It is my belief that in situations where the damage is very minor, best to NOT make a claim on your insurance. Insurance companies tend to view their customers in a negative light, the more claims you have the higher your "risk" rating. To them ANY claim means SOMETHING must be wrong.

I like to use insurance for catastrophic damges only. Your deal looks fairly minor to me, I think I'd just shut my mouth and bear the cost of repairs myself.......IMHO $50 - $100 in parts plus labor isn't worth making an insurance claim over......

x2, and also refusing to pay for damages he has caused. It is legal to drive without insurance in some places, but all that means is that you are personally liable for any damage or injury you cause.

Once you have a copy of the police report in hand, get a repair estimate from a high-end body shop, then file a claim against him in small claims court. With the police report as evidence of guilt, and the repair estimate as the value of the loss, it's a slam dunk. If he still doesn't pay up after being court ordered, the court will garnish his wages and get you paid. Remember that you are owed both the cost of Brand New Genuine Mercedes parts, AND the cost of professional labor to install them. In most counties the small claims court is free (or very inexpensive) and you represent yourself no need for lawyers. You tell your story, the judge examines whatever evidence you have, and then makes a decision. Easy.

No matter how minor you think this is, don't let it slide. People who drive without insurance, cause damage, and then refuse to pay, are animals who have no place in civilized society. Getting away with it scot-free only emboldens them to continue their reckless behavior.

__________________
1998 E300 turbodiesel

America's Rights and Freedoms Are Not The Enemy!

Thanks for advice...The black strip, the moulding was damaged, It popped out
and is Bent, But I don't know what it is called and I can't find it to buy..
What IS that piece called????

Read post #11

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

Rollguy, Thanks!...I'm getting mental....

Then change insurance companies. I have uninsured motorist coverage on all my cars and it only cost ~$20/yr extra.

Not my experience with totaling. My 1965 Newport has been "totaled" 2 times by different insurance companies. Last time a deer crunched the front passenger door. I took it to their body shop w/ blood and fur still on it. They just shook their head and told the insurance "can't fix", so now "it is just a question of price". They offered ~$3500, based on ads I mailed them. They agreed to deduct $700 and let me keep the car. I still have the original title, no "salvage" or any black marks. "Total" just means they decided it would cost too much to fix. BTW, I bought a rust-free door from AZ for ~$150 shipped, bought correct paint and painted myself for ~$100. Some hassle, but I netted $2550 and also repainted another door at the same time. The deer came out worse (dead).

My 1984 300D had a "salvage title" when I bought it, but no problem getting it licensed in CA. It just has "salvage" on the title to warn others it was once repaired. Not sure how the P.O. wound up with that, but he said it was stolen and crashed, so perhaps going thru Sheriff's impound did that.

__________________
1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Thanks much..
The car parts as noted in #11. I may try to install the brake light,
but I'm not that strong, and have found in older things half the battle
is just getting things unhitched. I'm def going to call insurance and
ask about changing my insurance. Getting coverage for uninsured motorist
car damage, now it's bodily injury. But seeing what these guys charge for
repairs is crazy. I already made a claim, the guy promised me it would
not effect anything with my insurance, and just see what they have to
say. Hopefully this guy won't be too difficult, but I had a sense he
was living under the radar...thanks

LJ, unless you have some lowball insurance company don't concern yourself with being "totalled" in the future. State Farm fully covers my 35yo daily driver with no problems.

+1 on State Farm and I’m sure the top tier insurance companies are similar.

I have State Farm full coverage on all 5 cars currently in my possession.

I was hit in the passenger side by a woman cutting across a parking lot at a 45 degree angle. She had Allstate and they paid to fix my 98 E300. I think they got in over their head though, the initial estimate was $3500 using LKQ doors and repainting the whole right side. It ended up being over 5k but they did not blink and paid it.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech