I left my "new" 300D, (85 242k) on the street last night and some girl creamed it about 4am. She fled the scene but a cop saw my car in the middle of the street and followed the oil trail straight to her driveway! (Her oil filter was in front of my house ) She told the cop she fell asleep and she was going 35MPH. Am I the only one that has a problm with that statement? The tow truck arrived and I said "Hey - don't take my car!" I don't think they're used to people saying that cuz he and the cop looked at my like I was nuts. I said I'll move it myself (IT had rolled about 50 feet) The driver said - "Oh you can't move that car the axle is twisted" and I said "F&%* yes I CAN!" (Wheels more or less intact - see photo) Then he said it was totaled so don't worry about it. How do you argue with a stone? I said again Don't take my Freakin car MAN! The tow truck driver said no - it was state law that if he showed up he had to take the car. (I have a problem with that too, especially since I didn't call them!) I repeated myself, the cop started to side with him so I gave up. I did say just drag it up to my driveway and he said sure, for $150, cash only. I should have made him follow me to the ATM. Anyway, the cop wasn't sure if the crasher had insurance , which also doesn't make sense to me, but it's a pretty new car so that's up in the air till Monday. So I'm not sure where I stand but I don't like it here!!!

It injures me whenever I see one of these awesome cars go off the road forever. Especially since it had virtually zero rust. And no dents. And ran like a top.

I think if a get a settlement It will be less than WE think the car is worth. I paid 1500 and put about 500 into it. And have about 500 in parts for it in my living room. How do you prove the worth of something that the adjusters have no conception of?

I am wondering if I can cut off the trunk and weld a little box on the back and make it a pickup? (Be careful what you wish for, I've had this idea in the past - If the car ever got rearended) The front doors opened and closed normally so maybe the frame is not complete junk? For a towny car only?

The car ran quite well, would do 105 without a problem - Not that I know that - started and idled really easily, shifted perfectly. Unfortunatley I don't have any provisions to hang on to the engine indefinetly so If anybody wants it cheap I guess let me know. I would love to put it in my 240 but that would be a long way off.

Since the car (automatic) was pushed in park and rolled about 50', is the transmission now damaged? Destroyed?

Any thoughts appreciated

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Did the police do an accident report or/and charge her with leaving the scene?

Ouch! I can't believe that they made you surrender your car to them.

He said he cited her for leaving the scene. The paper he gave me was a "Towed Vehicle Report", for my car, which I didn't actually read till they had left. In the road, it looks like my MB was leaking diesel so I guess i"ll let it drain at the tow yard before I have it towed back to my house. And pay the bill for towing twice and storage. I should have stuck with my gut and demanded the tow truck to return my property. Or just given a him hundred bucks to just leave.

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Les,

That is all too familiar (aside from the tow truck part). Sorry about your loss.

So long 1991 Jetta ECOdiesel... - YouTube
17 year old smashes into my 430,000 mile 1991 Jetta ECOdiesel.

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2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI - 103,000 miles
2004 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI - 160,000 miles
2003 Ford F-350 PowerStroke 6.0 -- sold
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300SDL -- 307,500 miles -- Retired
1991 VW Jetta GL ECOdiesel -- 429,531 miles -- RIP
2000 Volkswagen New Beetle TDI -- RIP
1987 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Turbo -- sold

Oh schise, you've had it happen too! I told a few people around town today, and they had their own stories about similar situations. Guess it happens a lot. I think she was texting OMG IDK

Thanks VeeDub, should I buy a Jetta???

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Ya that whole incident sucked... at least we have the Passat now.

We've been very happy with our Jettas

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

But they love you long time? Like w123?

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Not as comfortable, but more spacious and there are 1/2 the parts to fail, and they are each less expensive. Plus you get an extra 10-15 mpg.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Thanks for the insight - I will file that in the memory banks....

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Ouch, that thing got creamed. I'd probably cry . Sure sounds like the tow companies must be "in bed" with the local authorities . I'd get quite angry if someone tried to take my car from me. Very angry. And I don't get angry. If it helps at all, people on this forum have generally been receiving reasonable payouts for their "antique M-Bs" as of late.

On another note, I'd say to go for it on the pickup conversion! Mercedes made a W115 220D pickup in Argentina back in the early '70s -- here's a picture (or two!):

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Oh, and you wouldn't be the first to build a W123 pickup . Here's a link to a Google search --

http://www.google.com/images?q=w123+pickup&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=UCYdU8KQB8nZkQeYlYFA&ved=0CAsQsAQ#

-- and a particularly nice example .

http://www.mercedesclub.cz/graphics/event/4/full/img_8335.jpg

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

W123 P/U -- Thanks for the awesome links!

I might just Do that!!!

Looks straight enuff to me!!!

I love that the tail lenses are intact.

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Yea h I was angry. I grew up in NJ. We go from calm to Irate in 2.3. But here in NM it doesn't work that way. I am learning. But yeah, I should've ordered the vehicle back to my property and gone to the ATM and just paid the blood sucker money, instead of what they're goin to charge me tomorow to get the car back. But I would like to hear what people are getting for their classic cars - cuz Insurance companies are just blood suckers too........

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans

Sorry for your loss man. Just remember, never take the first offer from an insurance company! They save money by settling fast, if you start mentioning loss of use, rental cars, lawyers, etc., they can soften up. Best of luck. (and I think the pickup idea is awesome, thought of doing it myself )