I have the opportunity to buy a xf that has been in floods, just how deep I'm not sure! but I should get it fairly cheap. Should I be worried? apart from rusting of wires etc what else should I excpect mechanicaly wise? could I simply drain all fluids e.g. oil, tranny oil, brake fluid and replace it with new fluid and it will be fine? the car is across the country so I'm abit nervous dont know if it starts either any input would be great.

 

Stay. Away. Seriously.

This flood car advice from my in-laws who lived near the London Ave. levee breach in NOLA.

Electricals in the XF are more expensive than domestic parts. And there's no way to tell where your problem's going to be. Trying to do anything on the cheap on these cars is simply a recipe for disaster.

 

Hey JC,

thanks for your advice, the only thing thats keeping me keen is it was fresh water so I figure everything got wet and dried? wheras if it were salt water obviously everything would be screwed... hmm it's just a great chance to get back into an SRT ahah. in the pictures it looks great

 

It has alway's been my experience as an auto technician, that if a car got water damage it really does matter on how much the car was flooded, with all the electronic parts, fresh water or salt water, Water and Electronics DO NOT GO WELL TOGETHER, and may have long term adverse problems, down the road, and yes the electronics are the most expensive to replace, and if you replace one you might have to replace it again due to another module being bad or corroded, causing other modules to fail as well, I would do some serious investigating on how much the car was flooded, if it was up to the seats I would stay away from it, just my thoughts, on flooded out vehicles

 

I would seriously stay away from this car. fresh water or not, if it was deep enough, which is not too terribly so on this type of car, there is dirt and water corrosion and gosh knows what else. The water gets everywhere and there is no chance whatsoever the water din't mess with something that's going to cost big time. the worst is when there are ground shorts that you won't find. take this one on only if you have the capability of tearing it apart completely.

 

Absolutely 100% STAY AWAY FROM FLOOD VEHICLES!!!!!!

The electronics WILL go bad, not a matter of "if" but "when".
You also have to consider the fact that the soft bits will start to mildew and rot. Carpets, seats, floormats, etc.

When you start doing the math, no matter how good the deal is, you'll spend a LOT more in the long run.



BTW......define "fresh" water. Are you sure the sewers didn't flood into that "fresh" water.

 

just as an FYI I live where 2 rivers come together (fresh water), and when they flooded that water was filled with gas and fecal matter. All of the cars here were totalled, and the ones that were put back into use have had nothing but trouble. It's not just the electrical it's all of the metal bolts, panels, etc. that are now possibly corroded and an accident waiting to happen. If the car is cheap, its for a reason. DON'T BUY IT!!
Regards,
Steve

 

Don't forget P/S fluid and antifreeze! Be very careful with this one and get it really cheap!!! It may take weeks or years for the corosion to start killing the electronics and maybe even the ECU here is a link with some info.
Fixing a Flood-Damaged Car - Cars.com

 

Don't do it,it will come back to haunt you.
Good tech's =$$$$$$$$$$$.Keep looking till you find a dry one. ILLCYA

 

It would be good if you posted the last 5 digits of the VIN and let everyone know to avoid this one, provided you don't buy it.

The seller might get upset at not selling it and decide to deny that it's been in a flood. Could save some members a lot of trouble!

 

I've gotta agree with everyone don't buy a car that has been flooded but my first car was flooded up to the top of the door (Toyota Celica) I replaced the motor and drove it for another 60,000 miles before trading it in but I consider myself really lucky

 

So, are all of the negitive comments making you want to buy it even more!?

 

You guys sound EXACTLY like my dad haha. He's cursing at me even thinking about it. The cars in Australia so you guys dont have to worry .

A few years ago my dad bought a disel Toyota landcrusier affected by fresh water, he managed to start it and never had to replace a thing on it, we kept that one for about 6 months so I'm not sure if anything happend long term.

The thing is here in Aussie land the SRT's are well over DOUBLE the cost of limited's, so the only way to get one at a resonable price is to buy it damaged or FLOOD affected .

I know everything your all saying is true and probably will happen but I just want it SO BAD! it's black too

 

Also over time the mildew and mold will grow in places you can't get at or clean well. Husband had a car when we first met, man oh man talk about mold smell, he didn't know from where but I stunk!

 

I bought a pristine 88 300zx(non turbo) with 188k miles on it when I lived in Houston in 2002 and one morning I woke up to find my car FLOATING in the parking lot. Once the water subsided I found that the car was filled up to the top of the seat bottoms and (of course) the car was dead. I ripped all the interior out of the car until it looked like a empty can and had the car towed to my work which happened to be a Mercedes dealer. I then put the car on a lift and changed ALL of the fluids(tranny fluid was like grey pudding), spark plugs and battery and drove the car home that day.............and drove it for the next 2 years before selling it in still perfect running condition to my sister who totalled it out 3 months later(and never paid me a dime for it) with over 220k miles. I miss that car.




PS moral of the story is that you CAN bring a flood car back to life under the right circumstances................and NEVER "give" a car to a family member until it's paid for.

 

It's stories like that, that give me hope


and dealing with family is a no no trust me I also have had bad experiences lol

 

You are right, but these circumstances rarely happen. In your case, it was your car. You took care of it immediately. You never know about others. You salvaged yours. Did all the work yourself. I'm sure you would have not bought it from someone else.

 

Well there ya go. Another reason to NOT buy it!

 

Not a fan of black aye

Is the transmission from the SRT the same as the Limited? in terms of strength and durability if I was to maybe put the SRT engine with my limited transmission would it be compatible?

 

Not the same tranny and the power and torque from srt motor will not match with any other tranny so forget that idea. The cars are built from MB sl parts and they didn't have any left over manuals or regular autos to handle it. Reusing discontinued parts is why only 3000 srt-6 were built. only 12or 13 in 2006. If it is a great deal then buy it with the plans to buy alot of used bits and pieces!!

I have been a mechanic for 8 years so I would buy it but my labor is free

Blake