Support Group Summons: The Murder of the Greatest Car Ever

[Darthgrader]

Hey guys,

Last Wednesday night, my beloved anthracite gray on black 1985 Mercedes Turbo diesel sedan with 180K miles was totaled. She was in cherry condition, and she saved my life. I was t-boned on the driver's side by a guy doing forty miles an hour through a red light. I walked away. If I had been driving my husband's 95 Corolla, I doubt I'd be here to tell the tale.

I had an auto body guy I trust come by and evaluate the damage this morning. He said the frame is significantly damaged--yes, perhaps it could be unbent, but that the car would not be nearly as structurally sound as it once was, and definitely not as safe. My trusted long-time mechanic concurs. I made an agreement with my husband that I would take this guy's word as the final verdict. (My husband knew that it was a total the minute he saw it, but I was having none of it. )

My sense of loss and emotional attachment are embarrassingly huge. I know it's just a car, and I know I should be grateful to be okay. I am, but I hurt big time over the loss of this grand automobile. It was the best car I ever had by a long shot. Despite the fact that I'm in my 40s, this was the only car I ever picked out myself and loved, rather than just bought out of desperation or lack of funds. My husband bought her for me a couple of months after we got married. I appreciated it and loved it every single day of the seven years I had it. We're both teachers, and I never dreamed I'd have such a singularly beautiful car.

Thanks to this forum, I learned how to clay bar and wax with a buffer. I installed my own stereo and did other small things like bulbs and fuses. I was preparing to pull the dash and redo the vacuum and lights. You guys all showed me how and gave me the confidence to do it. Mostly, I just lurked and got all the advice I needed. Your help to complete strangers means something, and I really appreciate it.

My mechanic said my car was the cleanest example of a W123 that he has ever seen, and he works almost exclusively on older Mercedes. Broadway German Auto Service in Long Beach, CA--could not ask for a more stand-up place.

Needless to say I'm in a battle royale with my insurance company over the value of the car. . . Actual cash value my ass!

So . . . I'm not writing about trying to get it fixed. I guess I just needed to commiserate with people who actually get how special these cars are in good condition.

I do wonder if I should let them take it away though. I wonder if someone else could use the car's parts. It's got a newly installed AC system, four new tires with the rubber hairs still on 'em, a solid, well-kept original engine with 180K on it, and all the rest of the stuff--all functioning perfectly well, including a new regulator arm.I put a lot of money into keeping her in fine fettle.

I can't part it out. It would kill me, and I don't have the garage space for it as we live in a condo. If I had endless cash and/or serious expertise, I'd buy a junker W123 and combine them!

What would you guys do? This is not about the money--though my insurance company is going to give me a bit less if I don't surrender the car. The idea of having the car's awesome innards live on in some form for someone else is appealing as hell. It seems like a sad waste to have it just sit somewhere and rust out. And the idea of her sitting in a pick-a-part place doesn't sit well. So few people seem to really get the sheer awesomeness of this particular model of Mercedes. (God knows Farmer's Insurance has no clue.)

A real effing heartbreaker, folks! I know it's silly, but I feel like a treasured friend has kicked the bucket. Sorry for being so long winded and thanks for listening.

[rrgrassi]

Sorry about your loss.

Did you ever have the car appraised? That would be the fair cash value.

Luckily you can tell the tale. There are still lots of good, clean examples of the w123 still out there.

[Aquaticedge]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss of your car, It's not silly that you've gotten attached to it, it's served you faithfully for as long as you've had it and it wasn't your decision to take it from you And it had saved your life... As for what to do, Work with the insurance co. and try to get what the car was worth, if you customized it and have the receipts take them in, Do some research online with Autotrader, Ebay Carfinder etc to see what the cars generally go for.. It wont replace the one you had but it saved your life, I hope this helps you some

[tbomachines]

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-22-1-5013-0-0-0&l=1&w=22&p=1&f=5014&y=1985&m=1115&d=4224&c=12&vi=76750&da=-1

This should help you out. NADA prices are unbelievably inflated...not good when you're trying to buy a car off somebody but the insurance companies really take the "book values" to heart.

[Codifex Maximus]

Well, what about renting a storage facility for a short while, finding a rust free example of the same car and saving the best parts of your friend? Sounds like you've got some talent as far as these cars go.

That way, much of the spirit of your car would live on in the replacement.

After you've got your parts for the new car, go ahead and sell the old car to a forum member to get it good and stripped of useful parts then what remains can be melted down to possibly form the heart of a new Mercedes.

[punkinfair]

Originally Posted by Darthgrader

I can't part it out. It would kill me, and I don't have the garage space for it as we live in a condo.

if it has worthy parts, it will live on in other cars, somehow.

sorry to hear about the car getting totalled.

[dadette123]

Originally Posted by Darthgrader

Last Wednesday night, my beloved anthracite gray on black 1985 Mercedes Turbo diesel sedan with 180K miles was totaled.

Another black interior W123 totaled?!!! What's going on?

I am profoundly sorry for your loss but, equally as glad you are okay. I certainly understand your connection with the car and hope you find a way to salvage as much as you can so it can live again. S Cal is a mecca for well-kept rides so maybe you can find one that needs an engine/interior transplant.

At the very least, find a way to save the black interior. I am admittedly biased on this matter. I once saw a wrecked gray '85 300DT on a salvage yard website (in another state), bought it and the parts to fix the wrecked front end, had a local body shop effect the repairs and, then, had the car shipped to me JUST because it had a black interior. Nuts, I know but, as you said, you get very passionate about these cars.

Good luck

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-22-1-5013-0-0-0&l=1&w=22&p=1&f=5014&y=1985&m=1115&d=4224&c=12&vi=76750&da=-1

This should help you out. NADA prices are unbelievably inflated...not good when you're trying to buy a car off somebody but the insurance companies really take the "book values" to heart.

Agreed. If the ins companies can use them to their advantage, why can't you?

In the meantime, buy ten cases of really good beer, and give them to the local Hell's Angels. Then tell them (pointing): " That's the guy who wrecked my car and said you guys were all sissies."

[JB3]

I had the exact same thing happen to my 82 a couple years ago. Rear ended by a dodge ram at a stop sign, car was totaled out, but the same loss, I had new tires, lots of great parts, and had sunk a decent amount of money into her JUST before the accident. It was going to be painted the next week.

I wanted to strangle the guy with my bare hands, cell phone was the cause.

In my case I decided to keep the car minus a couple hundred on the pay out by insurance. I think it was 300 bucks less, and I was paid by insurance 2500 or 2800 dollars. then sold it a couple months later for 500 bucks to a guy who had one with a blown engine.
He was really happy and excited, and I felt a lot better than if I had sent it off to a yard. That was really curative, the idea that someone else would be able to use parts off of it. I suggest you do that, especially with all the enthusiasts out there. I used the insurance money to buy another one which turned out to be my favorite one so far.

[POS]

Comps, comps, comps. Get as many good ones as you can and from different sources - "completed" auctions on ebay, autotrader ads, Craigslist ads. Then start working with your insurance company to come up with a fair, hopefully relatively high value. After that's done, then ask about the cost to buy it back.

Sorry to hear you lost your baby, but it did exactly what it was designed to do - save you from an accident. Congrats on making a very wise auto purchase.

[blackestate]

Sorry to hear about it. I have lost 2 in the last year. So hang in there!

[barry123400]

Do not forget your mechanics opinion might have some merit in the price negotiations. His opinion of value would have some weight. Talk to him first before mentioning it to the adjuster.

Far better to lose a car than to have to deal with some injury. Especially the ones that never really get much better. Money never really compensates for them in my opinion.. It usually can for a car.

[ah-kay]

Glad you came out OK. It is better to total the car than the driver. Anything that can be resolved by money is not a problem, not so if one is injured or totaled. I think a member here total his 300SDL recently and he got a settlement from his ins co. after he presented them with comps.

Safety is one of the reasons my daughter is now driving a 83 300D in NoCal. It has 330K miles and I have complete faith in the car, driverabilities and safety-wise.

Good luck.

[buffa98]

Originally Posted by ah-kay

Glad you came out OK. It is better to total the car than the driver. Anything that can be resolved by money is not a problem, not so if one is injured or totaled. I think a member here total his 300SDL recently and he got a settlement from his ins co. after he presented them with comps.

Safety is one of the reasons my daughter is now driving a 83 300D in NoCal. It has 330K miles and I have complete faith in the car, driverabilities and safety-wise.

Good luck.

Taht member was me. A guy backed into me in a parking lot=total loss. At first the ins came up with $2048. Was nice and told them to call me when they were serious. Flooded their in box with values comps etc. Found a pristeen 86 300SDL for over $12k and sent that in as well we finally reached an agreement after some heated bickering. Check with an lawyer because here in PA the ins companies are required to replace with equal or GREATER value vehicle.
Good Luck with this. I am still waiting for my check.
PS. I got to keep mine for $300

[bbboomer]

I feel your pain. Glad you were not hurt and sorry for the loss of your car.
My 300SD (old girl) was recently in an accident. My wife was driving and though a little sore and stiff I think she will be fine.
Unfortunately that is not true for old girl. She took the insult but I fear it will be her last hurrah.
She was hit in the rear during an ice event. My wife was able to get old girl straightened out and stopped but the pick up behind her wasn't.
Old girl suffered fairly significant damage and the good old ins company will probably want to total her.
I will contest that but they don't usually play fair so we'll see how it goes.
Old girl was a particularly nice example with no rust and everything worked as it was supposed to. I will look long and hard to find another but it won't be easy or the same.