personally, I'd avoid a salvage title car unless it was free...or practically free.

robaincltnc · #4 01-22-2007, 07:15 AM

A friend, who buys for a local dealer, says he would give someone half of wholesale book value for a salvage title only if it was a trade situation where he was making good money on the other end.

Arthur Dalton · #5 01-22-2007, 07:49 AM

Watch out for flood cars..there have been a flood of them lately due to weather conditions of the last 2 years.......

TX76513 · #6 01-22-2007, 08:55 AM

Don't need to be in an accident to get a salvage title. The car could have been scrapped to a Salvage yard - then purchased by someone as a donor car. The salvage yard will issue a salvage title as they are not a used/new car dealer. That rule is consistent through much of the US.

Like many of the older MB we see in the yards. These cars blow a motor and are beyond the owners resources to invest $8 -10K to repower. The bodies and interiors are sometimes great and are used as a donor.

Flood cars - many cars in this area were salvaged because they were exposed to flood waters. Quite a few of these vehicles did not have any interior water damage but were exposed to "contaminated water". Look and see where the salvage title was issued.

POS · #7 01-22-2007, 09:17 AM

If you buy a salvaged car, you can expect to keep it forever - most people, me included, won't buy one unless to part it.

gmercoleza · #8 01-22-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

If you buy a salvaged car, you can expect to keep it forever - most people, me included, won't buy one unless to part it.

Ditto.

deanyel · #9 01-22-2007, 10:21 AM

CarFax doesn't really know whether it's been in an accident. Fraud is "a false and material misrepresentation made by one who either knows its falsity or is ignorant of its truth". Carfax is only saying it hasn't been in an accident to the extent of their knowledge, and their knowledge is scant. This is why they were successfully sued for violating the consumer protection laws of all 50 states. Selling a salvage title car is incredible frustrating and difficult. Plan to either a) keep it forever, or 2) part it out.

mrwvo · #10 01-22-2007, 12:02 PM

One of my 300sd's has a salvage title. It was salvaged because someone hit the rear light on the car - and insurance decided to scrap it. Talked to the dmv after I bought it, they said once the light is fixed, pay 50 for inspection and it can be on the road again. I did that, and my car is just as good as any other, just had that minor issue that is resloved.

Hatterasguy · #11 01-22-2007, 12:10 PM

I wouldn't touch it. No records plus salvage title equals big money project car, and with that title its not worth it.

Nice W126's are cheap these days, don't mess with junk.

gmercoleza · #12 01-22-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrwvo

One of my 300sd's has a salvage title. It was salvaged because someone hit the rear light on the car - and insurance decided to scrap it. Talked to the dmv after I bought it, they said once the light is fixed, pay 50 for inspection and it can be on the road again. I did that, and my car is just as good as any other, just had that minor issue that is resloved.

Your experience is not typical. As a result, most people run when they hear salvage title. If you get a smokin' deal and know the history, it might not matter.

msethk · #13 01-22-2007, 03:44 PM

if your concerned, have a professional inspect the car. i have owned and fixed a number of salvage titled cars and have had the work done professionally and they are like new. the thing you might want to be concerned about is a car that appears to have been damaged and does NOT have a salvage title. not all wrecked cars go to the insurance companies when they are wrecked some get bought and fixed outright and there is no way to tell what has happened to them.