My poor Benz - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Wizo · #1 03-02-2002, 02:19 PM

This happened back in June when somebody pulled out in front of me in pouring down rain...

And this just happened while I was out of town. A dump bed truck backed into my car while it was parked in my vacant lot... GRRRRR $3K worth of damage!!!! Time for a new car.

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#2 03-02-2002, 02:59 PM

3K worth of damage? HAHA.

That happened to my uncles 84 300D Turbo. He hit someone in traffic at about 10mph, cracked both lights, broke the grill, and pushed in the radiator support.

I scrounged up two used light covers, got him a used grill, then pulled the radiator support back where it was by tieing a rope to certian places, anchoring it to the tow hooks on my 85 300D and pulling the support back. Worked very well.

Total cost: $40 (a used grille).

John

Wizo · #3 03-02-2002, 03:10 PM

Ya it is more than just the Headlight doors it is the Light Assem. ($390)... I just got done fixing the core support and replacing the Hood, Grill, Head Light Doors and Condenser Fan. AND NOW LOOK... O-well sh#t happens.

It just kinda sux in a 6 month time I broke my leg and had to have surgery where I have a Ti rod in it, I also have wrecked my Benz 2 times(not my fault) and Totaled my '77 Pontiac 400.

Ken300D · #4 03-02-2002, 06:31 PM

You can buy used headlight assemblies for much less than that. It was one of the few things on a W123 that would not rust.

I may have a spare one for the driver's side that I don't need. I'd have to look for it again to see if it has the bulbs, chrome rings and plastic cover. But I'm sure I have the cast frame.

Do you want me to check for you? I would want $25 for just the cast frame up to $50 if it were the complete assembly. And if you want only the frame you can have that. + shipping. If you are interested then of course you'd get pictures sent to you first.

Ken300D

Mercedes Man · #5 03-02-2002, 07:27 PM

Wizo,

Is the other guy's insurance going to cover the damages?

Ducati · #6 03-02-2002, 08:02 PM

Yes, ***** happens, but it is usually caused by a**holes.

kweimer · #7 03-02-2002, 10:10 PM

That's what mine looked like after I hit a deer---had to replace the radiator, right front light assembly and pull radiator support back into position so the (still slightly bent) hood would latch.
The deer had no insurance. Had my own roll-back, so saved a $100 on a tow charge.
Ken

Wizo · #8 03-03-2002, 02:52 AM

Yes the other guys insurance is going to pay but they want to total it out at $1700

Do you think that is a fair price?

kweimer · #9 03-03-2002, 10:19 AM

Have them pay you the $1700 as repair cost---no total out with salvage title and you keep the car. You can fix it yourself with parts from a pull-a-part. At my local pull-a-part hood is $27.32, headlight assembly $16.39, and Grill is $13.66---well under $100. Consider $1600 as your labor and "diminished value"---I am sure you had rather have a car that had never been wrecked than one which has been wrecked and repaired---which is where the diminished value comes in.
Ken

zbenz · #10 03-03-2002, 11:33 AM

My sugestion would be let them buy the car for true replacement value. I did this with a 82 chevette diesel. They wanted to give me 300 dollars, and I told them I wanted a comparable replacement. Armed with all the service data and several autotrader and other ads I settled for $1600 and the salvage car.
Don't know if this would work in your state, but just my experience.

Mercedes Man · #11 03-03-2002, 11:36 AM

I think that's a fair payout. More is always better. Kweiner is right. If you get the parts from the junkyard to do the repairs yourself, you can save yourself a lot of money.

If you want, you can spend the extra money on a nice paint job to make your whole car look like new.

mplafleur · #12 03-03-2002, 01:55 PM

I hit a deer with my 190E a year and a half ago. Almost $7000 in repair work. Have them buy you out, I should have.

CarolinaMBZ · #13 03-03-2002, 04:41 PM

Consider rebuilding. Seems a shame to put a good car out to pasture for what appears to be relatively minor damage (I have reparied much worse). Junk yard parts will be original and as good if not better than what was on it. If you decide not to fix consider giving those on the board a crack at buying.

Good luck.