You guys got my respect, and a follow based on what I saw from this video. Glad there are honest, knowledgeable people still out there doing these kinds of repairs, to make projects like this possible.
Not only would I buy one to fix as my daily driver, I would be proud. Saving money is always a big source of pride for me as well as learning how to fix the issues and be as self sufficient as possible. Thanks for all the hard work!
You certainly save money and I’ve considered many times but you won’t get back what you bought it for/put into it and on top cars with rebuilt titles usually sell for about 40-75% less than non salvage vehicles so when you go to resell it prepare to be let down. Now if you don’t have a branded title car then yes by all means.
@@tjnucnuc I depends on how damaged it is vs time or money to repair it on your own. As you know you have to remember is it a profit to flip or you are building your dream car? Off subject check out CB media. 🏁
@@tjnucnuc When I buy a vehicle I typically don't give a rat's ass what the resale on it or trade in value.I buy the vehicle that will fit my needs. I used to, when I was young and dumb and changed cars every 3/4 years but I learned my lesson (late). Now I'll drive them into the ground. As for "what you put into it" yeah, up here, used parts aren't as readily available as new ones and the salvage yards charge almost as much for used parts as new. I needed a cylinder head for my ford F150 and most yards wanted $800 for one, $1000 new from the dealer. If "you pull" they wanted $400. So it definitely isn't worth re-building it yourself up here. Even at copart, the added fees etc almost doubles the price of the vehicle if you're not a dealer so you're going to pay a premium on a written off vehicle off rip.
I do the same thing. In UK I buy car for 1/5 of market price. Fix myself and feel very proud. All done right no expenses spared. Airbags etc. I love salvage title cars. Because the main reason why they end up at the auction is because of accident. Not like private or dieler used expensive scrap
I have bought, fixed and driven many accident damaged cars myself, some for many years. As long as the repair has been done right, there is literally no reason to lose your mind over it.
"As long as the repair has been done right"....that's the most important part. I know around my area, they slap them back together in hopes that no one knows what to look for.
@@dealerauctionnightmare4689 Definitely the most important factor. anything can be repaired it was all made by man. Question is do you wanna make sure it was done right?
I've been a subscriber of yours for a few years now, and the Escalade repair is the best series you've done - possibly the best car repair series on TH-cam. It's great to see such a dodgy repair being turned into the calibre of vehicle it should have been in the first place.
Been buying salvage, retail wrecks for many years. I've saved more money than I could imagine. I don't plan on changing my tune, so I will continue buying used cars cash, and let everyone else finance them for 6-7-8 years. Sam, you're doing a great job showing people how to DIY, and save literally 10's of thousands of dollars if they are willing to do some very basic work. Keep up the great work, and God Bless you, your friends, and family..
You need to put those handles back on the B pillars. They won't stay attached if the roof airbag deploys and the handles are not installed. The clip at the top doesn't provide much retention (I spent some years working on that platform).
I have purchased and driven a salvaged car for 13 years and put 160k more miles on it. It comes down to how well the repairs have been done and was it a trusted repair service. Great video...
This guy is a car genius ! Idk if his background was engineering but he seems to figure out the problem pretty fast ! As a novice car guy I would never attempt half of these myself out of fear of not being able to put it back together 😂
I found my first car from an ad that said fine under hood. Turned out to be a misprint for fire. The seller ran his own mini junkyard, and had another example of the same make and model that had been in a collision. As part of the deal, he threw in the wiring harness from the wreck, as long as I pulled it myself. A few other items like a tire, brake line, fan belt, radiator hose, plastic clutch housing, and I was basically good to go. Drove that car for years. EXTREMELY worthwhile deal.
I don't have the stomach for the risk involved. This one came out great. You have a good eye at the auction, and you have good skills for repair. Now, if yours was for sale for 30k as it sits, I would buy it for sure......but then you just did all your repairs for free. If you added up all your hours, and multiplied that by how much GM charges per hour......you'd find your answer on why a dealership didn't do it.
Main reason a dealer wouldn't fix and sell it is liability. No telling what kind of accident it was in. What if other systems are tampered but appear okay. This thing absolutely needed to be kicked to auction.
I would probably only buy a used /wrecked car if it were from the dealer and was certified with some kind of warranty. I imagine all the good work you did for $800 would be 10 times that amount at the dealership. You did a great job on this Escalade series. Very watchable.
If you ever intend to sell it, I highly recommend putting the correct front grille on it. The emblem on it is not correct for that model year, and that's a dead giveaway that it's been in an accident.
Yes, I’ve owned several accident damaged cars over the years, good discount is always my motivation. I get to own a nicer car than my price range would normally allow. Often damaged cars are only cosmetically faulty. As long as the chassis is good, mend and make do …..
You got a great deal. I would totally drive it daily even knowing the history. Once the last module is replaced should be good to go for years to come. Thanks for the great video.
You inspired me to pull the trigger on buying a 2017 Nissan Maxima Platinum with front end damage. I knew I was taking a bit of a gamble, but knew what to look for after watching your videos. Love having it as my daily.
I think these damaged cars are a great deal for people with the time and the skills to dig in and fix them. I love a good deal so I watch this channel and others to enjoy seeing you beat the system. But for me, when I want to drive, I want the car to work. First time every time. So I buy new Japanese cars that have amazing reliability records and then just run them. I pay extra, but I love the fact that they never fail. When I want a drive, I want to drive. Not work fixing crap.
Hey Sam I work with Adas systems calibrations. It’s possible the replacement front radar you bought needs factory programming to code it to your vin before you can run the calibration procedure. I wouldn’t trust the the original flooded one works until you can test the adaptive cruise. A lot of vehicles will allow distance settings changes but you will not get an error until you activate the cruise control. Also not sure I would trust that unit on the highway at 80 mph without my foot covering the brake. Thanks for the videos man. I watch all the time.
Current daily is a 12 F150 that was total because Ford no longer sources the inner rocker panel structure. Sourced a good used inner structure and a new outer structure and started driving it. As long as you work with a good body shop and don't cut corners they can be a solid car at a reasonable price
This is an awesome series Sam. This is really a testament to how repairable and inexpensive domestic cars are. Image how much just the wiring loom would have been at an Audi or Mercedes dealership?!
Yeah, but still wiring looms can be soldered with new wires and connectors if needed. Domestics are easier to repair because parts tend to not need to be shipped across an ocean.
The hacks that cut up the wiring, gutted the seatbelt mechanisms, kluged the front bumper sensors and wiring are the real looser's of this story. If they had done it right and spent $400-$500 for the right parts, they could have sold it for it's real value and put $10K in their bank account.
Intentionally disabling safety systems with resistors raises all sorts of liability issues for which the seller is responsible incase you crashed and were injured. Those crooks should be in jail.
Plus, they put lives at risk. You buy the car, fasten the seat belt and then God forbid get in an accident. Only to find out the seat belts have been disabled and you or a family member gets injured or killed. Disgusting.
@Jamie Galvan how the sensors and seats belts were modified and bypassed tells me that it had to be a shop of some kind, as that isn't normal Knowledge on how to bypass those systems. Someone know what they were doing when they did that
@Jamie Galvan right... I was just saying that the way it was "fixed" took someone most likely a shop or someone that works in one professionally to do. Hacks/bypasses like that definitely aren't common knowledge
I bought a salvaged 1998 Ford Windstar with 13k miles; it looked and drove like new. I retired it at 412,000 miles with original engine and trans due to water in oil. That van was 👍👍.
My wife's DD (2017 Outlander) was in a front end collision, obvious by the paint on the front bumper. Before buying we had a CarFax (showed the collision and repair), I had the dealer put the car on the hoist and take a full video for me (customers not allowed in the bays for insurance reasons, naturally) for me to inspect before even test driving, and then most crucially I took it to my local trusted and well reviewed garage for a pre purchase inspection. $120 for a professional to hands on inspect is well, well worth it if you're going to spend five figures on a vehicle whether it shows an accident history or not and even if you're an experienced mechanic yourself. A fresh, non biased set of eyes and hands can save you big time in the long run. 10 grand saved is a good day, brother. Good onya.
because of logistics now and some other factors, insurance companies are now often totaling cars that are only needing minimal repair. If the car didn't need frame work or major suspension work from an accident, I would absolutely fix and daily drive something like that Escalade you found!
My current daily (Acura TL) was in an accident. I knew it going in. Inspected the repair areas. I’ve had it now for 6 years and 90,000 miles later it’s been the best car I’ve ever owned for dependability
Absolutely a great deal at less than $30,000 all in it’s a bargain the accident seemed to be minimal and the diy could be solved by just about anyone 👍
I found the escalade deal of a lifetime. Got a 04 escalade esv platinum with 26,000 original miles. No issues, clean title. Just few dings n scratches. Old man had it n let it just sit in his garage for 14 yrs. All I had to fix was dragging brakes in rear. Got it for 2 grand Got $600 in parts and wife's been driving it for 2 yrs now with no issues
I couldn't do what you did because I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as so in uncovering everything that's wrong with the car. I would have to trust that the place I purchased it from fixed it correctly back to factory specs. It's kind of like buying a flipped house, you don't know what the person is hiding underneath the freshly painted walls. You do a fine job of fixing all the problems, I would buy a car from you.
My loaded 1996 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 was 2 same color wrecks put together. One rear and one front with 20k on the clock. Built it in 1998 for around 7k including new paint. Looked and drove like new, no issues, saved around 10k and sold it in 2018 with 385,000 miles on the 4.0. For $1,200 with salvage title. Winner winner chicken dinner! Your Escalade was easy by comparison and turned out great! It's all a matter of doing the job right.
As a master mechanic, i have taken the discount for mech issues and have fixed it myself. One car was previously crashed. The repairs were very well done, couldnt find the wreck. I inspected it very carefully. With a branded rebuild title i got it for less than half the going rate and have been driving trouble free for 4 years now. I did maintenance, timing belt, water pump, belts, brakes, spark plugs and boots.. and most recently tires. No regrets. i drive it across the country with no qualms about whether it will make it home.
Not a problem getting a car that was in need of repair my Dad and Brother repaired a bunch of cars when I was a kid my first car was a salvaged 1981 Toyota Celica 5 speed ST ran great best starter car around.
Great series on the Escalade. Wish we could get the range salvage cars like that here in Australia. Most of our salvage cars are not allowed to be re-registered, just parts cars. 😢
I bought a 03 civic with a bad 3rd gear syncro for just a couple hundred bucks. Just for fun. This was a project car for me and my girlfriend to spend more time together and also so she can learn about cars a little more. We did a complete transmission rebuild from just watching youtube videos right out of my garage 😂. We both learned alot from it, had fun and found it to be a fun hobby for us.
Want to see you handing the finished product to "Step Mom" as you said initially it was for her. If you feel the car is safe enough to become her daily driver that show your confidence in the car
One of my trucks is a 2014 ram 3500 diesel. It was totalled with a salvage title. So far, 60,000 km, 4 years , and zero issues. Right now, I can sell it for more than I paid for it 4 years ago
While it may not be worth the time and money, I hope you try and explore any possible legal actions against the auction and/or the people who sold the car to the auction. Like you said at the beginning, would you feel comfortable driving a car that has been in a crash? Espically if the past people who worked on it disabled many safety features to make it look new knowing they would 100% get away with it. For me, yes, I would be comfortable if I was able to get the right car, but only if everything was documented, such as the crash and what was done to fix it. If everything was documented on this car, there would be no problem. The fact that people made it unsafe then sold it is a huge problem.
Until it becomes a criminal act that cops investigate, there is nothing you can do. A lawsuit will cost more than anything you can get. The person you sue will lie, so you have to track down all previous owners and get them to testify that they didn't modify the safety systems.
AyySorento- you are correct it's not worth the time and money pursuing legal actions. It is abundantly clear that nefarious cover-ups were done, that is in violation of the law. But, such car issues makes great TH-cam content!👍
My guess is the dealer that sent it to auction found some of this stuff and didn't want to be liable if they repaired these systems and later it caused some sort of safety issue.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this series. Well done getting this all sorted out. To answer your question, NO I would not buy a wrecked car even though it’s been repaired. It’s like dropping an M&M in a dog turd, fish it out, thoroughly clean and sanitize it, then tell me it’s safe to eat. Yeah… I’m not eating that.
Yes, I've done 4 or 5 of these. My best advice is to take the time on your pre-inspection to do your homework. I got a 2005 Cadillac Escalade SUV (3 rows of seats) for $1800.00 and drove it for 4 years!
Too much hassle even with 30% off, but good for you, finally a project that is pretty much done! 😂 The pricing sheet was great to see all expenses! 30k for 30k miles on an Escalade seems sweet!
You know it's a good point, I'm sure it could be done on a car like this and if it's easy enough for me to check I will definitely do so. On the European cars they record the mileage on multiple modules so you cab uncover it. I'm not as familiar with GM cars
Oh and one other major point, the Carfax is pretty consistent with regular mileage increases, no big jumps or anything like that over a reasonable amount of time, that's the biggest reason I suspect no odometer tampering...
I have bought, owned, repaired and daily driven several cars that were either prior salvage titles, or clean titles that needed to be repaired. It's something I'd like to get back into doing now that C19 is finally seeming to be more out of the picture and work is coming back.
I got to say this is one of the best series I’ve seen of yours. I like how you want in depth and figure it all out and showed us how to source the parts our self for a good price.
When they go to that much trouble to hide something, it makes me suspicious. I also don't believe the mileage, looks like too much corrosion and the links in the front end have no explanation for having worn out like that. if it was low miles it spent time in water
Great video. Thanks for sharing! Yes I am rebuilding cars for around 5 years as a side job for myself, family members. I feel so happy & rewarding each time I finish rebuilding one. I enjoy watching your videos & had subscribed a while ago. Keep up the good work.
I think that the deal that you got is one of the indirect perks of being an expert in what you do. As someone who doesn’t work on wrecked cars I would know what I was looking at enough to know if I could have peace of mind driving that car. Especially if/when any new issues present themselves. That’s if I were to try to work on it myself. Although, if I were to buy one from someone like you then I might consider it. I think that having a TH-cam channel is a good tool & element to have in a business where trust is currency & an asset.
I purchased a 2015 Enclave Premium with all the options & 49K miles in March 2020 with that was a rebuilt salvage title. I have replaced normal wear & tear items only. The AC condenser was not replaced by the people that repair the damage and the bumper cover isn't attached correctly - but no other issues that you wouldn't have with any car that now has 192000 miles on it. Back in March of 2020 my Buick would have originally at around $26,000 for 49000 mile vehicle. This is my second salvage rebuilt title vehicle and I would buy a third.
Yes I will do again. I previously purchased a 2015 Honda accord with 23000 mile on for 8grand in 2017. My Honda is still going strong. Its has 130,000 miles on it. Never had any issues with it. I just do regular maintenance.
If it was a vehicle model that I knew would meet my needs, and I was confident that the work had been done properly, I would be happy to take the savings. Operative words "confident" and "properly". Thanks Sam
Lane departure is the camera in the windscreen, thus is working ok. The cruise control and collision avoidance are the front radar. They require precise positioning and calibration
I bought a 1996 Tacoma a few years back with 128k on the clock for $1900 rebuilt. Had hit a deer and had new fender, fender liner and hood. Possibly a radiator. In PA they have to go through an "enhanced" inspection. Run great. Drives great. It's not if it has been in an accident. It's how badly damaged and where.
My daily driver is a auction car. Had airbag light on. Turns out it was just the wires were ripped on the drivers side seat. The engine had a few weeks before auction a spark plug ground strap break free and fall into the engine while it was running as I found out from the previous owners mechanic after I brought it. Amazingly it runs fine , compression is great and borescope shows the chunk melted/mushed into a the valve recess on the piston.. Long story short definitely worth the risk if you get the car cheap enough.😂
A trick with the sway endlinks: with the sway still attached on the other side, jack the unassembled side up. It will keep the sway bar in place but compress the middle bushings. Bonus if you can jack it up by that endlink bolt.
You did great. And yes, I would buy the car knowing it had been in an accident and getting a big discount. However, the kicker is I wouldn't be able to get someone like you to do a PROPER inspection and repair and show me how and why everything is fixed and working correctly.
Did this with my wife's chevy Sonic. Not crashed, but had overheated after a failed oil cooler gasket and flooded the cooling system with oil. It also needed a few maintenance items like a timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner, but I was able to fix it all for 700 bucks and a couple afternoons where a mechanic would have charged several thousand and weeks in a shop. Bought it for 4k in this condition and have put on 50k problem free miles since. It's still selling for like 6k right now.
I just bought a used car and as I searched online, I always plugged in one owner/no accidents and ended up buying 2009 Acura TSX with 100k miles from the Acura dealer in town. I always search one owner/no accidents and read the service history. I realize it could still have been in an accident, but I do this and then always take it to a mechanic I trust to do a presale inspection.
Yes!! I would buy one like that at a major discount and sort it out myself, it wasn't a major accident and no frame damage or major component damage on it. I was a great catch on the SRS seat belt issue. All it all I think it was a great buy for you and really enjoyed your videos on sorting this one out!.
Yes. As long as there isn't any major frame/unibody damage or fire damage. I've repaired & assisted with repairs on many vehicles. It's also worth digging for information on accidents before writing one off based on a report on Carfax, etc. I got a smoking deal on my low mile SL55 AMG by researching the Carfax reported accident on it. I found the police report detailing the incident which was a simple parking lot hit & run. With the Carfax I was able to get $4k off the sellers asking price before I drove the 250 miles to look at the car. I confirmed the repaired damage was confined to the rear bumper cover & negotiated from that lowered price as a starting point. Best deal I've made so far on a car.
