Any members around Plano, TX? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hit Man X · #31 06-06-2010, 11:51 PM

I see cars with far less damage being totaled out in the yards... I am talking simply bent trunk lids and being backed into doors mind you.

Be ready for the worst if you get to deal with an insurance company.

At least he walked away.

JimmyL · #32 06-08-2010, 12:44 AM

I'm sorry I haven't posted these before now. Too much "stuff" goes on, ya know?

First, here is a link to a YouTube I shot of the car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBy4ynzLWvg

I don't recommend that you try and tow this from the bumper. It is certainly not a straight edge anymore. You NEED to tow this car back on a trailer. Rent one from Uhaul if necessary. They have very good trailers. Little extra weight though. I understand.

And below I will post a few pics.
From my notes:
{disclaimer- I did not lay in the oil. Duh.

Would have liked to have seen under that side but didn't have anything to lay over the oil}

* Fan is not contacting radiator
* Driver's side tranny line very kinked but not ruptured
* Engine mounts not torn or deformed. Not shifted either it didn't appear.
* AC lines and compressor look fine. System is still pressurized.
* Power steering pump pulley nut/bolt contacting oil cooler. Power steering assemblies do not appear bent.
* Aux fan is fine.
* Condenser and radiator amazingly look OK. Now your son said the radiator dumped its fluid. Maybe. Hold out hope that it was really windshield washer fluid because that was ruptured. However radiator could have damage I couldn't see.
* I've got "Front Support" on my notes. Can't remember. Maybe that means the front aux fan support that is damaged on the driver's side.
* Assume oil cooler toast. Not sure if oil cooler lines at connection points are damaged. Couldn't see that area, but assume the lower hose connection point holds an ominous surprise based on the size of the stain.
* Also, the glow plug wiring is mangled within the crumpled section right as it leaves the glow plug relay. It almost HAS to be shorted to frame somewhere. Seems like there might be some other wiring in that area for the head lights that might be smashed against metal too. Your son said it won't turn over. A short and possible blown fuses might account for that.

This was/is a beautiful W123, and I mean beautiful. The interior is immaculate! It is purdy under the hood! It is an example worth saving.
Like I told you though, any insurance company will total this car. No question.
Fix it!!!!

RML · #33 06-08-2010, 11:42 PM

Hey Jimmy:

Thanks so much for gathering and posting this info. And thanks for your kind compliments about my W123. I do really cherish this car.

I am sorting out my options right now. Have not gotten a number from the insurance company yet but hope to hear from them tomorrow. I am hoping to work something out with them. Meanwhile I am going to stop by a dealer in town who deals in classics and see if I can get a trade in value from them. They have a book on older cars. Kelly Blue Book used to have these prices online but do not do it anymore.

Richard

Aquaticedge · #34 06-09-2010, 12:26 AM

with damage like that you may have frame involvement, the 84SD I have is less pushed in on the same side and the frame is heavily bent, if it is I hope it's before the tire towards the front.. if it's behind the wheel or towards the body your talkin a lot of money to fix that unless you can do it yourself

alabbasi · #35 06-09-2010, 02:33 AM

I hate to say it, but that car is a gonna, maybe keep it as a parts car but certainly not worth bringing back.

RichC · #36 06-09-2010, 04:21 AM

I bet the pics make it look a lot worse than it seems.

It isn't hard to replace things like the hood and quarter panel.

If it were an SD I would have all the parts you would need to fix it.

Hood, quarter panel, front frame section ( already cut ) oil cooler, lights, etc..

I bought these parts from Whiskeydan when my wife wrecked her car.

Then we decided to put the money in the wagon instead of repairing the damage to her SD.

I think the total in parts would be around $ 300 - $ 500 from pick n pull type junkyards.

But if the frame was bent that might get very costly quick.

Most likely its not, just the thin front supports, not the frame.

RML · #37 06-09-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabbasi

I hate to say it, but that car is a gonna, maybe keep it as a parts car but certainly not worth bringing back.

I am certainly hoping to prove you wrong. Have some good people looking into it now. I'll report back.

alabbasi · #38 06-09-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

I am certainly hoping to prove you wrong. Have some good people looking into it now. I'll report back.

I'm sure that you can prove me wrong, all it would take is money :-)
But you need to weigh out the cost of a replacement with a good shell vs the cost of repair.

That's of course if your not sentimentally attached. If you are then money will become less important. I have a 73 W114 280CE that's a total rust bucket. I'm quite sure I can find a nice 250C or 280C for much less then it would cost to repair the rust but you can guess which way I'm going to go.

Fuzzball · #39 06-10-2010, 12:34 PM

That looks awful familiar....but just a bit worse than mine. Nice car, great color.

I'm going to say that the oil and antifreeze are due to lines getting severed or the radiator/cooler getting pinched.

I don't believe you have any frame involvement, as it looks like the damage is above the frame line...it really is hard to tell with the hood closed.

Just based upon what I can see and it looking similar to what happened to mine, I'm going to say you've got about $1200 - $1500 in parts from the pick and pull, plus your labor. (Radiator, Oil cooler / lines, hood, grille, headlight assembly with new door, fender, bumper, possibly some hidden damage).

I believe the car will shine again!

RML · #40 06-10-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzball

That looks awful familiar....but just a bit worse than mine. Nice car, great color.

I'm going to say that the oil and antifreeze are due to lines getting severed or the radiator/cooler getting pinched.

I don't believe you have any frame involvement, as it looks like the damage is above the frame line...it really is hard to tell with the hood closed.

Just based upon what I can see and it looking similar to what happened to mine, I'm going to say you've got about $1200 - $1500 in parts from the pick and pull, plus your labor. (Radiator, Oil cooler / lines, hood, grille, headlight assembly with new door, fender, bumper, possibly some hidden damage).

I believe the car will shine again!

YES!! Thanks for the encouragement, Fuzzball. I am still gathering info and waiting for an estimate. I can do the mechanical stuff myself but do not have the expertise or equipment to do the body work.

Fuzzball · #41 06-10-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

YES!! Thanks for the encouragement, Fuzzball. I am still gathering info and waiting for an estimate. I can do the mechanical stuff myself but do not have the expertise or equipment to do the body work.

Just to get back on the road I beat the inner fender well into shape myself...now my fender and hood line are about an inch off, but all things considered, the tool is back on the road.

I'm sure you are going to want to put it back to the condition that it once was...that will take a body shop applying heat to the inner fender well. Really it shouldn't be really expensive to do that if you find a good indie.

Here is my example...: Found some of my crumple zones...

I actually drove my car home...worst part was that the tire rubbed on bumps...it's back on the road with about 6 hours of work, but it's not as pretty as it once was. My daughter wants to make it perfect as she wants my car...I'll have to replace it first, but then it's all hers.

Whiskeydan · #42 08-23-2010, 09:58 PM

Updates?

Just wondering how it turned out.

frontwheel · #43 08-24-2010, 10:36 AM

whiskeydan,

i think it's at a body shop on coit rd -on the right- just as you get off 75 going north bound. or, there's one that looks just like it with the same wrinkles. it really doesn't look that bad from the rd.

RML · #44 08-25-2010, 04:52 PM

I drove back to Pgh over the weekend. The car did not get finished until Saturday morning, the 21st, and I needed to be back in Pgh on Sunday evening, or at latest, Monday morning. Drove from Plano to Nashville on Saturday and Nashville to Pgh on Sunday. The car performed flawlessly. No mechanical problems at all.

The pinstripe guy never showed up so I have to have that done here. The car really turned out nice. I will wash it and take some pictures so you can see the before and after.

I was really bummed that I did not have time to visit some of the forum members in the Dallas area after the car was back on the road.

On Saturday as we were leaving, driving south on Coit through Plano to get to I-30, we saw the aftermath of a bad accident. A Miata had the front pretty much ripped away and several other cars were strewn around and spun around. Part were all over the road. One person was being treated for minor injuries at the scene. My son said, "But for for the grace of God, there go I." It was touching. I believe he realizes how fortunate it was that he or the other drive did not get hurt in his accident and that it could have been much worse than it was.

Richard

RML · #45 08-25-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontwheel

whiskeydan,

i think it's at a body shop on coit rd -on the right- just as you get off 75 going north bound. or, there's one that looks just like it with the same wrinkles. it really doesn't look that bad from the rd.

Hey frontwheel - my car was at Huffines. It was inside and nowhere near a view from the road, so I doubt that you were seeing my car.

Richard