The decision as to whether a car is totalled isn't up to the shop. The shop will estimate what it considers to be damage directly resulting from the accident. A shop estimate usually doesn't reference the overall condition of the car in detail.

Normally the insurance company's claims rep will make the call on what course to take. It is possible the company will accept an estimate from the shop as their guide, but normally they send their own adjuster (professional estimator), who reports back to the claims rep. This adjuster makes the determination of the car's overall condition.

Some companies have streamlined these two functions into one, with mobile claims reps who work out of converted minivan 'offices' (some even cut cheques on the spot).

If the shop is an approved supplier to the insurance company, the owner may be a great guy and do what he can for you, but this is one small claim situation versus what could be many tens of thousands of high-grade work he gets annually from the company.

That all being said, the fact is that insurance estimates are generally much higher than 'street' prices. Normally you can repair the car comfortably with whatever settlement they provide.

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

thank you for that information. That's exactly what I'm expecting. I want to "feel" the guy out. He may be all business and tell me he can't do a thing for me. I'm going to search a number of classified ad sites and print cars for sale in my region in similar condition. If the adjuster decides to total the car, I want to get fair market value and be able to show what that actually is. This is not a Chevy that can be easily replaced. I know I'm still at the mercy of the adjuster.

__________________
Todd

1984 300SD (212K)

Don't get me wrong, I wish you the best with it.

But I've been on many similar threads on this forum, and elsewhere, where folks weighed in with their experiences in these situations and they run the entire range from being treated as family to companies that talk to you like you're some sort of perp trying to pull one over on them.

Related story: I had an SD totaled (not my fault) in 2002 and was treated exceedingly well by the company I was then with. Generous settlement, very loose with letting me keep a rental for nearly a month while I looked for a replacement car. Picture-perfect result.

Three years later, I ran my second car into and over a curb during an ice storm and took out the rear suspension. Same company but I had moved and was now under a different regional claims office.

I was stunned at the hostile attitude. They made it clear I was wasting their time and they suspected it was a staged accident because I had the car immediately towed to my residence and didn't make a police report. (This despite the fact I explained the accident actually occurred OUTSIDE the local police station and one of the officers who rolled out and saw me, literally on their lawn, told me I would wait 2-3 hours for a cruiser to come by and take the report, due to the conditions... and the insurance office was in region hit by the storm, so they knew how bad it was.)

In the end they gave me the extreme low end of the car's value and told me to file a complaint with their ombudsman if I didn't like it. To say the lady I dealt with was a rude, ignorant, condescending cow would be an insult to bovines.

I can feel my blood pressure rising just recalling how she spoke to me on the phone. Incredible.

So it goes with insurance companies.

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Just to show there is a range, see links below.

Also asking price / " blue book " means near nothing to determine value of a old relatively obscure car. While a small group of people like the 300, it is just another Mercedes 4 door sedan on the grand scale of automotive landscape.

When looking for a R129 SL I found many cars in the silly $ range. My very nice 97 SL320 was being offered for $ 9,000 ( I've come across similar cars being offered for $ 12,000 ) but ended up being sold for $ 6,000 because no one was biting at that inflated price.





1984 mercedes benz 300SD Turbo Diesel

1984 mercedes benz 300SD Turbo Diesel - $1200 (Bethel NY)

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Date: 2012-08-17, 5:20PM EDT
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Reply to: q7r9p-3212432298@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

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280,000 miles. A/C and cruise control not functioning but can be repaired. Power sunroof, windows and seats work fine. Leather interior is good. Some rust on exterior. Daily driver that is extremely dependable, gets good mileage and is a great cruising car. Will take best offer




1981 mercedes 300sd diesel

1981 mercedes 300sd diesel - $1000 (tehachapi)

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Date: 2012-08-14, 4:13PM PDT
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Reply to: nd467-3144543722@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

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for sale Black 1981 mercedes 300sd diesel. Runs great. Good engine and transmission. Engine had been rebuilt. Needs cosmetic restoration. Has sun roof, power windows and locks. Everything can be fixed or replaced. Needs gray leather seats they are worn and torn, few dents in doors, No major body damage. Needs cleaning and oxidation removeable in some places in the paint, and one side some clear coat spray. Tires are good. Nice car for someone who wants to restore. Asking $1000 cash and carry. No scammers please. thank you. Can send pictures to your email address upon request. 661 821 1597


1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD Diesel

1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD Diesel - $2500 (Carmel, NY)

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Date: 2012-08-11, 9:30AM EDT
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Reply to: pctfq-3198354244@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

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Gray/Silver 1983 Mercedes Benz Diesel 300SD w/blue MB Tex interior. The car has 122,436 original miles, W123 engine is solid and gets better gas mileage than the 300td which has the same engine approx. 30 miles per gallon or better. It has two sets of rims 14" and 15". Excellent choice for WVO conversion which was my intention due to my commute, but i no longer have that commute and now it's an extra car for me which I am paying for on insurance/reg etc.. Make a reasonable offer.




1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD (35mpg)

1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD (35mpg) - $2800 (Waco, TX (Baylor))


1981 Mercedes Diesel 300SD

1981 Mercedes Diesel 300SD - $1200 (La Crescenta)



1982 300SD turbo diesel Mercedes

1982 300SD turbo diesel Mercedes - $2200 (santa rosa)

Very funny and true! You never know what's going to happen. I was rear ended in a 20-year-old Saab 9000 Turbo that I bought in almost perfect restored condition. I knew it would be totaled because the book value was very low. The agent I dealt with turned out to be a Saab nut and couldn't believe the condition of the car. He gave me a check to fix the car and wished me well. He could have easily totaled the car if he really scrutinized it. So, I've seen the good and the bad of insurance adjusters/companies. I'm hoping for the best, but am prepared to deal with the worst. Also, I've been with this same company for almost 20 years. That may or may not count for something.

__________________
Todd

1984 300SD (212K)

SL320, You make a great point. There is a wide range in asking/selling prices for these cars. You can pick one up for a grand, but it will probably need $1500 in maintenance to get it right. I beleive my car to be in the $2.5-3K range. Optimistic? Probably, but it's not a $1K beater. This is all just conjecture until the adjuster looks at the car and is informed of the necessary repairs to the front end.

__________________
Todd

1984 300SD (212K)

Cars that were higher end when new are actually easier to find than the generic econobox from 30 years ago. High end cars tend to lead easy early lives, are maintained by their early owners and have a perceived "This is worth saving " value on the used market while the low rent econo box is run hard, used up and scrapped.

Value is determined by what someone is willing to pay, the " Blue Book " never bought a car and is just someone's guess what a car might sell for.

I have a 56 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door _hard top_ ( no frames around the door windows, most of the cars were sedans with frames. ) that Mom bought when new. The car was on the high end of options for it's day V8 , automatic, sun cap visor, glamour bumper group and power steering. It was also special ordered in Desoto Pink / White rather than Plymouth Pink.

The hard top came out in 56 1/2 making it very rare from the start, also only 2% of ALL 56 Plymouths came with power steering. Couple this with the special order paint and this car is very likely the only one in existence. However, on the grand scale of things, it is just another 50's car with some interesting history.

I didn't see this until after I made my prior post. Yep, no way to tell for sure what the numbers will be until the one that holds the $ signs the check.

All the best no matter what you do.