Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-14-2005, 11:37 PM
WannaWagon's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sacto.
Posts: 443
Anyone here make a living fixing/selling cars?

This is something I've been pondering for a while, so I was just wondering if any of my fellow listers here are doing this. Do you make all or part of your income from salvaging and selling cars? I see good deals on interesting cars all the time that just need a litting wrenching and TLC. I know I could make some money on them if I buy the car and parts carefully. But am I nuts to consider this? Do you wanna talk me out of this or talk sense into me? Or offer advice?

__________________
'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-14-2005, 11:48 PM
wolf_walker's Avatar
Zen And The Art Of Diesel
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 2,050
I work at a Salvage Yard, what do you want to know?


I tell you, if I had a grand or two to buy cars that come across the scales being scrapped (for $2.50 per hundred pounds) I could make a killing in specialty stuff, euro cars, few popular imports, etc, etc. I can buy about any car from work for $300 or less. Shame I stay broke fixing all the cars I do own..
__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-15-2005, 02:00 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,381
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolf_walker
I work at a Salvage Yard- Shame I stay broke fixing all the cars I do own..
So you could have Wolf's end of the scale- or you could get sick of fixing the cars and just buy the ones you know will sell for more than you pay for them...IE BECOME A USED CAR SALESMAN. Like either scenario? I'd recommend keeping the day job. I sell parts to members for a lot less than I probably could on ebay, but I like going to the yards, and don't think under any circumstances I could do it full time and make enough to buy diapers... unless I already had enough money to not work. It's like boating- know how to have a million dollars and a yacht? Start with two million.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-15-2005, 02:07 PM
tomm9298's Avatar
Diesel and WVO ..
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: South Carolina NO RUST
Posts: 502
Thumbs up Check your state laws

Check your local/state laws concerning selling cars. In SC you can sell up to 5 cars per year without a dealers license. Of course you have to get caught before the law can be enforced....
__________________
1984 300D Turbo Sedan (Hilda) 272,115 miles.....
Anthracite Gray/Palamino Leather, I am 3rd owner

2001 Dodge Stratus (Silver) (wifes) 55814 miles...

1982 280TE Wagon Astral Silver Metallic/
Anthracite Velour
260,512 miles (Eva)

1969 230 Sedan Olive Green/Black MBTex
4 Speed Manual
84,213 miles ????
Haus Frau


2004 Boreem Ninja Pocket Bike
Highly Modified 49cc (Ling Ling)

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-09-2005, 10:27 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: CT
Posts: 325
Anyone here make a living fixing/selling cars?

I haven't tried it yet but two ideas for you ..

Offer an e-bay selling service in your local area
for folks who want to get rid of a used car but want
more than a dealer is willing to offer on trade-in
You'd need to invest in a digital camera and some
local advertising and know how to set-up E-bay auctions ..

The other idea would be to secure a used car dealers license in your state so that you could attend dealer only auto auctions in your area ..
These are usually held weekly .. You'd need enough
capital to purchase/fix however many vehicles you
could sell in a week's time .. Sell them on e-bay
and roll your cash at the next auction .. Saw a
write up on a retired man from Tenn in his 60's doing this specializing in used Volvos .. Sold
25 cars his first year .. claimed to be making
$1000 - $2000 per deal ..

Triff ..
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-09-2005, 11:06 AM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
Posts: 19,318
Once in a great while an oppertunity comes along. Like the lucky member who just bought a 1995 300SD for $4,700+$2k for a used engine. He will probably make $5k on that one if he plays his cards right.

However owning a dealership is the only way I would be interested in making money off cars.
__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-09-2005, 11:18 AM
billrei's Avatar
W109, Floating on air!!
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Goleta, CA
Posts: 556
If you wanted to make some extra cash on the side I could see doing this. At least to see if it is something viable. But as said previously don't quit your day job!
__________________
Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-09-2005, 11:19 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Saugus, CA USA
Posts: 2,042
I knew of somebody who did just that. He knew cars and what they were worth and made a good living at it.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-09-2005, 11:27 AM
Stevo's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NW WA
Posts: 6,299
I wouldn't say I 've been making a "living" but fixing up stick shift 240Ds has been a great "retirement" hobby. I have sold 4 or 5 to friends and neighbors in the past 2 years or so. Thing is, selling a car in the community where you live is allot different than selling on ebay, you sell a "dog" to a neighbor your gona live with it . I always do my best to make sure things are squared away and sell at a "fair" price. Right now I'm putting an engine in a real nice maroon Ca, 240 that several people around here would like to buy. I really get off on seeing the paint job under all the oxidization, or bringing the locking system back to life. Its been a great way to upgrade my own fleet too. I do know that if I was to keep track of my time, it wouldn't look like such a hot biz, so I wouldnt want to quit my job (if I had one) to sell cars in the community.
__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-09-2005, 12:18 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CC, TX
Posts: 771
look at it as a hobby. As long as you buy the right car at the right price, you can make money. For the most part, it's being able to recognize an opportunity when you see it, and having the cash on hand to pursue the opportunity.
__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-09-2005, 12:48 PM
300sdlguy's Avatar
Diesel Poor
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sioux Falls, SD (Dallas Tx)
Posts: 374
Money can be made doing this I have done it, but unfortunately I get an emotional attachment to EVERYTHING I buy and find it hard to sell them, hence I have 16 vehicles, not including a 25' SeaRay Boat, and a 31' Starfire Motorhome.
__________________
Mercedes Fleet:
2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT
2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg.
1999 S320
1988 300TE
1972 280SEL 4.5
Diesel Fleet:
2014 GL350 Blutec
1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head
1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head
1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K
1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-09-2005, 12:48 PM
billrei's Avatar
W109, Floating on air!!
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Goleta, CA
Posts: 556
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Anderson
I knew of somebody who did just that. He knew cars and what they were worth and made a good living at it.
That reminds me. I met a guy at a MBCA event who is a car broker. He gets commissioned to find a pristine W113 SL or similar and uses his knowledge of the vehicles to survey, negotiate and recommend cars to the buyer. He gives some sort of warranty that the vehicle will be as described. He seemed to be doing quite well and rubs elbows with the Barrett Jackson crowd....
__________________
Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-09-2005, 12:59 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: RI shore
Posts: 2,937
I think that in the right circumstances it might be worth it. Buy a car, fix and sell. I would NOT want to work on other people's cars. I take my hat off to any competent mechanic who does this. I will never have that sort of patience.
__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-09-2005, 05:05 PM
Stevo's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NW WA
Posts: 6,299
My "addiction" started out innocent enough when I began looking for a "parts" car with nice blue seats for the 240D I just bought. Found the car with great seats and toasted eng, now I need a "parts " car with a good eng, I also find some nice goodies for my "keepers", passenger side mirror, chrome air intakes ...ect AND have been able to get a nice car together, you need a spare, right? finally I come to my senses and realize insurance is killing us ,so I sell one but because I need a pallameno interior I hook up the tow dolly and drag another home.
__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-10-2005, 07:35 AM
Brandon314159
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Hey,
My father has been working on cars since he was 17 (Is now mid 40's). He worked out of our garage for some time and it works out fairly well but unless you REALLY love wrenching, its can get overwhelming.
I was instructed to never become a mechanic even though I have all of his knowledge and a lot of his skill from playing in the garage and working on cars with him.
If its your hobby, its can be a bad move to turn it into your source of income if things get boring/old/nasty.
I believe the general thought is, its hard to get ahead turning a wrench but you can usually sustain a decent living.
And if you have enough knowledge, a lot of places would hire you if you got in a bunch...dad comes and goes at his job as they need him and/or if he needs some extra dough.

You'd think our house was still a buisness though with anywhere from 7-8 cars at any given time parked in the driveway and on the street.

I work on everyone elses cars though, but only out of favors or friendship...not to make cash..
That in my eyes, keeps it a hobby...

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page