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  #1  
Old 09-03-2001, 05:35 AM
clmiller
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Unhappy ARGHH!!! It Hurts!! (Got to vent!!!)



I purchased my baby last November. Used to be "a car is just a car" type of guy. Now I am spoiled. I was just ready to turn 297,000 miles on my beautiful '87 300D Turbo when I was rear-ended this evening.

I was stopped at a light, when a woman in a Mazda Protege hit the Nissan Z behind me. His front end slid right over my rear bumper and punched the trunk. Took care of the trunk and lid, rear lights on both sides, and both the rear panels buckled by the wheel wells. Too bad he couldn't have hit the bumper square on or slid underneath.

Important things first: Fortunately both my kids were strapped in and were not hurt. In fact, no one was hurt. I'm glad we were in the Mercedes and not my wife's Camry. Everything worked the way it's supposed to. Even though the light lenses were shattered, all the taillights still work.

But now, the aggravation...
Tonight a Motrin and tomorrow we visit the chiropractor. Tuesday a trip to the Insurance company and then start searching for reputable body shop. Anybody have some leads in the Huntington Beach or Orange County area?

Of course, with this car being 14-15 years old with high mileage, what will the Ins. Co, decide to do? Pay for quality body work or try to total the car? My wife has been off work since April and now is not the time for additional expenses.

Ramble, ramble, vent, vent...

Of course if I do have to get rid of it, I'll be looking for a W123.

--Craig
1987 300D Turbo
Smoke/Palomino
297,000 miles on original engine and transmission

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  #2  
Old 09-03-2001, 10:03 AM
LarryBible
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I'm glad your family and you are okay.

As far as the car goes, these cars are difficult to ever get right after being rear ended, the rear fenders usually "accordian" and it's a real mess to fix. Most body shops can make them look okay from the outside, but you will still see some results of the "accordian" inside the trunk.

The good news is that the accordian effect is how it does it's job to dissipate the energy into the vehicle instead of into you and your family.

Best of luck,
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  #3  
Old 09-03-2001, 10:59 AM
Steve019
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They tried to pull the total thing on me in an old Ford pickup I have. Problem was I had just rebuilt/replaced everything on it and gave it a paint job. After some negotiation (cussing and discussing) we came to an agreement. Insurance companies will give you as little as they can. In a lot of cases their repair estimates cover cheap replacement parts, not original. My truck only bluebooked for 1500. I could have sold it on the street for an easy 4000. (it was practically a new truck) They tried to get away with giving me 1500 and hoped I would go away. I did not accept it. I ended up getting the 1500 and keeping my truck. I replaced the tailgate, bed, bumper etc and repainted myself.
You might look on nada.com or similar sites to get an idea of your cars value from their prospective. Also get estimates from reputable body shops, specify original parts. Make sure you cover everything. Once you cash the check its over. Also if your vehicle is inop demand a temp vehicle, if nothing else use this cost to you as a negotiating tool.

Medical claims are handled separatly.
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  #4  
Old 09-03-2001, 12:21 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 150
My 240D was also hit in the rear. Boy did that make me sick. A pickup truck no less. The body shop did a good job making it look like new but the left rear door doesn't shut like it should. The person that did the work said that it was a very difficult job to pull it back into shape.

The insurance paid for everything since the car still looked like new. They paid over the blue book value to fix it.
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  #5  
Old 09-03-2001, 01:39 PM
clmiller
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Thanks

Thanks for the the advice. I'm very glad the car worked the way it was designed to, crumpling and absorbing the energy from the crash. It's just that I've grown attached to this vehicle. Even though it has high mileage, the car was always garaged and maintained. The body and interior is very clean. No rips or tears in the MB Tex, no dents or major scratches, etc.

Over the past few months I have been debating whether it would be worth it to have the engine and transmission rebuilt and keep the car long term. This accident adds a couple of issues to the equation.

I'll just have to wait and see what the insurance company will say.

--Craig
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  #6  
Old 09-03-2001, 10:18 PM
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,373
Non-Important Stuff

As for the non-important aspect of the accident, what a bummer to be 3k miles away from a huge turn-over. I'm nursing my Volvo towards 300k and needing alot of encouragement along the way. My 300 turbos have another 95k to go.

Glad to hear that you and your family were kept safe!
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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed
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  #7  
Old 09-04-2001, 01:55 AM
Dirty Ern
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First and foremost...it's good to hear that everyone is OK!

I am in the process of putting things back together myself. It sounds like your damage may be worse than mine, I hope not. I was the front car of a four car rear-ender. The girl that caused the wreck was in a late 80's Chevy pick-up. The first car she hit was a full sized Dodge van. He got knocked into a Chevy Blazer that crashed into me. The girl in the truck and I were the only ones that didn't get hauled off on body boards.

