MY 2006 CDI JUST GOT TOTALLED - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bigdaddybenz · #1 09-19-2017, 12:00 PM

Hi guys, my wife was rear ended in my 2006 E320 CDI and the insurance adjuster is stating that it will be a total loss.

That said, it has 223,000 miles, I bought it last year, it was a one owner car and was meticulously maintained exclusively by the Mercedes Dealership, it is not in mint condition but just a step below.... Premium wheels, panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardan premium sound system

Hoping that you guys can tell me the approximate total loss value????

Thanks

TX76513 · #2 09-19-2017, 01:10 PM

This is the part where "it depends" You will need to look at your policy and determine how they price vehicle for total loss. I looked at total loss w/o diminished value and its $8900 at my one source.

97 SL320 · #3 09-19-2017, 06:04 PM

There are two types of "total loss". The most common is " Beyond economical ( retail ) repair to pre-crash levels " . The other is " too rusted, too mangled to repair even if parts / labor were free."

Many on this list have bought their "total " back for sub 10 % of settlement, made at home / partly subbed out repairs and continued to drive. You will likely end up with a salvage title then after repairs it will need to be inspected to assure it was done properly ( safe ) . At that point you will be issued a reconstructed title.

You would be surprised to see what little damage will total an older car. With an at home repair, you can use some artistic license by using parts from a older/ newer car as sometimes trim is changed but the parts will bolt on and look just fine.

Bigdaddybenz · #4 09-20-2017, 06:16 AM

Thanks for the replies, guys...

As I was told by the adjuster, though the rear end hit didn't look massive, Mercedes Benz 211 chassis have collapsible areas in the uni-body designed to minimize passenger impact.

It's truly amazing as my wife and daughter both said that they didn't feel much of the impact, yet the now Toyota Corolla was totaled. When I arrived on the scene, the Toyota's hood was vertical and even the engine shifted towards the Toyota's windshield.

My CDI had damage to the rear bumper and though the trunk was completely missed, everything under the trunk had shifted forward about an inch, maybe an inch and a half, and once I opened the trunk it would not align properly with the lock mechanism. I had to flex the trunk lid in with a lot of force to get it to close and latch, and when it is closed it looks normal.

My CDI has a panoramic roof, Harman Kardan premium sound and premium wheels.

I was wondering if I should purchase it back and fix it myself since I was a mechanic for close to 20 years and have owned probably around 30 plus Mercedes in my life, and I've done body work and painted a few but never played with a uni-body fix.

I really adore that car but am willing to replace it with another E320 CDI, maybe with less miles.

I was thinking a total loss value of about $9,000.00..... if it works out that way, I've already located another one owner CDI with 122,000 miles on it, but the guy is asking $10,900.00 for it..... If he'll take maybe $9.500.00 then I'll buy it!.... It's not black like mine, nor does it have the camel interior that I love, but at 122,000 miles I may settle for a silver exterior and black interior.

Thank you so much for your replies, I will update this post as more information come in!

jay_bob · #5 09-20-2017, 07:05 AM

Unfortunately the crumple zones are one use only. And the sheet metal in that part of the body is contiguous from the rear corners all the way up to the drivers door hinge. I am quite sure your rear suspension mounting points have moved from their original locations. Even though the car looks good it will be difficult to fix, and it will be near impossible to get your rear alignment to be correct.

We had that happen to our CR-V (2004 with the right-side hinged door and the full size spare). Similar circumstances. It didn't look too bad until the body shop got into it and realized that the whole internal support structure for the rear wheels had deformed. The rear tires were visibly deflected inwards once you got down and studied it.

Consider an empty coke can laid on its side. The top and bottom of the can are like the wheels. They are parallel to each other. Now put some pressure on the center of the can and the sides will deflect out of parallel. No matter how hard you try you will never get the can sides parallel again.

Hopefully the insurance will give you a decent settlement. We were pleasantly surprised by how much we got for the CR-V. You can either buy out and part out the car yourself on eBay, or let the insurance company have it, and then LKQ will take over. They will not send it to the crusher intact. LKQ is what saved my 98 when I got hit in the right doors (and then the body shop messed up and trashed my hood by crashing my car again in their lot). They used LKQ doors and a hood, and got the car back together instead of totaling it.

97 SL320 · #6 09-20-2017, 04:50 PM

All cars past the mid 85's or so have crush zones, this isn't anything new.

If this car was sub 5 years old it would ,without question, get repaired. Age and miles are what push this car into total territory. Take it to a good body shop and have them take a look.

Did the adjuster look at the actual car?

alipak · #7 09-20-2017, 04:59 PM

Glad you wife and daughter came out without getting hurt.

Bigdaddybenz · #8 09-21-2017, 05:33 AM

UPDATE: The insurance company is trying to low ball me with an adjusted value of $6.791.00...... I escalated with the adjuster's manager because he used 2006 E-350s as comparable cars because he could only find ONE 2006 CDI to compare it to, and that CDI comped out at close to $9,000.00.