I've owned a couple of cars that were badly damaged, one of them twice. The difference is knowing that the repairs were professional and competently done.
As someone who worked in an auto body shop for several years, I see no difference in buying and driving a car that has been properly repaired vs. owning a car, getting in an accident and having it fixed. Both cars have the same hypothetical damage and repairs. Both cars can generally be repaired as good as new unless they are a total loss. You got a killer deal on a beautiful Escalade. Congrats.
I am late to the game, but the car looks great. Bought an identical one from my step mom after my dad passed. Yes, I would buy the car. Prior to the 2016 I had a 2014 that was sideswiped by a semi. $18k in damage. Fixed well and I bought it from my dad when we found the 2016. You do nice work, Sam, and I would not hesitate to buy one of your cars.
After seeing these videos I felt the need to check my car. Bought it used and the dash was loose and the price was cheap. Happy to report all wires are in tact and airbags are good.
To use the cruise control, on the left side of steering wheel you hit the cruise control button to turn it on then press the rectangle button down to set it. The gap adjust only works on cruise control it will not auto brake for you unless you have cruise control on
If the repairs can be done HONESTLY and for a reasonable price, I would take a shot. You have the ability and connections to get what you need. That is a key. Not many have that as an option. If you are having to not only pay for parts, but to also pay for labor, it is a totally different answer to your question. Nice job though on your part.
One of the best cars I’ve ever had was a wrecked car. 2000 Chevy Malibu. Purchased for 400$. Previous owner hit a deer with it. Drove it for 2 years, hood ratchet strapped closed because the hood latch wouldn’t line back up right. Bought headlights from a junkyard for 50$ because the old ones were broken, other than that it never cost me any money. Just change the oil, put gas in it, and drive it. Air conditioning even worked.
I would definitely by one with FIXABLE issues to save on the price. A smart way to buy one as long as the problems can be sorted for a fair price. Good job!
bought a fixed 2016 altima with salvage title with a beautiful job done at almost half market value and driving it with absolutely no problems for 2 years but i knew from my previous altima that they can be hit high in the front end and sustain non life threatening damage
My current daily driver has a salvage title 2014 Ford Fusion 83966 miles when I bought it for under 12K. It had some front end damage. Bought from a dealer that did some shotty repair wort, but looks good and runs good.
I would in a heartbeat, but Sam, I work at a salvage yard… builders are easier than people think(if you buy them the right way). Thanks for the great video. Remember Diamond Todd is always willing to help out with those pesky nickel and dime covers, seat belts, trim…etc.
I feel that the documentation on what was repaired would play a big role!! If you could see what was repaired vs what you were told was repaired. This would be a big deciding factor!!
I have always liked rebuilding my oun cars. My first was my first car in 1986. I bought a 78 Nova with a clapped out inline 6 for $200. Then I bought a low mileage 77 Z-28 that one of my brother's friends wrecked after a long night of drinking, also for $200. A long weekend, a cheap set of headers, and a quick trip to the muffler shop for a full dual exhaust, I drove to school on Monday in the same plain jane Nova now sporting the Z-28's 350 4 barrel, TH-350 trans (with a B&M shift kit), a 3.73 posi 10 bolt rear diff, and the wheels from the Z. I kept the collumn shifter and the bench seat just to stay under the radar. If it were'nt for the wheels, you would'nt see it coming at all, untill it was too late. Not bad for a 16 year old kid and less than $1000 done in one weekend. This was my first of many rags to riches stories in my automotive history. Too bad U-Tube wasn't around back then, I could have financed all my projects for free!
While buying a rebuilt vehicle it saves money but when you go to sell it, it might cost you in the end if someone does the research on the vehicle. If you sell it with these considerations some people will buy knowingthe issue and be okay with the minor flaws..
I have always wanted to buy a accident vehicle, but just do not have the money. BUT, if I did, I would like to do so, and have someone like you, help me. I learn a ton from your videos, and I find it fascinating. So, if I had the money, I would, but since I do not, I won't.
I have been driving a Mazdaspeed 3 for 6 years that was totaled. It has 251,000 miles now. I still trust it to drive 500 miles and back. It's also 23 years old.
Big thanks to Sam for the kind words and the entire Samcrac team for the awesome helpful videos. Glad we could be part of the solution.
You guys did a wonderful job 👏
@@holgermessner851 thank you 😊
respect, guys! 👏
You guys got my respect, and a follow based on what I saw from this video. Glad there are honest, knowledgeable people still out there doing these kinds of repairs, to make projects like this possible.
Not only would I buy one to fix as my daily driver, I would be proud. Saving money is always a big source of pride for me as well as learning how to fix the issues and be as self sufficient as possible. Thanks for all the hard work!
You certainly save money and I’ve considered many times but you won’t get back what you bought it for/put into it and on top cars with rebuilt titles usually sell for about 40-75% less than non salvage vehicles so when you go to resell it prepare to be let down. Now if you don’t have a branded title car then yes by all means.
@@tjnucnuc I depends on how damaged it is vs time or money to repair it on your own. As you know you have to remember is it a profit to flip or you are building your dream car? Off subject check out CB media. 🏁
@@tjnucnuc When I buy a vehicle I typically don't give a rat's ass what the resale on it or trade in value.I buy the vehicle that will fit my needs. I used to, when I was young and dumb and changed cars every 3/4 years but I learned my lesson (late). Now I'll drive them into the ground.
As for "what you put into it" yeah, up here, used parts aren't as readily available as new ones and the salvage yards charge almost as much for used parts as new. I needed a cylinder head for my ford F150 and most yards wanted $800 for one, $1000 new from the dealer. If "you pull" they wanted $400. So it definitely isn't worth re-building it yourself up here.
Even at copart, the added fees etc almost doubles the price of the vehicle if you're not a dealer so you're going to pay a premium on a written off vehicle off rip.
