C43 -- Disaster - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tump · #46 09-17-2002, 04:46 PM

Well, I got the car back last night and drove it around for a while. The C43 AMG is an amazing car!! I had a great time. So, far its handling is perfect and tracks perfectly straight with no pulling, following only the camber of the road. Thanks for your story JimF, although I sorry to learn that you got hosed for $5,000.00 when you traded-in your 94 E320.

The auto-body shop seemed to have done a great job over the three months that they worked on my car. The entire rear suspension (not just the driver's side) is new on top of a new rear sub-frame. The driver's side rail, rear quarter panel and AMG bottom cladding are new. The cat back and AMG muffler are new. The trunk lid, base, rear bumper and bumper cover are new. The entire trunk, driver's side and roof are freshly painted black. They also threw in a new rear AMG wheel with tire, a rear seat anti-squeak kit and a new AMG engine cover.

Now that the insurance co. has released the car and made an initial diminished value payment to me without requiring a release of any sort, I'm inclined to write them a letter. The damage done to the car, even though repaired well, most certainly has and will cause premature wear to numerous aspects of the vehicle and has already significantly diminished its resale value.

Because the original negotiations witht he ins. co. were based on the first repair estimate and about 75% more damage related to the accident has since been discovered, repaired and paid for (1st ins. repair check $12,200; final ins. repair check $9,300), the ins. co.'s initial diminished value payment could not be sufficient to cover the total damage suffered.

I also learned from the mechanic (as per the senior adjuster) that the ins. co. was incredibly scared to pay any part of my diminished value claim and set precedent that would, of course, end up costing them millions of dollars. They may still be ameneble to avoiding public litigation.

Anyway, I'll let you know if chose to go forward with this claim -- any opinions are welcomed in addition to those I have already gratefully received (thanks) -- and I'm going to enjoy my car as much as possible. No races as of yet ...

Marc
99 Black on Black C43 AMG
mmclaw@optonline.net

el presidente · #47 09-17-2002, 05:09 PM

Glad to see you are 'back in the seat'

jjrodger · #48 09-19-2002, 03:19 AM

Good to hear you've finally got your car... 3 months later than expected. If the ins co is worried about maybe setting a precedent, you could offer a confidentiality clause in whatever agreement you reach. You'd have to expunge this thread, though!

Any chance of some pics?

David C Klasse · #49 10-10-2002, 12:38 AM

WOW.

Tund,
I'm glad you've got your car back and $6,000. Ultimately, I know you will do what is best for you, but from my perception of the post, I feel that you should be satisfied with what you got, and "chaulk it up as experience."

Also, I just wanted to comment on the utter wonderful grammar and mechanics used in this thread!! I am utmostly impressed.

Have a great day!!

And just for kicks, check out this claimed C43 I saw while driving about a year ago.

Tump · #50 10-10-2002, 04:04 PM

Hi all!

Thanks for your comments, advice & encouragement. So far the car is great and I've been busy but, eventhough I have not yet re-attacked the ins. co. involved, I believe that the tranny is acting up and that I will have no choice but to chase them with letters and, gasp, the law.

It's wonderful having a Starmark warranty -- I decided to be as picky as I please, so I took the car in and am having the dealer change the brake fluid, fuel filters and coolant as they promised pre-purchase but failed to do. Also, I'm having them change the outside temp. sensor (it reads 10 deg. below actual); replace the sunroof sun-shade (it makes noise when pushed back at speeds over 50); and replace the outside weather seal around the driver's door (it has come loose and creates an annoying low volume whistle in the driver's left ear at speeds over 55 mph).

The tranny complaint is as follows, although this has only happened twice, it worries me:

When driving straight or around a gentle bend at about 40 mph and punching the accelerator for quick and brutal acceleration the tranny didn't down shift one or two gears as it's supposed to but stuck and reved in neutral until I moved the stick back and forth between 4th and 5th gear. So far this has not caused any great problems in 3,000 miles of hard driving, but it does worry me.

Any expert thoughts on this issue would be appreciated. A former C43 owner in this forum thought that this was related to the computer controlled ESP ASR functions of the car and not the tranny itself. I have no idea.

I plan on attacking the ins. co. for a new tranny and an increase in their diminished value payment to me based on further damage not considered in our initial negotiations.

But when this C43 goes, it flies, at 130 its as stable and as smooth as at 80. The brakes on this car are nothing if not phenomenal. Both a modified VW GTI VR6 and a Porche Boxster have been shamed to date; not exactly a fair fight but no one else has challenged me and I will never provoke a contest.

aldedmon · #51 10-15-2002, 05:17 PM

The force with which the car was hit prolly affected the shift linkage. A minor adjustment is prolly all that is needed. I would imagine that you'll need to have the car spec'd / minor adjustments made for months to come as the cars structure settles out. (not unlike a person who must return to a chiropractor to get his spine realigned :-))

Tump · #52 10-30-2002, 05:49 PM

Had the dealer look at the tranny purs to warranty. He cleared and reset the computer codes. Problem has not resurfaced. The dealer also took care of all my other complaints. The car really seems perfect at the moment.

I added a burl walnut shift knob. Didn't like the leather one with the MB "SPORT" log. IMHO understatement is better. I may remove the badges -- but not yet.

jjrodger · #53 10-31-2002, 04:44 AM

Glad to hear the car is "perfect" after all you've been through. I hope you can start to enjoy it--albeit a few months late.

I agree with you that understantement is the way forward. That is why you bought a C43, right? Subtle power. Get those badges off!