Even thought it's after the fact, you might consider asking a professional appraiser to take a look and, based on "before" photos that I hope you have and on valuation documents that the appraiser will know where to get, write you an appraisal of what the car would have been worth had it not been crunched. It won't be as strong as if it had been written before the accident but better than nothing.

You need to have someone on your side (the appraiser). The insurance adjuster is NOT on your side. His loyalty is to the company (that's who pays him, after all). He is charged with keeping expenses down. The appraiser will be loyal to you -- you're paying him.

When I had my '85 appraised, the charge was $200. The appraiser spent two hours going over the car and I got two bound copies packed with documentation. I gave one copy to my insurance agent and had her sign and date the other one (as a receipt) and put it in my fireproof safe. If anything ever happens, I will be in a stronger position, with a $9000 appraisal to wave under the adjuster's nose.

I need to get the same thing done to the '96.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970