I do the same thing. In UK I buy car for 1/5 of market price. Fix myself and feel very proud. All done right no expenses spared. Airbags etc. I love salvage title cars. Because the main reason why they end up at the auction is because of accident. Not like private or dieler used expensive scrap
I have bought, fixed and driven many accident damaged cars myself, some for many years. As long as the repair has been done right, there is literally no reason to lose your mind over it.
Ever been in an accident in one?
@@luketc1 if the repairs done right there is no problem.😑
"As long as the repair has been done right"....that's the most important part. I know around my area, they slap them back together in hopes that no one knows what to look for.
@@dealerauctionnightmare4689 Definitely the most important factor. anything can be repaired it was all made by man. Question is do you wanna make sure it was done right?
@@nickit22 I would. Have you ever watched Vehcor videos? He does them right.
I've been a subscriber of yours for a few years now, and the Escalade repair is the best series you've done - possibly the best car repair series on TH-cam. It's great to see such a dodgy repair being turned into the calibre of vehicle it should have been in the first place.
range rover l322 I think was the best
If the repairs are fully documented I'd feel safe owning & driving a car like this, Rj in Oz
Been buying salvage, retail wrecks for many years. I've saved more money than I could imagine. I don't plan on changing my tune, so I will continue buying used cars cash, and let everyone else finance them for 6-7-8 years.
Sam, you're doing a great job showing people how to DIY, and save literally 10's of thousands of dollars if they are willing to do some very basic work. Keep up the great work, and God Bless you, your friends, and family..
Exactly .. LOT's of great deals on Salvage Rebuilt vehicles out there if you know what to look for. Own 2 such vehicles myself... NO car payments.
You need to put those handles back on the B pillars. They won't stay attached if the roof airbag deploys and the handles are not installed. The clip at the top doesn't provide much retention (I spent some years working on that platform).
Correct
You dont know what in the heck you are talkin about. Internet tough guy and keyboard expert.
@@fozer7498ok
I have purchased and driven a salvaged car for 13 years and put 160k more miles on it. It comes down to how well the repairs have been done and was it a trusted repair service. Great video...
One of the better series I have seen from you
The seat belt guys were really good value. Good to know people like this still exist repairing parts that are quite often replaced with new.
This guy is a car genius ! Idk if his background was engineering but he seems to figure out the problem pretty fast ! As a novice car guy I would never attempt half of these myself out of fear of not being able to put it back together 😂
I found my first car from an ad that said fine under hood. Turned out to be a misprint for fire. The seller ran his own mini junkyard, and had another example of the same make and model that had been in a collision. As part of the deal, he threw in the wiring harness from the wreck, as long as I pulled it myself. A few other items like a tire, brake line, fan belt, radiator hose, plastic clutch housing, and I was basically good to go. Drove that car for years. EXTREMELY worthwhile deal.
I don't have the stomach for the risk involved. This one came out great. You have a good eye at the auction, and you have good skills for repair. Now, if yours was for sale for 30k as it sits, I would buy it for sure......but then you just did all your repairs for free. If you added up all your hours, and multiplied that by how much GM charges per hour......you'd find your answer on why a dealership didn't do it.
Main reason a dealer wouldn't fix and sell it is liability. No telling what kind of accident it was in. What if other systems are tampered but appear okay. This thing absolutely needed to be kicked to auction.
I would probably only buy a used /wrecked car if it were from the dealer and was certified with some kind of warranty. I imagine all the good work you did for $800 would be 10 times that amount at the dealership. You did a great job on this Escalade series. Very watchable.
If you ever intend to sell it, I highly recommend putting the correct front grille on it. The emblem on it is not correct for that model year, and that's a dead giveaway that it's been in an accident.
what should it look like?
Yes, I’ve owned several accident damaged cars over the years, good discount is always my motivation. I get to own a nicer car than my price range would normally allow. Often damaged cars are only cosmetically faulty. As long as the chassis is good, mend and make do …..
You got a great deal. I would totally drive it daily even knowing the history. Once the last module is replaced should be good to go for years to come. Thanks for the great video.
You inspired me to pull the trigger on buying a 2017 Nissan Maxima Platinum with front end damage. I knew I was taking a bit of a gamble, but knew what to look for after watching your videos. Love having it as my daily.
Given the depth you went into the car, I would take it. I mean, you didn't find anything major wrong with it through the diagnosis process ssooo yes
I think these damaged cars are a great deal for people with the time and the skills to dig in and fix them.
I love a good deal so I watch this channel and others to enjoy seeing you beat the system.
But for me, when I want to drive, I want the car to work. First time every time. So I buy new Japanese cars that have amazing reliability records and then just run them. I pay extra, but I love the fact that they never fail. When I want a drive, I want to drive. Not work fixing crap.
Hey Sam I work with Adas systems calibrations. It’s possible the replacement front radar you bought needs factory programming to code it to your vin before you can run the calibration procedure. I wouldn’t trust the the original flooded one works until you can test the adaptive cruise. A lot of vehicles will allow distance settings changes but you will not get an error until you activate the cruise control. Also not sure I would trust that unit on the highway at 80 mph without my foot covering the brake. Thanks for the videos man. I watch all the time.
Thank you!
Current daily is a 12 F150 that was total because Ford no longer sources the inner rocker panel structure. Sourced a good used inner structure and a new outer structure and started driving it. As long as you work with a good body shop and don't cut corners they can be a solid car at a reasonable price
Find you a empty parking lot and set a tall cardboard box to test you collision system.
Now this is the type of Samcrac content I subscribed for years ago! Please continue to put out these types of videos!
This is an awesome series Sam. This is really a testament to how repairable and inexpensive domestic cars are. Image how much just the wiring loom would have been at an Audi or Mercedes dealership?!
Yeah, but still wiring looms can be soldered with new wires and connectors if needed. Domestics are easier to repair because parts tend to not need to be shipped across an ocean.
Awesome video Sam. I'm always excited when I go to your page and find some new videos
The hacks that cut up the wiring, gutted the seatbelt mechanisms, kluged the front bumper sensors and wiring are the real looser's of this story. If they had done it right and spent $400-$500 for the right parts, they could have sold it for it's real value and put $10K in their bank account.
Exactly! What the heck. It's so strange they would do this to an expensive car!
Intentionally disabling safety systems with resistors raises all sorts of liability issues for which the seller is responsible incase you crashed and were injured. Those crooks should be in jail.
Plus, they put lives at risk. You buy the car, fasten the seat belt and then God forbid get in an accident. Only to find out the seat belts have been disabled and you or a family member gets injured or killed. Disgusting.
@Jamie Galvan how the sensors and seats belts were modified and bypassed tells me that it had to be a shop of some kind, as that isn't normal Knowledge on how to bypass those systems. Someone know what they were doing when they did that
@Jamie Galvan right... I was just saying that the way it was "fixed" took someone most likely a shop or someone that works in one professionally to do. Hacks/bypasses like that definitely aren't common knowledge
I bought a salvaged 1998 Ford Windstar with 13k miles; it looked and drove like new. I retired it at 412,000 miles with original engine and trans due to water in oil. That van was 👍👍.
Not a fan of accident vehicles, but I see how it’s tempting!
I should have done that with my CC 90. One of the best cars I ever had that was scrapped by insurance. Great series on the Escalade
As long as you repair it right its a win win all the way
My wife's DD (2017 Outlander) was in a front end collision, obvious by the paint on the front bumper. Before buying we had a CarFax (showed the collision and repair), I had the dealer put the car on the hoist and take a full video for me (customers not allowed in the bays for insurance reasons, naturally) for me to inspect before even test driving, and then most crucially I took it to my local trusted and well reviewed garage for a pre purchase inspection. $120 for a professional to hands on inspect is well, well worth it if you're going to spend five figures on a vehicle whether it shows an accident history or not and even if you're an experienced mechanic yourself. A fresh, non biased set of eyes and hands can save you big time in the long run.
10 grand saved is a good day, brother. Good onya.
because of logistics now and some other factors, insurance companies are now often totaling cars that are only needing minimal repair. If the car didn't need frame work or major suspension work from an accident, I would absolutely fix and daily drive something like that Escalade you found!
Yeah like my car 😔
My current daily (Acura TL) was in an accident. I knew it going in. Inspected the repair areas. I’ve had it now for 6 years and 90,000 miles later it’s been the best car I’ve ever owned for dependability
Absolutely a great deal at less than $30,000 all in it’s a bargain the accident seemed to be minimal and the diy could be solved by just about anyone 👍
I found the escalade deal of a lifetime. Got a 04 escalade esv platinum with 26,000 original miles. No issues, clean title. Just few dings n scratches. Old man had it n let it just sit in his garage for 14 yrs. All I had to fix was dragging brakes in rear. Got it for 2 grand Got $600 in parts and wife's been driving it for 2 yrs now with no issues
I couldn't do what you did because I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as so in uncovering everything that's wrong with the car. I would have to trust that the place I purchased it from fixed it correctly back to factory specs. It's kind of like buying a flipped house, you don't know what the person is hiding underneath the freshly painted walls. You do a fine job of fixing all the problems, I would buy a car from you.
My loaded 1996 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 was 2 same color wrecks put together. One rear and one front with 20k on the clock. Built it in 1998 for around 7k including new paint. Looked and drove like new, no issues, saved around 10k and sold it in 2018 with 385,000 miles on the 4.0. For $1,200 with salvage title.
Winner winner chicken dinner!
Your Escalade was easy by comparison and turned out great!
It's all a matter of doing the job right.
Absolutely worth the time and money, a sweet project, love your work from New Zealand Fan
As a master mechanic, i have taken the discount for mech issues and have fixed it myself. One car was previously crashed. The repairs were very well done, couldnt find the wreck. I inspected it very carefully. With a branded rebuild title i got it for less than half the going rate and have been driving trouble free for 4 years now. I did maintenance, timing belt, water pump, belts, brakes, spark plugs and boots.. and most recently tires. No regrets. i drive it across the country with no qualms about whether it will make it home.
the fact that those seat belts had the safety features removed from them has me absolutely Furious
Not a problem getting a car that was in need of repair my Dad and Brother repaired a bunch of cars when I was a kid my first car was a salvaged 1981 Toyota Celica 5 speed ST ran great best starter car around.
Great series on the Escalade. Wish we could get the range salvage cars like that here in Australia. Most of our salvage cars are not allowed to be re-registered, just parts cars. 😢
I bought a 03 civic with a bad 3rd gear syncro for just a couple hundred bucks. Just for fun. This was a project car for me and my girlfriend to spend more time together and also so she can learn about cars a little more. We did a complete transmission rebuild from just watching youtube videos right out of my garage 😂. We both learned alot from it, had fun and found it to be a fun hobby for us.
People say I'm mad for liking the escalade.... I just enjoy the boxiness look of all the generations
I like the boxy look myself especially on mid 80s and 90s sports cars
It comes assembled 👍
Want to see you handing the finished product to "Step Mom" as you said initially it was for her. If you feel the car is safe enough to become her daily driver that show your confidence in the car
One of my trucks is a 2014 ram 3500 diesel. It was totalled with a salvage title. So far, 60,000 km, 4 years , and zero issues. Right now, I can sell it for more than I paid for it 4 years ago
While it may not be worth the time and money, I hope you try and explore any possible legal actions against the auction and/or the people who sold the car to the auction. Like you said at the beginning, would you feel comfortable driving a car that has been in a crash? Espically if the past people who worked on it disabled many safety features to make it look new knowing they would 100% get away with it. For me, yes, I would be comfortable if I was able to get the right car, but only if everything was documented, such as the crash and what was done to fix it. If everything was documented on this car, there would be no problem. The fact that people made it unsafe then sold it is a huge problem.
Until it becomes a criminal act that cops investigate, there is nothing you can do. A lawsuit will cost more than anything you can get. The person you sue will lie, so you have to track down all previous owners and get them to testify that they didn't modify the safety systems.
He said she said, prove it. Dead ends with energy and time never to be recovered
AyySorento- you are correct it's not worth the time and money pursuing legal actions. It is abundantly clear that nefarious cover-ups were done, that is in violation of the law. But, such car issues makes great TH-cam content!👍
My guess is the dealer that sent it to auction found some of this stuff and didn't want to be liable if they repaired these systems and later it caused some sort of safety issue.
Messing with security equipment to cover up damage is criminal though. He should go to the police.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this series. Well done getting this all sorted out. To answer your question, NO I would not buy a wrecked car even though it’s been repaired. It’s like dropping an M&M in a dog turd, fish it out, thoroughly clean and sanitize it, then tell me it’s safe to eat. Yeah… I’m not eating that.
I really hope you report those scumbags to the government.
Yes, I've done 4 or 5 of these. My best advice is to take the time on your pre-inspection to do your homework. I got a 2005 Cadillac Escalade SUV (3 rows of seats) for $1800.00 and drove it for 4 years!
Too much hassle even with 30% off, but good for you, finally a project that is pretty much done! 😂
The pricing sheet was great to see all expenses! 30k for 30k miles on an Escalade seems sweet!
@15:08 If I had a workshop like you and enough experience, maybe.
So if this was a hack job and was fraud at the auction, why are you assuming they didn’t roll back the mileage?!?
That's really hard to do these days. You can manipulate what is recorded in the future, but changing what is there already is difficult.
You know it's a good point, I'm sure it could be done on a car like this and if it's easy enough for me to check I will definitely do so. On the European cars they record the mileage on multiple modules so you cab uncover it. I'm not as familiar with GM cars
Oh and one other major point, the Carfax is pretty consistent with regular mileage increases, no big jumps or anything like that over a reasonable amount of time, that's the biggest reason I suspect no odometer tampering...
@@Samcrac cool, good series anyhow
the wear on those bushings are sooo suspicious... i hope the odometer was not rolled back.
I have bought, owned, repaired and daily driven several cars that were either prior salvage titles, or clean titles that needed to be repaired. It's something I'd like to get back into doing now that C19 is finally seeming to be more out of the picture and work is coming back.
Might need to check the airbag crash fuse, if it has such a thing, given the bodges done already, it may just be shorted out.
Blown fuses eliminate the connection, it can’t short out with a bad fuse
I got to say this is one of the best series I’ve seen of yours. I like how you want in depth and figure it all out and showed us how to source the parts our self for a good price.
When they go to that much trouble to hide something, it makes me suspicious. I also don't believe the mileage, looks like too much corrosion and the links in the front end have no explanation for having worn out like that. if it was low miles it spent time in water
He’s really glossing over that stuff.
Superb story. These are some of the best videos on TH-cam. Thanks for the education.
Great video. Thanks for sharing! Yes I am rebuilding cars for around 5 years as a side job for myself, family members. I feel so happy & rewarding each time I finish rebuilding one. I enjoy watching your videos & had subscribed a while ago. Keep up the good work.
I think that the deal that you got is one of the indirect perks of being an expert in what you do.
As someone who doesn’t work on wrecked cars I would know what I was looking at enough to know if I could have peace of mind driving that car. Especially if/when any new issues present themselves. That’s if I were to try to work on it myself.
Although, if I were to buy one from someone like you then I might consider it.
I think that having a TH-cam channel is a good tool & element to have in a business where trust is currency & an asset.
Sam, People and pages like yours, would give me the confidence for me to do this myself on the right car, so yes to answer the question.
I purchased a 2015 Enclave Premium with all the options & 49K miles in March 2020 with that was a rebuilt salvage title. I have replaced normal wear & tear items only. The AC condenser was not replaced by the people that repair the damage and the bumper cover isn't attached correctly - but no other issues that you wouldn't have with any car that now has 192000 miles on it. Back in March of 2020 my Buick would have originally at around $26,000 for 49000 mile vehicle.
This is my second salvage rebuilt title vehicle and I would buy a third.
I have. My current SAAB 9-5 sat in a scrap yard in Largo for 3 years. Square tires! But I fixed it for less than $500. 30,000 miles ago no problems.
So good work u have done 😊😊😊
Yes I will do again. I previously purchased a 2015 Honda accord with 23000 mile on for 8grand in 2017. My Honda is still going strong. Its has 130,000 miles on it. Never had any issues with it. I just do regular maintenance.
If it was a vehicle model that I knew would meet my needs, and I was confident that the work had been done properly, I would be happy to take the savings. Operative words "confident" and "properly". Thanks Sam
Lane departure is the camera in the windscreen, thus is working ok. The cruise control and collision avoidance are the front radar. They require precise positioning and calibration
I bought a 1996 Tacoma a few years back with 128k on the clock for $1900 rebuilt. Had hit a deer and had new fender, fender liner and hood. Possibly a radiator.
In PA they have to go through an "enhanced" inspection.
Run great. Drives great.
It's not if it has been in an accident. It's how badly damaged and where.
My daily driver is a auction car. Had airbag light on. Turns out it was just the wires were ripped on the drivers side seat.
The engine had a few weeks before auction a spark plug ground strap break free and fall into the engine while it was running as I found out from the previous owners mechanic after I brought it. Amazingly it runs fine , compression is great and borescope shows the chunk melted/mushed into a the valve recess on the piston..
Long story short definitely worth the risk if you get the car cheap enough.😂
A trick with the sway endlinks: with the sway still attached on the other side, jack the unassembled side up. It will keep the sway bar in place but compress the middle bushings. Bonus if you can jack it up by that endlink bolt.
You did great. And yes, I would buy the car knowing it had been in an accident and getting a big discount. However, the kicker is I wouldn't be able to get someone like you to do a PROPER inspection and repair and show me how and why everything is fixed and working correctly.
Did this with my wife's chevy Sonic. Not crashed, but had overheated after a failed oil cooler gasket and flooded the cooling system with oil. It also needed a few maintenance items like a timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner, but I was able to fix it all for 700 bucks and a couple afternoons where a mechanic would have charged several thousand and weeks in a shop. Bought it for 4k in this condition and have put on 50k problem free miles since. It's still selling for like 6k right now.
I just bought a used car and as I searched online, I always plugged in one owner/no accidents and ended up buying 2009 Acura TSX with 100k miles from the Acura dealer in town. I always search one owner/no accidents and read the service history. I realize it could still have been in an accident, but I do this and then always take it to a mechanic I trust to do a presale inspection.
Yes!! I would buy one like that at a major discount and sort it out myself, it wasn't a major accident and no frame damage or major component damage on it. I was a great catch on the SRS seat belt issue. All it all I think it was a great buy for you and really enjoyed your videos on sorting this one out!.
I'm happy that your outro music hasn't changed, I was worried after your previous video :)
Yes. As long as there isn't any major frame/unibody damage or fire damage. I've repaired & assisted with repairs on many vehicles.
It's also worth digging for information on accidents before writing one off based on a report on Carfax, etc. I got a smoking deal on my low mile SL55 AMG by researching the Carfax reported accident on it. I found the police report detailing the incident which was a simple parking lot hit & run. With the Carfax I was able to get $4k off the sellers asking price before I drove the 250 miles to look at the car. I confirmed the repaired damage was confined to the rear bumper cover & negotiated from that lowered price as a starting point. Best deal I've made so far on a car.
I've owned a couple of cars that were badly damaged, one of them twice. The difference is knowing that the repairs were professional and competently done.
As someone who worked in an auto body shop for several years, I see no difference in buying and driving a car that has been properly repaired vs. owning a car, getting in an accident and having it fixed. Both cars have the same hypothetical damage and repairs. Both cars can generally be repaired as good as new unless they are a total loss. You got a killer deal on a beautiful Escalade. Congrats.
I am late to the game, but the car looks great. Bought an identical one from my step mom after my dad passed. Yes, I would buy the car. Prior to the 2016 I had a 2014 that was sideswiped by a semi. $18k in damage. Fixed well and I bought it from my dad when we found the 2016. You do nice work, Sam, and I would not hesitate to buy one of your cars.
After seeing these videos I felt the need to check my car. Bought it used and the dash was loose and the price was cheap. Happy to report all wires are in tact and airbags are good.
To use the cruise control, on the left side of steering wheel you hit the cruise control button to turn it on then press the rectangle button down to set it. The gap adjust only works on cruise control it will not auto brake for you unless you have cruise control on
If the repairs can be done HONESTLY and for a reasonable price, I would take a shot. You have the ability and connections to get what you need. That is a key. Not many have that as an option. If you are having to not only pay for parts, but to also pay for labor, it is a totally different answer to your question. Nice job though on your part.
One of the best cars I’ve ever had was a wrecked car. 2000 Chevy Malibu. Purchased for 400$. Previous owner hit a deer with it. Drove it for 2 years, hood ratchet strapped closed because the hood latch wouldn’t line back up right. Bought headlights from a junkyard for 50$ because the old ones were broken, other than that it never cost me any money. Just change the oil, put gas in it, and drive it. Air conditioning even worked.
My friend does what you do, and have a 2014 Equinox that was wrecked. Best car I have had!
Great truck in the right color with some relatively easy and inexpensive fixes. Well bought ! Thanks for posting !
Normally I wouldn’t - but videos like yours give me help … I think in the future I just might want to investigate these types of deals!!
I would definitely by one with FIXABLE issues to save on the price. A smart way to buy one as long as the problems can be sorted for a fair price. Good job!
bought a fixed 2016 altima with salvage title with a beautiful job done at almost half market value and driving it with absolutely no problems for 2 years but i knew from my previous altima that they can be hit high in the front end and sustain non life threatening damage
My current daily driver has a salvage title 2014 Ford Fusion 83966 miles when I bought it for under 12K. It had some front end damage. Bought from a dealer that did some shotty repair wort, but looks good and runs good.
I would in a heartbeat, but Sam, I work at a salvage yard… builders are easier than people think(if you buy them the right way). Thanks for the great video. Remember Diamond Todd is always willing to help out with those pesky nickel and dime covers, seat belts, trim…etc.
I feel that the documentation on what was repaired would play a big role!! If you could see what was repaired vs what you were told was repaired. This would be a big deciding factor!!
I have always liked rebuilding my oun cars. My first was my first car in 1986. I bought a 78 Nova with a clapped out inline 6 for $200. Then I bought a low mileage 77 Z-28 that one of my brother's friends wrecked after a long night of drinking, also for $200. A long weekend, a cheap set of headers, and a quick trip to the muffler shop for a full dual exhaust, I drove to school on Monday in the same plain jane Nova now sporting the Z-28's 350 4 barrel, TH-350 trans (with a B&M shift kit), a 3.73 posi 10 bolt rear diff, and the wheels from the Z. I kept the collumn shifter and the bench seat just to stay under the radar. If it were'nt for the wheels, you would'nt see it coming at all, untill it was too late. Not bad for a 16 year old kid and less than $1000 done in one weekend. This was my first of many rags to riches stories in my automotive history. Too bad U-Tube wasn't around back then, I could have financed all my projects for free!
While buying a rebuilt vehicle it saves money but when you go to sell it, it might cost you in the end if someone does the research on the vehicle. If you sell it with these considerations some people will buy knowingthe issue and be okay with the minor flaws..
Have to do a full inspection in the dealership. Check frame and anything related to safety. If it turn out fine, is good.
I have always wanted to buy a accident vehicle, but just do not have the money. BUT, if I did, I would like to do so, and have someone like you, help me. I learn a ton from your videos, and I find it fascinating. So, if I had the money, I would, but since I do not, I won't.
If I had the extra cash I most certainly would buy a vehicle like you did, fix it n flip it. You got a great deal on the truck. Kudos my guy. 👍👍
As long as the repairs can/are done correctly, Hell Yea!
Ten grand, IS TEN grand!
I have been driving a Mazdaspeed 3 for 6 years that was totaled. It has 251,000 miles now. I still trust it to drive 500 miles and back. It's also 23 years old.