BARGAIN SL500. whats the catch??

[bahnstormer109]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2003-Mercedes-Benz-sl500-flood-damaged_W0QQitemZ120133949590QQihZ002QQcategoryZ135661QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[CraigS]

I think the word "Flood damage" says it all !

[Brian Crump]

The catch is the potential for trapped water to turn into hidden rust. Maybe some went into the air intake and into the motor. Alternator etc may well be damaged - oh, it does not blow fuses - YET.
Most flood damaged cars are a trap fopr even experienced players. Was it a quick dunk or was it in the water for a few days? How would we know? I also see the seller has other damaged vehicles. Probably has quite a nice business. a suitable price could be less than $10,000.
Don't do it unless you are into risky behaviours....
regards,
BC

[oscar]

Am I reading it right? A 2003 SL flooded recently or, a recent SL flooded in 2003?

I saw the news tonight about floods in England.  Is that what this car and the others are from do you think?

If the water damage is that bad, I think a carb conversion and manual window winders might be the go 

[bahnstormer109]

umm, yeah i get the "catch".

i was being ironic.

im so wasted on you people!!

[James R]

LOL !

On a serious note, however, the Isle of Man has been battered over the past few days. Why would anyone just sell a Merc because its flood damaged ? Either they are a salvage agent or they are uninsured. If the latter then I'm not sure I'd want it anyway.

[Andrew280SEL]

umm, yeah i get the "catch".

i was being ironic.

im so wasted on you people!!

Hey- I got you! 

Nice car...but a scary prospect. If it was an older vehicle (like a w116) it would be slightly less scary, because of less electronic computer systems and the like.

[s class]

The catch - I think it's not just water, its SEA water.  I would be skeptical of it even as a parts car. 

Ryan

[WGB]

It says Fresh water in the Advert and water was up to seat level whatever that means.

Does not run and blows fuses probably says it all.

$35,000 - I'd tell them they're dreaming.

Though it would look nice parked in the Pool room - as they said in "The Castle"

Bill

[John Hubertz]

Don't even WORRY about the sheet metal.  That is a paperweight.  From 1990 on the all-electronic SLXXX cars are nightmarish electrically with or without water.

The top mechanism is fidgity, and even the seat switches are computer controlled, all by separate, non-diagnosable black boxes with about 14,000 wires running in and out.

I supplied parts for a 1997 SL500 a dealer friend bought for resale and the dealer invested about $600 of our money before saying "sorry". 

The passenger seat never worked, and the top warning light never went out.  Period.

These cars make British Lucas electrics on a 70s Jaguar seem like they were designed by a Space-Shuttle electrical contractor.