I'm not sure if it's a low ball attempt or just ignorance on the adjuster's part, but after speaking with his manager and explaining that a gas E350 could never be compared to a E320 CDI, I think he got the point.

Also, I made it clear that the reason that they are having such a hard time finding CDIs in my area is because they are SO RARE, thus more valuable than an E350.

I also made it clear that in this day an age most people would sue them for injuries, especially from being rear-ended resulting in the totaling of both vehicles.... We are honest people and he needs to respect that!

Your thoughts????

ps, I found someone selling a 2004 CDI, though I have never heard or seen a 2004 CDI available in North America..... is that possible?.... As I was under the impression that they were only available model years 2005 - 2006.

Thank you all for your replies

GregMN · #9 09-21-2017, 11:27 AM

What options does your car have ?

Panoramic sunroof is only on 5%
HK sound is on 56%

Find available ( found ) options on a 322 car sample here: CDI shopping spreadsheet

Ask your insurance agent for advice on getting fair value from the insurance company of the person who hit you.

ESchwab · #10 09-21-2017, 11:53 AM

The amount you paid for the car is relevant to its value today. You bought the car only a year ago, and it appears to have been a sale that reflected a value current at the time. It was not a forced sale, and you apparently bought from a stranger as opposed to a close relative or friend who may have been willing to sell for less than its value.

Also, are you dealing with your own insurance company or the company that insures the other driver? If it is the other driver's company tell them that they have an obligation to fix your loss, especially considering that the damage is minor and does not affect the safety or drivability of the car. The amount of your loss cannot be determined by looking at the value of other cars where the damage is relatively minor.

Tell them you want them to fix the car or give you an amount that can be applied to fixing it with you paying the balance. You don't want to fool with giving them the car with a buy-back or with the junk title mess from totaling the car.

Hassle them a little with reasonable arguments from your perspective. If you get extreme, they will tell you to just sue. No body wins from a law suit that involves property values, especially when the property at issue is an older car with lots of miles. On the other hand, they may pay extra if they think a law suit is a possibility.

HuskyMan · #11 09-21-2017, 12:22 PM

ALL insurance companies look to save themselves money. Low balling is one way to do just that since many people will not question the figures. Another possibility is to acquire the services of an Insurance Public Adjustor.

You can find them in the phone book under "Public Adjustors". Yes, they charge a small fee for their services but you now have the benefit of a highly knowledgeable THIRD PARTY advocate working for you. They know the ins and outs of the insurance game and believe me IT IS A GAME.

GregMN · #12 09-21-2017, 12:37 PM

Take their money and go buy this car: https://wilmington.craigslist.org/cto/d/2005-mercedes-e320-cdi-sedan/6314442240.html

Panoramic 5%
Ski bag 8%
Pass through trunk 13%
Dynamic Bi-xion headlights w/washers 17%
HK sound 56%
CD changer 83%
Tire pressure monitor 2%

It has some very rare options, but not Sat. Nav. (46%)

115,000 miles, one owner

spark3542 · #13 09-22-2017, 12:27 PM

I got rear-ended in Delaware on 8/21. 2005 CDI with 302,000, good condition. Totalled. The party at fault has Progressive, and I have Metlife. Progressive low balled me with $6000 for my car, and $1900 to buy it back. They only used gassers as comps, and wouldn't budge when I argued that diesel commands higher value, all things being equal.

I then went through Metlife, they came back with $6600, and $700 to buy my car back. That's what I'm going with...and letting Metlife hunt down their money from Progressive.

Though I was rear-ended, all my damage was grill/hood/radiator since I was pushed into car in front. Parts on order to repair.

Progressive was very difficult to work with, and Metlife was difficult to get a hold of. As a result, I now learned of two insurance companies that will not get my future business.

My first insurance claim in 35 years of driving.

Thanks to Shertex for pointing me to a very good condition 05 CDI which I snatched up.

My sig doesn't reflect it yet, but I'm now up to 3 identical CDIs

MTUpower · #14 09-22-2017, 01:44 PM

I you buy it back my CDI needs a main computer. Parts on the car are worth the re-purchase price.

Bigdaddybenz · #15 09-22-2017, 08:41 PM

Update: the adjuster acted very belligerently initially, then I asked for his manager's contact info and spoke with him. He understood my position and ordered his adjuster to have Mitchell do an old expanded comparable valuation only using CDIs and low and behold, the adjuster called me this morning and said that I was correct and stated that he really didn't know much about Mercedes and was shocked himself to find that the diesels validated so much higher. At the end of it all they gave me $9,715.00 which I gladly excepted..... now I have the challenge of finding a replacement....... what are you guys opinions about a 2008 R320 CDI?..... not gorgeous like an E320 CDI but my wife asked me what I think about them and quite honestly I've never even noticed them before..... thank all of you for your replies, advice and guidance and concerns as they made s huge difference..... thank you so much 😊