Wrecked C-Class

Hi,

I have a 1995 C280 and was side-swiped while making a left turn by a car running a red light. I'd say the car that hit me was going at least 40 mph. Anyhow, my car sustained a lot of damage to the right rear side. The passenger airbag deployed cracking the windshield and the rear door is caved in (the door is so bent its no longer flush with the frame) and the right rear wheels is bent in. Also, the trunk is mis-aligned and won't close properly - although its not mangled. Also, the rear bumper is about to fall off, and the car was spun around after being hit. I have had the car towed to a Mercedes dealer in Plano, TX. He said the car wasn't totaled and they've seen much worse. I guy at the bodyshop said the car would need a new rear quarter panel, rocker panel, door frame, the rear suspension is cremed, etc. I'm just curious to know if the car can ever be rebuilt and drive the same? Independent from what the insurnace decides, I would like to know if the car really can be rebuilt properly to its conditio before the accident (before this one it had only had the front bumper hit) Taking into account the way the car was hit - I would assume the car would have lost structural integrity and have a warped frame and probably not drive the same anymore, but anyhow, I would like to hear from Benzmac and his assessment on the car. I would imagine that the steel near the right B-pillar on the passenger side would be bent in the hit? Basically, I just wanted to know if the car was realy repairable and the body shop estimated 8-9K worth of the work on the car. Any respones/comments/things I should know would be appreciated.

Troy

Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you are OK.

I heard somewhere that the Texas insurance companies don't like to total cars. Good luck!

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

Sorry About the Accident...

Here's what I can tell you about the insurance companies and how they calculate totaling of a car.

You say it is less than 10K damage... In order to total the car the damage has to be in excess of 80% street value of the car. This is the norm for most insurance co's. If you wish to have it totaled out, the value of your car could not exceed 14K, bear in mind this is cash value not blue book or retail value. I do not know what the cash value of your 95 c280 is currently, but I assume it is more than 14K.

My best advise is trade or sell as soon as it gets back from the body shop. Unless the body shop guys are genuisses with metal, It will never be the same car you were driving before the accident.

Good Luck,

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William
76 240D - 550K miles
78 300D - 200K+ miles

I would appreciate in what way the car can't be repaired. I can't believe the car can't really be repaired the same because its all just metal or would the cost to do such a job be astronomical. Also, when you said the car won't be the same would you mean cosmetically, mechanically, or just something else - would it shake at 80 mph on the freeway? I would appreciate any other responses on this issue especially from Benzmac.

Thanks

Troy

Troy:

From a pure materials standpoint, once the steel of your vehicle was hit the mechanical properties in the deformed areas were changed (crystalline structure, etc). Now, those same areas will be *bent* back into place causing increased mechanical stresses in the material (read: weakened). It's like the flip-ring on a soda can, bend it once (to open the can) and it's fine. Bend it a couple more times (i.e. - work-harden the material) and it'll break. Same principle applies to your car. Once the structural integrity has been breached, it'll never be the same (or as safe) as the day it rolled off the assembly line. Sure, it may not "look" any different after the body shop's done, but it won't provide the same amount of safety as before. I'm not a body shop expert, and they may do some heat treatment to relieve some of the induced stresses, but face it YOU'LL know your car isn't the same as before.

Someone with body shop expertise, please check my statements

Just my 2-cents.

Brian

[Agron80]

sorry about the accident, hope your ok...

I stand behind what Brian says that "its just not the same anymore". When i was young, my father would always tell me when you get into an accident, the car is just not the same--and its true. Luckily i've never been in an auto accident myself (knock on wood), but i've driven cars before they were hit, and after. Even if the body shop was excellent with the paint, body work, drive train and acceleration, the car is just going to be "sluggish". If i were you, I wouldnt even look at the thing anymore. My opinion--try to get the most $$$ you can get out of it.


Agron
1989 300E (107k miles)

[Benzmac]

Usually the reason for it not being the same is bad workmanship. I have seen cars come from the Mercedes Body shop here in Atlanta that I would have bought. They were repaired perfectly. THIS IS THE EXCEPTION... I have seen a thousand for every one of these good ones that I would not let an enemy of mine drive. Why? It is just junk. My 2 cents. Take it to the nearest autorized body shop and MAKE the insurance pay for the repairs there!!!!!!

The wait here is over 2 months but worth it.


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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Hi,

Just wanted to report back on the status of the car. I finally picked up the car October 24, over 4.5 months after the accident. I can actually say the car drives, looks, and feels better than before the accident. It was fixed at a Benz dealership in Plano and they did a good job, but straigtening the frame took a month because the technician for the machine got sick. Anyhow, the damages cost a little over $16,000 - a whole new right rear door was put on, inside and out, a new rear quarter panel, side skirt, and other various pieces of sheet metal around the gas tank. Also, a whole new subframe was put on the rear and and upfront, as well as all new suspension components in the rear and some steering compoents up front, a whole new dash was put in with new wood on top near defroster vents, new rear-view mirror, new front windshield, new steering wheels, and various other interior peices like trunk linings, plastic trim pieces, exterior moldings, etc. Basically,t he car handles and drives like a new car with the new suspension compoents (because they were all original - I wish front could be replaced, but maybe they don't need). There were a few problems with the work like minor plastic trims pieces not replaced and the steering wheel was put on crooked to the right, trim molding on room loose, parking brake loose, aftermarket amp wire missing, plus a few more things. In other words, I not taking the car back until its fixed up to standards.

The car really does look like a new car expecially with the new windshield and fresh paint job - I couldn't tell the difference in paint and I'm very picky. Funny, how the car actually went through an accident, but ends up beter inside and out after it, with so many new parts - even new airbags (since old ones were about to expire)

Is there any final checks/or things I should make sure they did right - also, is there a way I can get them to tighten the parking brake and have it covered under insurance?

I apprecaite your assitance/comments in this matter. Also, any other mods you could suggest (I don't want to alter the suspension any - because the factor suspension performs the best overall) but anything else would be appreciated!

Thanks

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1995 Euro C280
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*Debadged
*Kompressor rims
*K&N Air Filter
*Custom Intake/Exhaust
*Bored Throttle Body
*Modified ECU
*Bilstein Sports soon

[Mr. BILL]

Troy,

If it is possible, you should really consider talking to your dealer about trading your car on another one,now.

Although your car sounds like it was properly repaired,and that is possible,you now own a wrecked car. No matter what, the value of your car has diminished a great deal.

Also, if you haven't talked to an attorney,you should do that too. Assuming the guy who hit you was insured.

Mr. BILL

[420SEL]

I agree with Mr. Bill. Think of it this way. If you didn't own the car now, would you buy it knowing it had been in a pretty serious accident. No matter how well it had been repaired I wouldn't buy a car that had been in an accident, I think most people are the same. Now is the perfect time to trade it in to the dealer. If they are satisfied that the work they have done on it has brought it up to original spec they should give you what it was worth if it hadn't been in the accident. I don't think you'd find anyone in a private sale, or even a non-Benz dealer who wouldn't want a major discount because of the history. Trade it in and get yourself a 2001 C-Class. I test drove one last week and they rock!



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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL