My sense is that if I can get 3 or 4 thousand from the insurance company and keep the car, I will put in a BCM and see what happens. However if they offer me more than the current 14 thousand that is on the table which I suspect is a good possibility I will take it and run. Thanks for the help everyone, I will keep you all posted.

 

To me it's not about the money. Since I use mine for long road trips, reliability is extremely important to me. Reliability has been compromised with a flood damaged car. Now if the OP does not take it too far from home, doesn't mind dealing with glitches and problems, has the resources to part out a car and has no problem selling a salvaged car, then he should follow your advice.
He might have zero problems or it could end up being a nightmare.
Sometimes it's just better to put things behind you and move on. That's what he has to figure out.

 

Sigh. Did you even read his post or just want to scare him into throwing the car away?

 

Just how "flooded" was this car? From what I'm reading from the OP, not much. Just how wet was the interior?

My gut reaction is to keep the car. You know it and the maintenance it has had and it is low miles. However as many have said a re-sale in the future, problems or no future problems will be challenging. Carfax, et'al, will show the insurance flood damage/total.

Look the drive train on this car is probably A ok, just change all the fluids, trans, rear axle, brake might even change the coolant just to start fresh with everything. Then hit the road.

Sure you might have some gremlins, but you might have them in the next car also. (You probably all ready know but just search for the known problems with C5's, the list is not short.)

It's your car, you love it, fix it, take care of it and rock on.

 

Yes, I did. I was just giving my opinion. Isn't that what he wanted?
It's not throwing a car away. He is getting paid for it and he may even end up with a better one. Why do you want him to keep it?
It will always be a flood damaged car. I would not take a 3000 mile trip in a flood damaged car.

 

He mentioned it not being that bad and otherwise bring immaculate and low mileage. How do you propose he simply find a better one? I don't care what he does, but without seeing photos and knowing exactly what happened, it's hard to say what or will not happen with the car. From his description, it sounds like the BCM was damaged and possibly a few other things. Does this mean he should toss it and move on? Maybe or maybe not. Without being there and seeing the damage, it's impossible to say. I still think he can't lose by buying the car back and trying to sort it out. With the mileage and described condition, it's obviously not a daily driver and sounds like he already has it mostly functional. Regarding your last comment, I wouldn't want to take a 3000 mile trip in ANY C5, period.

Since almost all C5s seem to leak during storms, I guess they should all be totaled at this point per your suggestions

 

The insurance company totaled it. I didn't.
Would you rather have a totaled flood damaged car or a car that isn't. It really is that simple.
I have taken two 3000 mile road trips in my C5. Best trips of my life. You really don't know what you are missing. It is a great road car.

 

I wouldn't buy a salvage vehicle without knowing the full history complete with photos and detailed info. If my own vehicle was hit or had something happen to it, I would definitely consider keeping it if it made sense.

He isn't buying a car that was just pulled out of the Houston flood, it's already his car and he knows the total history of it. The fact that he is even trying to get them not to total it shows he wants to keep it and that it is most likely still a good car. So no, it isn't as simple as you put it.

 

He wants to keep it for sentimental reasons. He really does not know the total extent of the damage. No one does. It's a crap shoot. Still it will always be a flood damaged vehicle. If he can live with that, then he should keep it. If he would rather have a car that isn't flood damaged, he should take the settlement. It really is that simple.

 

Ok guys, that last thing I wanted to do was to have members debate because of a question I asked. The damage was limited to the carpet being soaked no more, no less. With that said I am very handy and did my own testing and all of my testing points me in the direction of the BCM. I decided several weeks ago that instead of just throwing money in a BCM, realized that we lay the car up with insurance. Low and behold I decided to allow insurance to take over and this is where I wound up. I am certainly sorry I did. I am looking back now and thinking I should have just detailed the car myself (as I was the one who originally took out the seats and dried the carpet) and then should have just put a BCM in and gone from there. The water was not even as high as the bottom of the doors. I am not sure how it actually go in but my guess is that it may have come in from the floor somehow! I know for a fact that the water did not penetrate through the door seals.

Oh well, please don't argue on my behalf as I feel bad about that, I do appreciate differing opinions and at the end of the day my wife and I will make a decision about the future of the car. But I will say I am not comfortable with a Salvage title!

Thanks again, John

 

Must be nice to live in such a black and white world with no grey area and 3,000 mile road trips.

 

I am just giving my opinion. I am not arguing. I am with you about the salvage title.

 

It is nice. Thanks.

 

But not in standing water. If any got in the wood will expand and crack the plastic.

 

If you watched the video you might get a better picture, by my view the water would be had pressed to get to the wood ??? (see how I did that "hard pressed") If ET sees this he might chime in ????? I do agree if something sits in water any length of time it's not good ????

 

From the outside I agree. But I had the whole interior out of mine to put an insulation kit in. There are places inside where fasteners are that would leak. Balsa wood really expands when wet. I would take the money and move on having had a water damaged truck before. The thing became a nightmare. And it was only 8 months old when it happened.

 

Water is a gift that keeps on giving.

 

Man, I do feel bad for you, tough thing to deal with considering your attachment to your car. I also have an older C5, a '99 in the 30K range that I fuss over and wouldn't like to lose. Maybe you can get it going again, but maybe not, and if you do get it going, what problems are ahead, if any? I'm not tecky enough to give an opinion on electronics, modules and such. I tend to look at things with a broader brush such as, whats it worth now, what will it be worth, what will it cost me repair it, will it be reliable, what could future costs be, if I decide to sell it down the road how much can I get with a salvage title? If it were me, and I'm speaking only for myself, not looking for an argument with anybody, and we have similar cars with similar value, I'd be wary of the "what ifs" and "will it be" as above. Combined with the undesireability of a salvage title. I believe, again, for me, I'd let it go and put the whole bad experience behind me. On the positive side, there is a lot of really very nice C5's out there for a price that hopefully are within reach if you are offered a decent settlement. Best wishes to you and family and good luck!

 

 

Good point