I was so upset by this!! My 98 E300 TD is (or was) immaculate and I have always been very careful to park remotely and intelligently. Nontheless, I came out of my son's school on Saturday and the left side of my car had an enormous scratch, 18 inches wide and 3 to 4 feet long, beginning just aft of the driver's door and continuing to just before the rear tailight. Obviously something with a largish bumper either entering or leaving the parking space......I cannot believe that the driver did not know what he or she was doing....I just cannot believe it.

All condolences will be accepted!!

Anyone with experience at this...will MB be able to restore the immaculateness that I treasured and worked for...? Any ideas on approximate costs to repair.......

very sad,

Michael

You definitely have my condolences. I'm with you on the bit about parking remotely. When people ride with me, I tell them that owning a Mercedes-Benz carries with it some responsibility. Never had a complaint.

I need to give you some more bad news, though. Even if perfectly repaired/repainted/restored, your car will never be worth as much as one that has not had any bodywork done. I've read on this board, although at least a couple years ago, of someone being compensated by their insurance company for the "diminished value" of their car after an accident. So be sure to pursue that with your insurance company.

If you don't already have a body shop, I would suggest contacting the Mercedes dealer to see who they use. Or maybe the dealer has their own shop. I already have mine picked out, based on several excellent references. Hopefully, I'll never have to use it.

Once again, sorry for the damage. Hope it gets fixed up as good as new.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

My condolences--my car is black, so I know how bad a scratch can hurt. You say scratch, but your description sounds more like a gash or worse. If it is a scratch-------see if your car has a clear coat finish, or has it been 'cut.' My car was cut before I bought it, so when I get a scratch, I use Dupont #7 ultra fine polishing compound and a tee shirt. You can't do this on a car with a clear coat finish (intact) because the #7 is an abrasive. Of course, you then have to wax the area , because it is raw paint.

Rick,

I agree the car won't be worth as much as a completely unblemished car, but I also do not plan on selling it for several years and maybe I'll NEVER sell it, give it to one of my kids.

It looks like about $1500 of damage and the dealer says it will be like new . I believe the dealer, too, they are very large and work on a lot of cars...American Service center in Arlington VA

best

m

The only way that this repair will not be noticed, is if your body and fender man, is very good ,and does alot of block sanding, to smooth out every little wave. This costs extra MONEY. And not every Body and fender man can do this kind of work. They must be good. A white paint job, helps alot to hide problems in the paint. On cheaper cars , its sometimes worth it to replace a door, or fender, to rid the damaged area. Most repairs can be detected from the view looking down the side of the car from the front or rear. Also I have seen repairs by some MB dealers that is easily detected from those views. The worst are waves that look like the Pacific Ocean, to maybe a Lake with a breeze. But than there is the repair that looks like a lake of glass, smooth as can be, that would be the body man you want to find.....This is only if your looking for perfection, If not, most Body and fender guys can fix you up............................................

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Rich

1990 300CE
71 Chevelle SS 454

similar incident happened to my dad's 528i. The work was done by a local bodyshop and there are no imperfections, or any clues that it had been damaged(even in direct sunlight). Find the right place and you'll be good as new.
Ryan

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Your actually lucky it's black...

Most all shops will get sloppy on a lighter color-ahhhh the owner will never notice.

Make doublely sure the car is imacculately clean when you take it for repairs. I think it sends a clearer message about you the customer. Talk to the service rep and *also* talk with the body man and painter that will be working on your car.

Examine the car under light and shaded conditions when you pick it up.. make sure it's clean of overspray! Saw a 1979 930 that had a repair you would never find. I spotted my corvair and ran over the fineline mask(in a body joint) with clearcoat... you'd be very hard to find it without me pointing it out with a magnifier.


Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E