When I got out and walked around to the right rear, I had that sickening feeling that it would be a total wreck. And it was. The first place I took it to is an authorized State Farm (my ins. co.)body shop and estimated repairs at $5700. Then the State Farm field adjuster came to my house and confirmed the body shops estimate. Shortly thereafter State Farm offered to pay me off a total of $4100 including tax. I assumed that being that I bought the car about four years ago for $4200 that there would be no problem finding a replacement. I bought the wreck back for $500, I figured I'd be able to sell the 30,000 mile engine, use the $380 polished wheels on the next car ....etc.

So after a month or more of chasing from San Mateo to Fresno to Modesto to Anaheim and all points inbetween....I realized that my car was really worth more than the $4100 that they paid me. I don't know if you can hold out on THEM finding YOU a comparable replacement or not. I DO know that they get you in a real rush to settle. It's truly in their favor. You're in a tailspin--they know it--you don't do this every day---they know this---the quicker they get YOUR signature on THEIR check the better---because the longer you wait the more time you have to settle down and think---and the more time you have to think---the more you realize that what THEY want to do, really isn't in YOUR best interest.

So anyway I found another car, but really couldn't put my heart into selling my Baby. The next best estimate was only $1000 less. I remembered one guy that was selling a car that I looked at telling me about a frame shop in Fresno. I took the car there and the estimate to straighten the frame along with saving the quarter panel was $720. That was 12 hours labor (no parts needed). The next best estimate wanted over 30 hrs. labor plus the cost of a new quarter panel plus the labor to remove the panel and install the new one. The frame guy said when he was through that any good body shop would be able to finish it off with very little work. To tell the truth I didn't believe him. I couldn't believe my eyes when I picked it up! I stopped at a shop in his same complex on the way out and got an estimate for $900 to finish it off. So that's $1620 compared to anywhere from $4700 to $5700. So what's going on between the body shops and the insurance companies?? Or are they just that dumb?

Here's some pics of the before the frame shop and after the frame shop. I'll be hitting the body shop soon I hope.





Please excuse the large picture...I've been trying over an hour to get into my FTP provider to pick a cropped pic.

Hang in there and don't let them suck you under.

Good luck, and I hope everyone stays in good health.

Ernie

Last edited by Dirty Ern; 09-04-2001 at 02:04 AM.
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  #8  
Old 09-04-2001, 08:48 PM
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 62
I'm sorry to hear about your mishap. A damn shame.

I've been thinking about safety...like what if I put my MB into the back of a Suzuki Swift or Samurai at 55 mph?

I'm glad your family is o.k. I feel very confident in the SD.
__________________
83 SD 143 K miles
93 Grand Caravan 130K miles
92 Buick Regal (winter car)
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  #9  
Old 09-05-2001, 01:32 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: So. California
Posts: 744
Craig,

Not to worry. Take your car to Ron's Auto Body in Torrance. They have 5 or 6 of the Euro frame pulling machines and do great work. They specialize in MB, BMW, Lexus, Range Rover and Jag. Ask for Ralph, although they may try to move you to another adjuster depending on the insurance company. Ron's is on-line with State Farm, Farmers, AAA and Allstate. A real first class operation!! Ralph will give you a tour. Mention my name. Good customer (unfortunately).

Eric
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  #10  
Old 09-05-2001, 09:45 AM
NIC
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Craig,

As you were rear ended, there is no question about where the fault lies. Take a strong position with the responsible parties insurance company regarding what you believe your car is worth and/or what it will take to fix it the way you want it fixed. Don't let them corner you with blue book values.

By far, the biggest financial liability to the insurance company will be personal injury claims, not the car. If necessary, use what leverage you have with them.

I don't know what body parts are out there for your car but I would not straighten anything that can be completely replaced with new or used parts and the whole car should be painted and painted well. I don't believe you will need to compromise the quality of the work at all.


Nic
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  #11  
Old 09-06-2001, 07:15 PM
clmiller
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Venting Update

Spoke with the offending person's insurance company, Coast National. The woman there was rude and uncooperative (must be her job!). So now I will fight a little harder. Spoke with mine, Mercury, and I feel a little better about things.

I went to get three estimates. The first from the shop referred by Mercury was $4000. The second from Bruce Strauss in Costa Mase was $6200. I also went to Ron's in Torrance. They refused to write an estimate because he thought the damage exceeded the value of the car. (These two shops were recommended in the MB shop discussion group)

I dropped the car off at Bruce Strauss today. The Mercury adjuster will visit the car tomorrow. I will wait to find out if they will fix the car or if I will have to fight to keep it.

Other than that, I am very thankful that no one was injured. Took the kids to chiropractor yesterday and I went today. A couple more visits and we should all be better than before.

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts. Gotta tell you though, I really feel funny driving a Pontiac Sunfire as a rental. I can't seem to break the habit of turning on the ignition and waiting ten seconds before starting the car.

--Craig

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