Accident! Front right quarter panel crumpled. [photos] - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #31 10-27-2010, 10:23 AM

complete wagon parts car. everything rust free.

winmutt · #32 10-27-2010, 11:26 AM

That will buff right out! Nothing a few come a longs and some trees cant fix!

michakaveli · #33 10-27-2010, 05:59 PM

This car belongs to be back on the road! Git 'r' Done!

byronnash · #34 10-28-2010, 01:58 PM

I just got my first call from the Total loss Dept at USAA. They say the repairs are valued at $2207 and they are valuing my car at $2375! I'm waiting on a fax to come in with the valuation so I will know more details in a while. She said they look at local listings (none that I can find) and dealerships. I am prepared to contest as I have easily twice that into this car between parts and the purchase price in February of this year. She said they will not count Craigslist ads or bids(eBay). Most of the comps I found are those two. I will send them in anyway and see what happens I guess.

The good news is they only have the salvage buyback value at $200.

michakaveli · #35 10-28-2010, 02:04 PM

Make sure you have all your receipts for parts and services that you may have put into it. Sure, some of it may be wear and tear, but any little bit counts.....

vstech · #36 10-28-2010, 02:08 PM

NO NO NO
do not include repairs you have done... it will only increase the buyback cost.

contest the value! your wagon is a pristine 84 with every option! I really want your cross racks, and cargo cover...

calmly explain you will happily go to court over this. the MB collectible market is high for this vehicle, and replacement is unlikely for less than 4K

michakaveli · #37 10-28-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

NO NO NO
do not include repairs you have done... it will only increase the buyback cost.

contest the value! your wagon is a pristine 84 with every option! I really want your cross racks, and cargo cover...

calmly explain you will happily go to court over this. the MB collectible market is high for this vehicle, and replacement is unlikely for less than 4K

The insurance company(ies) could care less if you mention "going" to court. And yes, anything that you have done to "increase" the value of the vehicle, be it maintenance repairs, etc... WILL help. Otherwise it is considered your average condition vehicle, other than what it really may be. You need to sell the condition of the vehicle in efforts of securing top value for it.

babymog · #38 10-28-2010, 02:22 PM

It all depends on whether you want to have it repaired, totalled and walk with more money, or totalled and buy it back.

If it's one of the first two, use any means to justify its value. If just to buy it back and repair it yourself, the buyback will likely increase if you increase the value (although the check to you should also).

byronnash · #39 10-28-2010, 02:26 PM

I just got the valuation and the error seems to be that the comps were two 300SD's of similar vintage. I'm no expert, but in my research the 300TD is much more rare and expensive than the sedans.

JimFreeh · #40 10-28-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

Wow, vstech is in your backyard with all the parts you need. You might end up thanking this idiot driver that cut you off. You will make a couple grand, do some minor work, and the only lasting evidence will be a salvage title.

Why salvage?

I've owned a couple of cars with relatively minor damage that exceeded value. Very easy to have happen on an older Benz.

In both cases, accepted a settlement with buyback, kept the car and repaired it. Title never left my hand, no branding....

For example, had a 300D that they valued at $3500, had an extimated $5K in damage to the nose. Accepted the $3500 offer, less buy back and fixed it with a combination of new sheetmetal and used parts. Car had light damage such as yours. Put it on a frame machine and pulled out the inner fender, and replaced the RH radiator support and fender/hood.

Most of the estimate cost was for the "soft" stuff like condenser, radiator, fan, clutch, headlights (euro), grille, etc. By the time I finished, I had less than 2 grand back in the car and it was virtually impossible to tell the car ever been repaired. I didn't scrimp on the shop work (verify frame was perfectly straight), the cosmetic parts or the paint(er). Also bought a non-running 300D for most of the mechanical stuff, and that was part of the total cost.

Jim

vstech · #41 10-28-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byronnash

I just got the valuation and the error seems to be that the comps were two 300SD's of similar vintage. I'm no expert, but in my research the 300TD is much more rare and expensive than the sedans.

be sure and point out this to the rep. explain that TD does not mean turbodiesel, it is for the touring (wagon) diesel. and accept only quotes based on an 84 fully optioned perfect condition wagon.
they will have a hard time finding value of the wagon with all options.
very few exist.

byronnash · #42 10-28-2010, 02:58 PM

That is what I explained about the rarity of the wagons. He tried to argue that the wagon value premium depreciates over time until it is the same as the sedans. As politely as I could(trying not to get mad), I rambled off all the research I have been doing on these cars. He backed off then and wanted me to send him some comps. The saga continues...

dudemanstan · #43 10-28-2010, 03:09 PM

i have some good comps for your 84 wagon if it helps:

http://www.mercedesmotoring.com/2008/05/25/1983-mercedes-benz-300td-turbo-diesel-station-wagon-athracite-grey-metallic-with-palomino-mb-tex/

JB3 · #44 10-28-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Why salvage?

I've owned a couple of cars with relatively minor damage that exceeded value. Very easy to have happen on an older Benz.

In both cases, accepted a settlement with buyback, kept the car and repaired it. Title never left my hand, no branding....

Depending on the state, this counts as salvage fraud if an insurance company had paid out a claim on a "total loss" vehicle.
I was living in MO when I got rear ended, and had to take the title down and have it turned into a salvage title.

this is a relevant portion of the MO dmv site for interest-

"Many Missouri residents refer to salvaged vehicles as "totaled" cars or trucks. But, in laymen's terms, a salvaged vehicle is simply one that an insurance company has determined will require repairs that cost more than the vehicle's current value. So, this means that it's possible for a 10-year-old vehicle with very minor damage to be declared a salvaged vehicle.
Generally, damage done to your auto must exceed its actual cash value before your car insurance company declares it to be a total loss. State Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices allow auto insurance companies to permit you to keep your salvage vehicle after it is involved in a car accident.
Keeping Salvage Cars

Contact your insurance company claims adjuster and notify them that you want to keep your car. The insurance company will deduct the amount they expected to gain from the sale of your auto from the actual cash value of your car. They will cut you a check for the difference. After you take ownership of the vehicle your auto claim will be closed.

Next you must visit your local DMV office and get a salvage title. List damages made to the vehicle during the auto accident on the title. You can get some of this information off the insurance claims report."

This is from the OPs home state-

In South Carolina, a vehicle can be declared a total loss if the cost of repair, including parts and labor is 75% or more of the vehicle's market value.
If your car has been declared a total loss by the insurance company due to an accident, a storm, vandals, or some other cause, a Salvage Title will need to be issued through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The owner of the car, an authorized requestor, or the insurance company can apply for this certificate.

If you retain ownership to the wrecked car and rebuild it, you will need to have it inspected before another title can be issued. A regular title may not ever be issued again, but it will be designated as "salvage-rebuilt."
To apply for a salvage title, you will need:

A completed Form TR-3, which can be obtained online using the free Adobe Reader.

A certificate of title and the registration papers, all with your name on them.

A statement from your insurance company, declaring the damage to the vehicle is over 75%.

$15 salvage title fee.

Most states require you to get a salvage title. He will have to when all is said and done. I suppose he could not which is a bit unethical if he ever sells it, but it really depends on the situation, for instance the insurance company in my case reported the vehicle destruction to the DMV, which became part of public record and I got a notice in the mail from the DMV asking me to get down there and process the title.

babymog · #45 10-28-2010, 09:03 PM

Most major insurance companies will report this as a total-loss claim paid, which will make its way to the title-search companies such as Experion (sp?) and carfax.