THe good news and bad news about my car...

[Ashman]

Good news, My bodyshop guy will fix it for less than half what the other shop wants.

Bad news, I have no idea if my insurance or the other guys will be paying out for it, and my whiplash is worse than I thought...

The big estimate fromt he other shop? $3800

The estimate from my bodyshop friend, $1500, plus he'll absorb half my deductible.

Hopefully I'll have everything sorted by the end of the week.

I'm hoping insurance will pay out the most, so I can do some upgrades while they are working on the car.

I'll keep you all posted as always.

Alon

[Ashman]

I have some questions on upgrades while I am at it so I can price them.

1. Bilstein sport struts and rear shocks. where can I get them and anyone have part numbers?

2. I might be able to pull a body kit out of this, I was goign to just pickup the erebuni corp model 401 AMG replica kit. I like this kit alot, and my bodyshop guy can easily fit it ot the car as needed. Cost is not too much for the kit, probably about $1000 total including shipping. Anyone know of anyplace else that has kits for low cost. I dont mind just doing the front and rear bumper covers, only need to replace the front though, and I dont mind not doing side skirts, but I figure as long as they are doing work and replacing the front, I might try to get the whole kit.

3. Wheels - its a possibility I will have to get new wheels. I was looking at the AMG style 5 stars found on ebay for around $700 with shipping probably a bit more than that.

4. I definately will need to get tires. will go for 225/50/16 was thinking some yoko avs or some bridgestone re731 I think thats what luke told me, that is if I stick with the 16's. If I go 17, 225/45/17 should work for me, I'll be having bodyshop roll the fenders anyway, otherwise the 215 sixze should work fine too. I would like to get as much meat ont he road though, I'm vary weary of the thinner tires after my spin out ordeal.

5. Paint - My bodyshop guy has informed me he can match the paint, so I'll be having him clean up the rest of the car too, and painting the grill surround and all for me.

Other than those mods, which if the ins co pays out the max for repairs which I doubt, I should at least be able to do the body kit.

If anyone has any ideas on bodykits they think I should do if its an option to me, I'd love to hear it. just remember cost is an issue here.

Apart from all that, I'll be off to the doctor and starting physical therapy soon. I didn't think I had whiplash until I woke up saturday morning with tremendous neck, shoulder and back pain.

Now I have trouble sleeping due to not being able to get comfortable and back spasms.

Let me know your thoughts and ideas. Euro lights are a consideration, but since I do not have to replace my lights because they were untouched in the accident, I'll do euros later on.

Alon

I hope, most importantly, that you recover nicely from whatever aches and pains are bothering you. Also, I hope that your Black Beauty's surgery goes fine. (Where did you post what happened?)

Best wishes.

Mike
'90 300CE
145K

[Ashman]

check my car is badly hurt post..

Alon

[akry]

Good luck, man.... hope everything sorts out by itself...

Andy Kuo

[Ashman]

Just found out my dad is friends with the insurance adjuster. he's having me take it to his bodyshop and he'll estimate and just pay out for it.

Alon

[el presidente]

Alon,

I hope both you and your car both heal very soon!

Part numbers for you are (Sportline/Bilstein):

A 124 320 64 30 Front Sport Strut
A 124 320 23 31 Rear Sport Shock


Get well soon

[-fad]

Alon-

...maybe now's a good time to do a sportline suspension or partial sportline? vs. the body kit? there's sportline stuff on e-bay right now - it may net you a nicer machine vs. the body kit

re: 'thinner tires"
>suggest doing a complete front and rear suspension check-up before fitting the plus size upgrades again since the suspension bushings are originally set up to handle OEM loads and stresses (faster suspension/ bushings, steering wear with the incr loads of the 'plus' uprades)

re: 'wider tires': wider may not be the only answer
>true- wider may grip more if set up properly with a balanced suspension & braking system:
>suggest doing some research into spring rates/ load rates, etc. to obtain a balanced suspension package (you've done springs already? maybe there's a matched shock and sway bar package intended for the set-up?)
>...perhaps the lower spring set-up on your car is not well balanced to the struts/ shocks/ bushings ...and was a contributing factor in the mishap? fwiw- I had to do some front suspension refreshing on my E320 Coupe recently and it handles extremely well wet or dry well- as the factory intended. I did a trip from N Cal into Baja Mexico in December's pouring rain/mud/unpaved rough roads in my CE and it performed entirely flawlessly with enthusiastic use


good luck with the recovery and take it easy
-fad

PS- el presidente did the sportline upgrade and may have his used OEM CE suspension parts to help you if you need them?- doesn't hurt to ask.

