Or....why I am soon to be an ex-MB owner.

Last fall I found this gorgeous '95 S320 with 13,000 original miles:





This is now how it looks after my son had a shunt with an SUV that ran a red light:



The good news is that strength of the car saved him. The bad news is that I now have to find a salvage yard that wants it as I really don't have the time or space to part it out.

The repair estimate, from an excellent shop, came in at over $16,000 due mainly to the cost of the $MB$ parts. What a shame as the car only has 35,000 miles on it and is absolutely perfect everywhere other than the front clip.

Anyone want to trade for an AMG straight-up?

See an attorney and make the other guys insurance bleed.

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1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.

Any damage to the motor and tranny?

If not you might be able to hook a front clip to it,forget about new parts.

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We don't think there is any damage to the motor. The clip got pushed back to the coolant resevoir but didn't even touch it. The radiator survived as well with just a small brush mark from the fan and no loss of coolant.

I don't know about the tranny or what kind of impact it took or for that matter what sort of damage, if any, could have been done internally as a result of the hit. There is no outside physical damage.

As far as putting a new front clip on it, I've considered it but I really don't have the time to source the parts and wait three or four weeks for the repairs. This is my wife's daily driver so I would have to rent a car. To add insult to injury, it would then have a salvage title on it.

My indie recommends offing the car because problems may surface that are not readily apparent so it may be a risky undertaking. If I had the space to store it and another car to use in the meantime, I would seriously consider taking that route.

That's a good thought. I did talk with a couple of local salvage yards and they are going to send someone out to look at in order to put a bid together. I did remove the spare which is brand new with the "factory air" still in it in case anyone needs one.

Amazing looking car.

But you can not replace your son.

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1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold

I don't understand your situation. So, your son was hit by the at fault driver, and you are having to make decisions reguarding your car. I would think that the only decision that would have to be made is weather or not the insurance comapny was giving you enough money to buy another car, or if they totaled a car that you would want them to save. It is their obligation to put you into a car that is equivilent to the one that their client hit, and that it what I would demand. I would also, demand an equivilent model rental car for your use, until you have your car back. That is your as an victom of an accident.

Exactly. We had alot to be thankful for on Thursday. Several days later his friend center-punched an oak tree and was killed. ('92 Taurus)

The situation is that they maintain that they will not fix the car. (I guess I should talk to my lawyer to see if they can be forced to fix it). The only options I have are to either settle for the total loss at a number which they arrive at based on a variety of factors and they remove the car. The second option is I accept a slightly lower price and keep the car. If I decide to have it fixed then all of the risk of it being ever "right" again is on me. It makes financial sense to me to keep the car and try to sell it for more than the difference between the two figures to someone who has the expertise to fix it.

I'm not sure of what you mean by it is their obligation to put me into a car that is equivilent. They are being fair with regards to the total price if that's what you mean.

They did put me in a rental and I got the Volvo because it was one of the nicest rentals available on short notice.

if they wont fix the car are they going to reimburse you for a damn near new W140 with only 35K on the clock?

id make em replace it with a similar low milage excellent if not impeccable condition W140. say an S500 with 50K miles. good luck finding that.

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'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend

OUCH!! thats horrible man, the w140's are really really nice, i drove one the other day very very comfortable vehicles. Best luck to you...

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81' 300SD AKA "Big Helga"
84' 300D Euro spec (Veronika)
85' 300D NonCalifornia (Heidi)

"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job."
-Winston Churchill, 1941

"I'll have a Chinchilla!"

Thats horrible! It is such a shame to see a nice car like that destroyed! I'm glad your son was ok at least the car did its job.

Not to be a vulture but I am looking for a drivers side mirror off of a W140. Does yours work and is it in good shape? If so want to sell it to me before you send it off to the junk yard?

I might be very interested in a few other interior parts as well!! (simple to remove stuff)

Hattaresguy@aol.com is my email.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Sent PM

hahahaha!!! NO SHAME!!!!!

__________________
1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold