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  #1  
Old 09-26-2006, 02:03 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: California
Posts: 177
Accident verification - help needed

I am considering the purchase of a 1994 E320 Cab with 83k miles. The car looks and drives very well, however, there are a couple of issues.

#1.
The carfax report shows an accident check reported in 1999. The only details are;

Vehicle involved in crash
It hit a wild animal
Multiple damage areas reported

There is no indication on the severity of the damage (or what type of animal was involved). No frame damage or airbag deployment was reported to Carfax. Further investigation with Carfax produced no new information "Due to the age of the accident the records have been purged from the reporting agency so we were unable to verify the level of damage to the vehicle".

#2. (potentially related to #1.)
Close inspection reveals the driver door is slightly out of alignment. Everything else on the car appears to be OK.

I would really like to buy the car, but only if I can determine that the accident damage was relatively minor.
Can anyone suggest another line of enquiry to verify the extent of the accident damage/repairs?

Cheers!

__________________
Neil.


1991 190E 2.6 170k
1995 E320CA 57k
1999 Chevy Tahoe 98k
2000 R1150GS 45k
1983 300CD 178k - sold, but not forgotten
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  #2  
Old 09-29-2006, 08:21 PM
Rusty Boltz's Avatar
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Posts: 33
verification

Can we presume that you have no access to the original owner as in you are dealing with a dealer? Most of us are unable to track down the identity of a vehicle owner because we do not know law enforcement personnel that are willing to relay this information to us.

Private investigators can get you this info through various means if you don't have a best friend that is a cop. I have also found identifying receipts under seats and in owner manuals that can lead to the previous owner. A dealer is likely to try to minimize your concerns. Most owners or previous owners will tell you enough to confirm your hopes or fears depending on the case.

I have visited a body shop before in trying to research prior damage and was able to see the original receipt for the work and description. I got the owner to tell where the car was fixed and had the date already. The bodyshop records supported the owners statement. If I can find the owner I always ask.
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  #3  
Old 09-29-2006, 10:58 PM
cth350's Avatar
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 4,352
lowball the guy on the price because you don't have the data.
Offer to reconsider after a body shop puts the car on a pulling rack to check things out.

Hit an animal? Moose, deer, cow or dog? If he's not talkative, walk away.

-CTH

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