[rich30769]

Alon,

I live not to far from Erebunicorp which is located in Bklyn,NY. I do not hear positive things about their craftsmanship. Like you'll have to do alot of extra customizing just to get the piece to fit right. I could be wrong since I've never actually dealt with them myself, but you know what they say about word of mouth. It's the best salesman.

By the By: I use Bilstein shocks and Eibach Prokit springs w/ #1 bump in the front and #3 in the back. The car sits nicely and handles great. I have 17x7.5 Ace Monaco wheels all around w/215/50/17's. I purchased the suspension setup from www.shox.com it ran me approx. $670- with shipping and handling.

[yal]

Something happened to that beauty of a car....NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Where the hell have I been?

Hope it turns out ok with the repairs and all Alon. If you are a member of Benzsport.com you can get a really good dicount price for bilstien sport shocks from Randall at www.autowerksexpress.com, thats where I got my set for $385 shipping + hand incl

Take care....

[el presidente]

Originally posted by -fad

PS- el presidente did the sportline upgrade and may have his used OEM CE suspension parts to help you if you need them?- doesn't hurt to ask.

Alon,

You are welcome to any "take-off" OEM pieces I have remaining....but they are stored where I had the work done and I'm not positive as to what is left.

I know the front struts, rear swaybar and rear shocks are gone (already spoken for), rear shocks were thrown away as they were worn out. All the old bushings were thrown out.

Let me know if I can help and I'll check to see what is still left.

E.P.

[sixto]

Originally posted by Ashman
I would like to get as much meat ont he road though, I'm vary weary of the thinner tires after my spin out ordeal.

Alon,

I'm glad you're able to write about it. I hope you and your ride get well soon.

As for tires, width is the last thing you want on water and mud. Get wider tires because they suit your driving style, but be extra vigilant for slippery stuff.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD

[Ashman]

got a call fromt he insurance adjuster who has the car at their bodyshop for their own estimate. they didn't like my $3800.00 estimate.

Turns out their estimate is $4700 about $1000 more than the shop I took it to. Plus i am allocated $50.00 a day for a rental for Max of 20 days, and I don't need a rental. My father has been gracious enough to lend me his rolls until my car is fixed. Geez doesn't that suck?! hehe I have to be burdened with driving around in a rolls for a few weeks. oh the shame.. hehe

If all is said and done, I should hopefully end up with about $5500.00 to fix the car. My bodyshop said he will do it for $1500. so if I get paid out the max which I hope I do, I can do the suspension, wheels, tires, and bodykit and still have some $$$ left over.

I'll keep you all posted. As it is now, I am going to try to arrange to have them allow me to purchase the parts.. hehe so I can drop a nice load of $$$ on our fellow members and of course fastlane. for the parts I need.

I am hoping the estimate does not show any frame damage. The insurance claims adjuster feels that it is pretty much open and shut since I was hit from behind. The rear damage is basically nothing.

Fad... Believe me when I say Conti touring tires are crap, even int he dry.... No way I'll ever put them on my car again. only reason I did was because I had 2 good contis already and I got the other two for a steal at $130.00 plus $20.00 for mounting and balancing.

I have a feeling my ins bodyshop is putting for new wheels. as well which accounts for the higher estimate.

At least I know my bodyshop can make the erebuni kit fit and work. he does this kind of stuff all the time. I too have heard horror stories, but I am willing to take a chance. Worst case scenario is I get erebuni to guarantee fitament or my money back. Who knows if they will do it, but I would assume that I can fanagle some kind of deal like that. Even if I can only use the front and rear bumper covers from them, I'd still be pleased. it can't be that hard to make them fit, its only fibreglass, and my bodyshop guy can do wonders with fibreglass.

I'll keep you guys posted, so far things are looking good, but physical therapy is gonna suck.

Alon

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy Alon,
Are you having the whole car painted?¿ Is it going to be the same paint/ same color?¿ I was just wondering how your shop was going to do a top notch paint job and all the other work for $1,500. Can I bring my vehicles there too

[Ashman]

No, they will match the paint and only paint what is needed.

Several bodyshops I went to said its hard to match, but it can be done, since it is just the blue metal flake content that needs to be matched, the black is a standard black, with blue metallic flake in it.

They will just make a mix with as little flake as possible, test, and add more flake as they see fit.

Alon