Totaled 300E?
 

Whilst at work today someone drove into my 1989 300E. Drove right over the tongue of the 26' Carver, moving it about 10 feet and broadsided the MB. I am pretty sure his insurance company will total it, as it looks like multiple thousands of dollars to repair. Now, I know these cars are worth very little on any market, any ideas on what to do?
Here are a few pics of damage to the car.
I would guess 2 doors and associated parts along with at least the passenger side regulator.
Well, tell me what you think. Heart breaking...

Be ready to challenge their valuation of the car.

If it is totaled, decide whether you’ll walk away from it or buy it back.

It shouldn’t be difficult to find a clean white door in TX. Mind that shades of 124 white changed through the years.

Hopefully there’s no damage to the b-pillar. Do the doors open and close properly?

Sixto
98 ae320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

Drivers door opens but does not stay closed properly. Did not try the passenger door. Had to move 2 boats back to their driveway positions. i will check it all tomorrow then body shop Monday first thing.
A friend said banks and insurance companies use NADA not Kelly and the NADA low retail is $3550. We shall see.
Also, it will be both doors front and rear. I am concerned with the body panel below the doors, it is bent strangely.

From recent personal experience, they do more research than use one reference. They take actual vehicle condition and local market into account. I doubt they’d say an ‘89 300E is with half what NADA says. Their concept of diminished value can be very different from what it’ll cost you to repair or replace. And the fine print says they’re not on the hook to replace your car, rather to compensate you for diminished value.

I wish you good luck but these claims tend to be challenges for our older MBs.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

True, I've known all along these older MB cars have little to no market value. This car needed some paint and body as well as a few interior switches. Doing a little at a time.
Replaced radiator and rear shocks a few months ago and rear brakes, rotors etc last week.
It was just a great little car that only has worth to its owner.
Now there is a nice '92 400E for sale locally in great condition,,,hmmm

The car is very fixable with only a slight chance of the B pillar being bent ( the one between the front and rear doors ) This is a 1 or 2 day job with replacement doors. The most work will be repainting.

A few things, don't try to open the rear door, the dent looks like it is pressed into the glass and the change in stress might break the glass. I'd also tape up the inside of the rear door glass in case the glass does break. Yes, you might lose the tint but this is far better than cleaning broken glass. At minimum some cardboard taped on the edges would contain any broken glass. Also keep it out of the sun, thermal changes can cause stressed glass to break.

Have a look on car-part.com This searches participating salvage yards. Call the yard directly as many have not figured out e mail.

When you do fix the car , be sure to have the existing doors rough pulled before removal, this way metal you are keeping gets bent back into shape.

Got any close up pics? Did you place a straight edge against the rocker panel?

Looks like two doors and youre set.

Here are some close ups. My fear is that the guys insurance company won't pay enough for the parts. I can do the labor myself except body and paint. Well, I don't think I can do that anyway.
Even though she is 30yrs old and unknown miles, I think I like it. I have to make a choice on keeping this 300E, or my Volvo C70 cabriolet. The Volvo is in better shape with fewer miles, but no where near the quality of a w124. And I think the Mercedes will STILL outlast the Volvo!

Rob,

I've got white doors (and other body panel parts, and interior parts) from a white '87 300D. Perfect sedan, no rust, low miles, but a red-light-runner t-boned at the front left fender and destroyed the car.

White doors so no painting involved. I've already stripped off the door handle and interior panel (burgandy interior) and I think I pulled out the window regulator / motor?

If you are interested, send me a private message, and let's make a deal. Basically I just want the cost of shipping and some reimbursement for my time in boxing them up. Shipping via Grey Hound will probably be the cheapest.

Wow! Thats very cool of you. I will take it to the body shop tomorrow and see what they say, then wait to hear from the insurance company and see what they offer, but your generous offer seems like the best bet so far.
Aren't Mercedes guys the best?!
So what really happened was that this guy was driving down our road and either lost control or had a seizure as he says, hit the trailer of our Carver 26' Monterrey pushed it about 15 feet sideways, knocked my 15' bowrider off its cradle and then pushed the carver into a Catalina 22, then proceeded about 15' across the driveway and smack dab into the 300E. So he must have been hauling ass down a quiet county neighborhood.
And yes we have several boats and many outboards as in my spare time I like to make old things new again, hence the Mercedes.
I will keep in touch and we can arrange for the doors. Wow again and many thanks!!!

rob300e, recommend that the body shop put your 300E on a frame machine to confirm the frame is straight. If not, it could be expensive to make the frame right again. You may also want to check wheel alignment.

It's a fairly "light" impact from what I can see. I'd bet the rocker and "B" pillar are both unscathed. Should be a matter of replacing both doors and related hardware and trim. Time consuming but not a big deal. Different story had the impact been towards the rear or in the front 3/4's.

Hey all, I just realized that at least in Texas, if an insurance company totals a car you get a salvage title. Plus I am sure it will show up on carfax or something as being involved in an accident.
I know that no matter what good deal I see on craigslist, if I see a salvage title I just pass it by. I figure most are like that. I know this car needs additional body work, a few rust places, PO did a very poor job repainting the left front fender. Probably over 250k in miles, as much as I like this car it might be time to look elsewhere. Just musing out loud right now until I can get the insurance estimate.
I will keep this thread updated as things happen.

Increasing cost to repair means cars are totaled for less and less severe damage. Consider a salvage title car if you’re on a budget and can convince yourself it’s a safe car. FWIW, California’s brake and light certificates don’t mean a car is roadworthy.

Personally, I won’t touch a flood car and I’m highly skeptical of a theft recovery if there are electricals that don’t work. I trust my eyes to spot a poorly repaired wreck. Generally if all the VIN tags are intact and in place it can’t have been that bad a wreck. Genrerally.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon