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#1
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1978 300D Wrecked...need help negotiating with the insurance co...
Hey guys. I bought a 300D Phil_F_NM late last year. Fantastic car! You might remember it from this thread...it's the car in the first two photos:
My "new" 220D and my Mercedes diesel love I paid Phil and picked the car up in mid-December and embarked on a cross country road trip. I took three weeks (from New Jersey to Washington State) visiting family and generally having fun. The car was amazing. Even in crazy cold temperatures the car performed flawlessly. Three days after I arrived home I got T-boned. Unbelievable! The other driver admitted fault and the car is totalled...now I'm negotiating with the insurance co. This is where I need your help. I paid Phil $3800 and spent over $1000 bringing it home. The insurance co has offered me $2800 but said they're willing to negotiate. I need evidence of for sale or sold 1977-1980 300Ds in the $3800 and up range. Links, screen shots, etc...whatever I can present. I've already presented the thousands of dollars in receipts that Phil spent making this car bullet proof. They aren't interested in looking at them at all. All they're interested in is like cars for sale now or recently sold. Any assistance any of you can give would be greatly appreciated!
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1973 MB 220D 4 spd 1998 MB E300 2003 Jetta TDI 1979 Monte Carlo 350 gasser |
#2
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if all else fails they are obligated to replace your car with an equal car if you choose that instead of money. The one thing you will have trouble recovering is your transport costs, I would think. Get similar cars for sale and document them for the adjuster. Show him how your car is better or how the cars advertised are inferior. Usually you can get what is needed. how bad is the car? Is it repairable?
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#3
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The car was hit in both driver's side doors as well as the quarter panel. It pushed the quarter into the tire. I pulled out the quarter a little and was able to drive it about a mile to my dad's house. Two different entities have inspected it and declared it a total loss.
My dad is an old school body man. He said it's repairable, but it would take a substantial amount of work. I also have to consider that no matter how much work I put into the body making it right it will always have a branded salvage title due to the insurance co totaling it out. I'm going to keep it for parts regardless of what happens.
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1973 MB 220D 4 spd 1998 MB E300 2003 Jetta TDI 1979 Monte Carlo 350 gasser |
#4
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My only experience with a total loss settled quite well for me, as my insurer went with NADA. If your insurer is going to play that game of looking for comparables, then condition is the key criterion for determining whether or not a car for sale (or recently sold) is a "like car". Good photos showing that the car was in good condition, and evidence of substantial recent work are your best leverage if you end up in arbitration.
There will probably not be a sufficient number of comparables to provide them with a reliable number, and they'll probably end up working with book prices. So stick to your guns and you should end up with at least what you paid for it. Expecting them to address your loss for what you claim is transportation is not realistic. What you claim as transportation is actually ordinary use, so don't push it. Take a look at NADA's site, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300D 4 Door Sedan Value, Prices & Specs | NADAguides | NADA 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300D Book Value & 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300D Market Price . It will bolster your confidence.
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'79 240D |
#5
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This car was my first Benz and I really put a lot of time and love into it. The low figure that the insurance company has offered makes me personally feel bad because of that effort.
I fixed all the vacuum lines first thing. I had the transmisison serviced at an indy shop in Albuquerque, NM and then replaced the driveshaft support bearing and carrier. Then the glow plugs and relay were replaced and I added a bypass switch as well then I was off and rolling. I replaced every bushing in the rear of the car and the front torsion bar bushings. I rebooted and greased the axles, cleaned and refilled the differential. The engine had a few valve adjustments, diesel purges and oil changes. The last thing I did was to replace the fuel injectors with rebuilt Bosch units that I got from Pelican. Looking over the receipts, I spent almost $3000 in parts alone on that car and have had it checked and rechecked by Firestone (four times) as well as a few indy Benz mechanics. They all have said the car was absolutely fine. I mentioned to Shotwell that perhaps taking the car to an indy or even a dealer to get it fairly appraised with respect to the parts that I have put into it. Could that help? This is really frustrating to see the old car go this way and so disrespectfully since so much work has been put into it and it has driven across the country three times now with very minor issues. Thanks all for the help! Phil Forrest
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1972 220D "Trudy," named by a friend. "The 220D sounds good... I suspect it is the only car that you need a calendar for, rather than a stopwatch, when doing acceleration tests." Tom Abrahamsson |
#6
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Thanks Left Coast. I have provided them with the NADA value as well as the Hagerty value. They're similar. They haven't had a chance to review that data...I only just submitted it to them.
Also, thanks Phil for providing me all of those receipts. If nothing else I'll know what parts to take off for the next 300D that comes along! What the adjuster specifically asked for were like cars currently for sale or recently sold. I scoured Craigslist and eBay. Where else should I look? Right now the adjuster is playing nice and allowing me to negotiate. I don't want this to turn into a situation where I hire a lawyer. Not only is the lawyer expensive but that's a sure way to draw this out for months, even years.
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1973 MB 220D 4 spd 1998 MB E300 2003 Jetta TDI 1979 Monte Carlo 350 gasser |
#7
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Since you updated the maintenance and general condition somewhat at large cost. About your only chance is to find comparables with much lower true miles. I would check the nada values first and perhaps tell them what I would have wanted or expected to sell it for before the accident. The truth is the car has been going through a process of restoration.
You may need a lawyer if they remain hard assed. there is a guy in California that goes over these and brings them back. Seems to have customers for the ones he has redone. He is far from cheap. I forget his name and website but perhaps some other member can remember. It would be interesting to see the adjusters face when told what he is actually selling them for. |
#8
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Here's some photos of my damaged car. These were taken at the scene of the accident.
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1973 MB 220D 4 spd 1998 MB E300 2003 Jetta TDI 1979 Monte Carlo 350 gasser |
#9
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According to what?
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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl. |
#10
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If you suspect the insurance people are going to be unreasonable. Perhaps a developing sore back issue is warranted. You may find in the hopes that you might sign totally off they come up with enough money to get rid of you fast.
I just dislike insurance companies. Sometimes they are fair and many times are not. I believe you are entitled to a rental car as well. Think about it for a minute. Do you think it unreasonable to recover all the money you had in the car. Their client was at fault so they are liable for it. It will take a certain amount of dollars to make you whole again. Do not accept less. |
#11
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Quote:
There is more than the Kelly Blue Book that lists Car values.
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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel |
#12
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Well your going to get 2800$ for the car, they don't give a damn how much you put in to the car....unless you had it appraised at more value and had collector car insurance on it...then yes....this is what i got for my car in cali....no matter how much I argued and I only had a shallow dent in the fender.....i popped it back out and got the 2800$ check....paid for a brake and lamp inspection.....still driving it...i hated having a salvaged title on it but I figured I would never sell it so who cares.....move to arizona and now I have a clean and clear title!
Replace the rear door....use a bottle jack to remove the quarter from the tire....and continue driving it....quarters are simply to remove from this cars....just undrill all the spot welds...
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#13
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This is really a matter of how long you can afford to hold out. If you need the money now, then they have you over the barrel. If you convince them otherwise, then they'll accommodate. Make them do the work. They are obligated to provide you with the documentation that is the basis of their appraisal.
The adjuster made his offer hoping you'd go away quietly, but the fact that he was soft indicates that he knew you'd balk. He still needs to show you how he arrived at his offered amount. You don't have to settle on an unsatisfactory offer. For the amounts involved, they'll readily compensate for your purchase price because it won't be much more than it costs them to continue to negotiate knowing that they'll have to adjust upwards anyway...so be firm. Know how disputed claims are settled by law in your state, know what a fair settlement amount is, and be reasonable.
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'79 240D |
#14
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I believe insurance companies are required by law to do so if you cannot agree on a settlement.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#15
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The damage looks very repairable. Sure no signs of structural damage.
Soo sorry to even read a post like this.
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1985 300D 198K sold 1982 300D 202K 1989 300E 125K 1992 940T "If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it" "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." |
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