I'd like to know exactly how this "saved" the company $35k? Do they not need a 250 anymore? It it an extra that will get 50 hours the next 5 years?
Because how I see it, just peddling this machine to auction isn't really saving $35k. It might bring $85k at auction. Maybe. A new one is $250k? Maybe closer to 3? You could put ITR undercarriage on that machine for about $20k, your labor included. If they're doing oil samples, they would have a pretty good idea if there is a major hydraulic component failing, I would think.
Back in the day I used to inspect heavy equipment coming off of leases for leasing companies. I created my own standard back then and carry the same today. Equipment has a shelf life of sorts where the object of the game was to get the best use out of the machine during the lease period (usually 4-5 years on average) before major component rebuilds started happening. The parameters were hours on the machine, the application & environment they worked in, and the repair and maintenance of said machine during the course of the lease.
Any machine over 10K hours was an automatic candidate for a major component rebuild if there was little to no service/pm records (this 250G applies here). Equipment between 7K-10K hours would get oil samples, pin and bushing inspections, operational safety inspections, hydraulic and powertrain pressures checked to spec, overall visual condition, and engine stall speeds checked. This would determine whether the machine was in good enough condition to be sold at lease end without money being spent....or very little.
Equipment with 4K-7K hours were considered prime used.........meaning they had enough value to recoop the most investment for the lease company. These machines are marketed and sold near retail value (lease companies call it Fair Market Value).
Right or wrong, I apply the same to ownership of equipment. Yes, some equipment can be exceptional and be outside of those parameters if well taken care of or trashed, which is why it has to be considered on a piece-by-piece basis.
This design does not consider what the leasing companies call secondary ownership.........meaning anyone outside of large, highly profitable organizations. Basically, they don't care what the little guy does with it.