$2804.75

That is amount of the check that was cut to the body shop as of 9:30 this morning. Frankly it's all bloody insane. I would be far more happy if they would cut that check to me so that I could get a car without a branded title and a far better interior. I really want to kknow what they valued my car at to shell out that much for a repair. Strange given that I couldn't possibly get more than $2,000 for it on the market and $1,500 is far more realistic.

The Moody Blues keep playing in the background every time I get a call from them......

__________________
'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

According to NADA, your car could be valued from 3K - 6.4K, depending on condition.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Hmm, NADA says:
High Retail: $6,375
Average Retail: $4,500
Low Retail: $2,950

As defined by NADA Low Retail Value is:

"This vehicle would be in mechanically functional condition, needing only minor reconditioning. The exterior paint, trim, and interior would show normal wear, needing only minor reconditioning. May also be a deteriorated restoration or a very poor amateur restoration. Most usable "as-is"

The car is indeed mechanically intact and a good daily driver but I think it needs more than "minor reconditioning." I mean the rear seat is ripped in many places, stuffed with foam, and held togethor with duct tape. The front seats are from a purple Saab, and while comfortable, are very out of place. It is also missing the interior panels under both passenger and driver-side dash. 3 of the windows motors were frozen and are currently out of the car with those windows currently blocked in the up position. Last but not least, none of the interior lights are functional.

Perhaps now you understand my shock at the fact they wish to do such massive repairs. I did want them to either total it or have them pay me to "fix" it myself (aka sell it as asap) but they said they had already ordered parts.

To the car's credit it does have beutiful lines and except for a small dent int the passenger-side door, the exterior looks pretty good. (although the paint is marginal in spots)

__________________
'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

My uncle hit a deer with his '96 cavalier a few years ago....it had around 96,000 miles on it, and was about 7.5 years old....it needed a fender...light assembly, dent removal on the hood....paint....new windshield...etc....well over 1,000 in repairs....yet the Blue Book on the car at the time was probably about $700, but they fixed it...and it now has 113,300 on it...and its still goin'. It all depends on the insurance place I guess.

As for your 300d, that thing is practically undriven! 165k? Unless your odo is broken, thats barely 5,500 miles a year!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

you should be able to get the money and get a different car if you want.

if the insurance co doesnt want to do it, ask the body shop to sign it over. you shouldnt have to fix it if you choose not to.

the insurance co just doesnt want to pay again in a few months if an unscrupulous person (not you of course) would claim to have fixed the car and then turn the same damage in again.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Just got her back today and it looks really good. Everything has been repaired with the exception of the lock mechanism which apparently they're shipping a new one from germany which will be another week or two before they can install it. (for now I have to slam the trunk multiple times to get it to latch )

Costs work out as follows:
Parts---$724.00
Body Labour---$1807.80
Paint Labour---$317.40
Paint Supplies---$179.40

Grand Total: $3028.60

They had to paint the rear deck and both quarter panels which looks great. As you can see from the pics it's not a perfect match but preety good given the incredibly poor condition of the rest of the paint.

Overall it seems to be an excellent repair although I'd really like the new lock to show up.
Good to have it back again.

Attached Thumbnails

       

__________________
'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

Uhmmm, your trunk emblems are on the wrong sides.....
Now work on that interior you talked about.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I completely didn't notice the badges were flipped. When I bought the car both badges were in the trunk so I just put them on as I saw fit which is apparently the contrarian way.

Funny you should mention the interior as I found someone parting out a w115 a week ago and for $50 I got the back seats shown in the pics (not perfect but far better than mine), a pile of various interior trim, 4 window regulators, windshield washer bottle, and an ash tray (the one in the dash is blue, needed a black one ) The car is looking better already, more so when I fix the windows this weekend.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

That is a nice haul for $50 bucks...

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

i like your bumper sticker. nice colors, heh heh.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Looks like they did a very nice job. IMHO, that's a great looking car...very classic! I'm sure it's nice to have it back from the shop...and to not have had to write the check yourself (except every month as insurance premiums, I guess...).

__________________
Christopher
'06 Mercedes E350 station wagon (silver/black)
'85 Mercedes 300D (black pearl/palomino)
'85 Mercedes 300SD (smoke silver/burgundy)
'79 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

'05 Toyota Camry (because always running is nice)

'85 Mercedes 300D sold back to orig. owner 8-1-06
'84 Volvo 264GL Diesel, owned 2000-2013

Well I drove the car to school today. Ran good, handled good, and then mid-way through the brake pedal goes rock hard. The rest of the drive I am literally standing on the brakes to get it to stop. When I got to school the car wouldn't shut off which tells me it's a vacuum issue.

On the other hand, maybe the body-shop is trying to kill me.

__________________
'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances