Wife crashed MM last night

[Zeph78]

My wife was otw to work last night and called to tell me that she had run off the road. She was ok, but the car took some licks. Front bumper cover destroyed, both front fenders, both front doors, header panel grill bolts to is cracked, both marker lights and fog lights. The car has close to 190k on it and I rebuilt the engine, trans, and put 4:10's in it at 160,820. It has SW long tubes w/ full 2-1/2" exhaust (x-pipe), FTI 2800 stall, J-mod, Moes Tune, UD pulleys, K&N. The car has had a rough life before I got it and I think it's had front end repair before. Unfortunately I had just dropped full coverage on it due to the previous insurance provider being jerks. The interior is in good shape as was the rest of the car before the crash. Should I fix it, sale it as is, or part it out? I just don't know what to do at the moment. I'm in middle GA.

[Blackmobile]

Sorry for you loss. Consider parting it out as being the most profitable. The built motor will pull in Big $$$.

[RubberCtyRauder]

post some pics, but I might consider buying another marauder and putting your upgrades on it..headers tune, exhaust etc.. engine and trans either save as spare or is easily worth a few grand and part out the rest..maybe shout out to Marty at MO's..He is in Dallas, GA and might know of another car to swap stuff too in the area.

[Zeph78]

Sorry for you loss. Consider parting it out as being the most profitable. The built motor will pull in Big $$$.



I think parting it would be the most profitable, but if someone wanted to buy it now as is? Parting it out could prove to be a big pita. I drove the car home after the wrecker driver and myself pulled the passenger fender off of the front tire with his wench. It still drove and shifted ok, the steering wheel might be a little off though.

[Zeph78]

Here's some pics.

[RubberCtyRauder]

could maybe look for a front clip from an 03-05 grand marquis thru car-part.com.
grille would have to be aftermarket and front bumper cover is avail. aftermarket..any 98-2011 door from crown vic or grand marquis will fit. will need to save outer door molding

[Blackmobile]

After looking at it, I'd say it's more on the re-build-able side. I wouldn't even inform the INS co. as long as no one was injured.

[Invective]

Hoping the wife wasn't injured.

One of the reasons my current Mustang had such low miles on it when purchased was the previous owner refused to let his wife drive it! The other reason was no one had a clue what was killing the battery on a regular basis. It was in the garage, under a cover and literally in 'brand new' condition when I bought it.

My Marauder was originally owned by a woman, who racked up some miles the two years she owned it. The man who bought it from her barely drove it at all the 12 years he owned it. Under his care, it was parked in a large shop/garage under a cover most of the time. I received the car in nearly new condition as a result.

Hoping you'll fix your car and stay in the Marauder 'family'!

[MOTOWN]

Buy a solid car with no collision damage , pull your upgrades off and move on to a solid car , yeah it could be repaired but the cost will be more than the car is worth its totaled.

[Zeph78]

Buy a solid car with no collision damage , pull your upgrades off and move on to a solid car , yeah it could be repaired but the cost will be more than the car is worth its totaled.



I think it could be repaired too. I haven't told ins about it, so it has a clean title still, but I just don't know how rough of a life the car had before I got it. Do you think it is totaled?

[8UWITH6]

I personally would fix the car. Or sell it to someone that will. Just be glad the damage is not on the rear quarters. Good luck

[Zeph78]

could maybe look for a front clip from an 03-05 grand marquis thru car-part.com.
grille would have to be aftermarket and front bumper cover is avail. aftermarket..any 98-2011 door from crown vic or grand marquis will fit. will need to save outer door molding



Thanks for the info, I've been on car-part all morning looking for parts. It really sucks, but at least my wife is ok and no one else was injured.

[Zeph78]

I personally would fix the car. Or sell it to someone that will. Just be glad the damage is not on the rear quarters. Good luck



If I were to sell it as is, what do you think it's worth?

[Zeph78]

Hoping the wife wasn't injured.

One of the reasons my current Mustang had such low miles on it when purchased was the previous owner refused to let his wife drive it! The other reason was no one had a clue what was killing the battery on a regular basis. It was in the garage, under a cover and literally in 'brand new' condition when I bought it.

My Marauder was originally owned by a woman, who racked up some miles the two years she owned it. The man who bought it from her barely drove it at all the 12 years he owned it. Under his care, it was parked in a large shop/garage under a cover most of the time. I received the car in nearly new condition as a result.

Hoping you'll fix your car and stay in the Marauder 'family'!


Historically no one drives my cars, but with our two children an swapping cars it's what happened. Now my turbo car? NO ONE will ever drive it!!!

[Zack]

Sucks man. I hope you get some delicious sexual favors from wifey due to the mishap.

[dmjarosz]

The rear bumper cover, wheels, front grille, and interior alone are probably worth more than the insurance company will give you for it.

If I were in your boat, Id start parting it out, then use the proceeds to get a new 'Rauder, swap over your goodies then continue parting out the rest til its scrap yard ready.

[RubberCtyRauder]

if you decide to look for parts, hood and fenders and doors, 98-11 crown vic, or grand marquis.. header panel MUST be marauder or 03-05 marquis..crown vic one does not work due to grille. aftermarket header panels are not recommend due to poor fit. Since you don't have collision, no point in notifying ins. comp.


parting out varies $.. rims $600-1000, rear bumper cover $500-$800, higher end $ if it needs no paint. exhaust tips. $150-250 based on condition, interior almost everything sellable seats, dash trim, etc. switches, covers, console, motor and trans..with rebuild and receipts..$2500-$4000 maybe? depends onmiles, brand of parts used etc..forged or not. These are est. prices based on what I have seen over the years..they all can vary based on demand..obsolete stuff is in demand,,bumper covers, front seats, etc..

[Zeph78]

if you decide to look for parts, hood and fenders and doors, 98-11 crown vic, or grand marquis.. header panel MUST be marauder or 03-05 marquis..crown vic one does not work due to grille. aftermarket header panels are not recommend due to poor fit. Since you don't have collision, no point in notifying ins. comp.


parting out varies $.. rims $600-1000, rear bumper cover $500-$800, higher end $ if it needs no paint. exhaust tips. $150-250 based on condition, interior almost everything sellable seats, dash trim, etc. switches, covers, console, motor and trans..with rebuild and receipts..$2500-$4000 maybe? depends onmiles, brand of parts used etc..forged or not. These are est. prices based on what I have seen over the years..they all can vary based on demand..obsolete stuff is in demand,,bumper covers, front seats, etc..



Great! Thank you for the info.

[BlackBeauty_bb]

Please don't part it out. its still a beautiful ride. And its definitely Fixable now that I've seen the pictures. anyone who says otherwise just wants some parts. And if you do sell it. Hopefully you find a buyer that would like to repair and bring it back to life.

[Joe Walsh]

Sorry to see the aftermath/damage... :depress:
If you decide to part it out and look for a new Marauder, let me know.
I've got one for sale and you wouldn't have to swap any parts/mods onto mine.

[crownvic97]

That really sucks man, if you do decide to fix it get it on a frame rack to be sure nothing is tweaked.

[RubberCtyRauder]

parting out is time consuming, shipping estimates, packaging, money, paypal and need a place to do it..A price to walk away from it as is is hard to determine..I've seen motorless and bad motor cars go for $1500..Can buy marauders for $4-6k running etc..
As is..I'm guessing $3000 plus or minus? to someone who either has a car with bad motor or wants to source parts to fix it. Some members here have done this before and maybe will post up what they experienced. Good luck to whatever you decide.

[88LTDCV351]

Dennis Gage says "Restore em, don't crush em". But I'd understand if you parted it out.

[ARodmarauder]

I personally would fix the car. Or sell it to someone that will. Just be glad the damage is not on the rear quarters. Good luck



Yeah I would too. There’s a local marquis in my loca junk yard with the front end intact. I’m sure parts would be cheap at any local to you as well. Good luck with your decision


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[Turbov6Bryan]

OP, i purchased a similar mileage and wrecked silver car off this site a few months back. The suspension wasnt messed up, but it needed hood, nose lights grille bumper, paint.
I purchased the car for 2k and had it shipped sight unseen.

Your car has suspension damage, needs quite a bit more work, and has been involved in a front in collision prior/

It is hard to put a actual number on the car without actually seeing it in person.
maybe 2-3k?

I would take it in for a look at the passenger side suspension. I bet it needs control arms and a spring and shock from the impact/ see how far the damage is and assess if you want to fix it.

Honestly, 2 doors, 2 fenders, a hood, bumper, nose can be purchased for less than a grand if you shop right. You might luck out and find correct color painted parts. Try craigslist and local marketplace on facebook. Certainly there are a lot of black vics down there that you can buy a few parts off. That damage is minimal except for the suspension, which is easy because its metal.

I would fix it and drive it for another 100K

[Mr. Man]

If the frame isn't badly tweaked, fix it. Fenders, hoods etc. all available at most junkyards. Bumper covers pop up here from time to time.

[BAD MERC]

FIX IT!!!!! It is all bolt on parts and you'll get your baby back in top condition with a little effort.

[Agent2006]

That's a shame but at least Mrs is OK. Marauder safety! glad she wasn't driving a SmartCar. I suggest with 190,000 on it if you don't want to spend all the dough, use Grand marquis parts once you determine the front end is OK. May have at least one bent control arm there, those are pretty cheap at Rock auto, a bit of a chore to replace not the end of the world.

I'd fix just what had to be fixed to get it roadworthy again, then worry about perfection later.

Expensive part is the front bumper cover= $600. Get a regular Grand Marquis cover for less than $100. Better than going Marauderless! Then see how the car drives after the fix. If you drive it a while and gotta have it 100% then collect the parts. Good luck.

[FordNut]

After looking at it, I'd say it's more on the re-build-able side. I wouldn't even inform the INS co. as long as no one was injured.


FIX IT!!!!! It is all bolt on parts and you'll get your baby back in top condition with a little effort.

That's what I would do too. It drove home, so you could just drive it with beat up body panels and gradually find the bolt-on parts to fix it. I have a hood and maybe a passenger door, already the right color. If you're lucky you can find some black fenders in a junkyard. Aftermarket bumper covers are available. Then a header panel and lights will finish it off.

[TrilogyMarauder]

I would say fix it if it had low miles but with that many miles you should let it go and buy mines!

[Zeph78]

Well guys thanks for all the help. I ended up purchasing another MM on Friday, and it's almost identical to my old one. It has Megs tips, trunk organizer, some fancy radio (stock one is in the trunk), JLT CAI, Drilled/slotted rotors, brand new SS brake lines unopened in the trunk, and already had 4:10's. Oh an a stack of receipts from the previous owners. The guy had just paid over a grand for the stealership to put a fuel pump in it!! Overall I'm very happy with it and will slowly transfer my headers, converter, etc. over to this one.


The ABS light is on which my buddy said is probably the module. I'll swap mine onto it and see if it fixes it. Another question on the rear air suspension: mine had coil springs and looked like an air shock; this one has an air bag similar to a Lincoln town car w/ air ride and a shock. Which one is correct?

[RubberCtyRauder]

nice find! air spring (bag) is correct. and better ride and will self sdjust when more or less weight is in the car.

[Zeph78]

Thanks! It also had a disc changer in the trunk and I found the original window sticker too. I haven't look through all of the receipts yet to see what all has been done. It does seem to ride smoother than my other one did.

[crownvic97]

Congrats on the purchase, I think that was the smart choice!

[Zeph78]

Congrats on the purchase, I think that was the smart choice!



Thanks! Me too. Even though the mileage is showing about the same between the two, this one is a little nicer than mine. Who knows how long it's had 4:10's and no tune to correct the shifts and speedo, so it could have quite a few miles less than what it's showing.


I'm going to get what I want/need off of my other one to transfer to this one, part out everything I can down to the chassis and drive train. I have two 55 Ford truck bodies that I might try to install on top of the old Marauder chassis kind of like Hot Rod Garage did w/ project "Crown Hick."

[MOTOWN]

You clearly made the right choice!

[Gerry24]

Thanks! It also had a disc changer in the trunk and I found the original window sticker too. I haven't look through all of the receipts yet to see what all has been done. It does seem to ride smoother than my other one did.




Nice grab!! :beer:

[RubberCtyRauder]

get a tune for the 4.10s to correct speedo and shifting..see marty o

[Zeph78]

It has SW long tubes w/ full 2-1/2" exhaust (x-pipe), FTI 2800 stall, J-mod, Moes Tune, UD pulleys, K&N...


get a tune for the 4.10s to correct speedo and shifting..see marty o



Already swapped tunes! That was the first thing I did. I had also forgot about the bigger rear sway bar I had put under the other car.

[Zeph78]

Any more help on what to ask for interior stuff, rear trunk lid w/ spoiler...etc. I really don't know what all this stuff sells for.

[Zeph78]

I swapped the electronic part of the ABS module over from my other car last night, and the ABS light is still on. What are some other things to check?

[RubberCtyRauder]

abs sensors at each wheel can get dirty, check for that and if each wheel has one.