A big get-well wish to you & your SDS. That would make me really cry if it were my car. I've only been in one car accident (in my Explorer) and I thought I was OK right afterwards (just a little sore) but ended up having neck & back problems & eventually fibromyalgia...so if your pain lasts, make sure you get it checked out.

It looks like the Mercedes crumple zones sure did their job though. You will feel even more loyal to Mercedes Benz now that you've survived an accident in one (well, at least I felt that way about my Ford, but I probably would still trade it for a diesel Benz G-wagen if I could find one). I would imagine the rear damage should be easier to fix than if it were the front, and probably would be less of a hassle than finding another 300SD and doing a engine, transmission and badge swap, but I really have no idea of the cost and what would be involved. I do know that a long time ago, my aunt rolled her 1968 220D after hitting a freeway barrier, walked away with just a scratch, had the roof repaired and was good to go...

-AC

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1976 240D "Katja"

I'm really at a loss when it comes to body work. I know there are clips available but don't know the cost or feasability of parts and repairs. You might find a body shop nearby that specializes in MB's (in our area there is Caliber Motors, don't know about yours) and talk it over with them. Sorry, not much help when it comes to this type of thing.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Wow do those pics bring back memories. About a year and a half ago I was hit in the exact same spot with almost identical damage to my first MB, the '85 in my sig. Sorry to tell you, but they totaled it, just barely though. I think they valued the damage at $3700, the car around $3400. It was in really nice shape to, beautiful interior and such. Maybe you'll get a deal like that. If I had your car, I would have paid the extra and got the car fixed.

Sorry about your trouble with the insurance. Considering I'd just had my car totaled by a woman yakking on her cell phone, the whole thing went really smoothly. The lady was really sorry and very helpful and her insurance company was very nice and prompt with the payment. Good luck!

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=1329358&postcount=32




http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=1329354&postcount=31

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Thanks BioPower! My wish is to fix it as a first gut reaction. I'm a believer.

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

Thanks AC, I will take your advice and monitor my neck pain. That's amazing about your aunt's 220D rollover being repaired!

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

Hi SD,

I bought this SDS at Ditmire Motors in Absecon, NJ. last Halloween. Another customer of theirs with a recently totaled '85 SD highly recommended I call them tomorrow morning (actually later today). They specialize in servicing used and vintage Benz's.

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

umm well i know just a single rear door, with no trim glass or anything, and unpainted from mercedes for w123 is around $1100 insurance company said i better just have the dents taken out i had to agree on that one

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

Sam, thanks for sharing this!

If the repair costs only an increment more, I would certainly beg and borrow as needed to make up the difference! Where would I ever find another stick-shift 300SD in that delicious Midnight Blue? Your story encourages me.

21 years ago I bought my late dad's '80 VW Rabbit L Diesel back from the scrapyard for $200. after it had been totaled and six-sided. After half a year of DIY and another $800., I got a yield of another 100,000 miles out of it! No clips; just a hell of a lot of Bondo, and some blocks of oak lumber stitching the front and rear corner together (all hidden). So anything is possible!

I know a clip is needed in this current situation though.

Garth

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

Jimmy! Thanks for those clip picture links! Those are from a W126 too, are they not?

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

I never forgotten your car when you first posted that you purchased it http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=169206 .... I just loved the fact it was a manual "SD"! I am so bummed out now!

I really hope you can get her back on the road. If not, maybe you can find a mechanically needy SD and transfer all the goodies on to it, including the SDS nameplate!

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

stcbenz83,

Ahh, I had the same situation on my former 240D. I ended up doing a DIY dent pulling and Bondo repair on my rear door, and it looked quite satisfactory. It was quite a deep dent too! I bet you could fix yours. What about a junk yard door?

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

Thanks so much rmarzan! You even have that link to better days.

I have to admit that original exhaust pipe got ruined, backing up against a very high curb, right after I took that picture. Now the new exhaust is totaled as well.

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2001 E320 4MATIC WAGON desert silver/tan, 169K
1986 300SDL black on black, 240K

1984 300 SDS (stick-shift) 209K.....now reborn as a 1983 300SD (stick-shift facsimile of the former 84) 274K

1982 240D (sold!) 264K

maybe the answer is put that engine and tranny into a 350SDL with a blown motor

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

You have experienced firsthand what makes a big Mercedes priceless: how the car in a major impact WILL crumple progressively but leave the passenger cage intact and protect you! The best reason there is to purchase one - imagine if you'd suffered this impact in a Prius or a Neon....

As far as the car is concerned, it is unique, with the successful conversion to manual. I'd be inclined to argue that it's status would make it much more valuable than the run of the mill 300SD.

Since you are being covered by State Farm Insurance and the claim is being handled as an Uninsured Motorist claim, for practical purposes, your Insurance company is representing the adverse party, and it is you AGAINST them. (I speak as someone who briefly worked as an auto insurance claims adjuster for AAA many years ago)

Since you are NOT at fault, the only issue is how many $$$ they must pay you, and whether your car is totalled. (By the pictures, it's likely they will consider that it is.) You suffered slight injury, for which you need to be compensated, presumably you and your passenger have visited a doctor and are keeping a DAILY written diary of your injuries and how you feel.

I hate to put it this way, but the Insurance company is aware of this and the fact you have an injury claim might work to your advantage in negotiations with State Farm as you might be able to leverage your claim to your advantage, to have the car repaired rather than junked if they are reminded that the car was hit AND you were hurt. They would probably rather fix the car, even if it was totalled, than risk a jury trial and those expenses, to determine damages, for your injury and pain and suffering, even though they have their own trial attornies on staff for these exact situations.

Reason: It might be CHEAPER for them in the end, because NO ONE can predict a jury award, they are a roll of the dice. You might want to even contemplate speaking to an attorney about this situation for a realistic summary of your options. My insurance company is State Farm, and though I have never had a claim like this, my feeling is that basically they are
pretty reasonable to deal with, unlike Allstate, Progressive and certain others.

As to the rental car issue, read your policy. You are very likely covered for "loss of use" until your car is fixed or the claim is settled. And if not, LEGALLY you should be to recover this very legitimate expense. (The Insurance companies do not like to pay this when the car might be totalled, as it mounts up quickly, and they are under HUGE pressure to settle "total loss" claims quickly, under a month at most-- use this to your advantage)

If you do settle the claim, and have the car fixed, (or the car is declared "totalled" and you buy back the wreckage and rebuild it with a salvage title), be certain the car will be structurally sound with a welded rear clip. A second rear end hard hit to a car that's been repaired with a poorly welded rear clip could be very very bad (see picture link above).

When you settle the claim, keep in mind, also there are three separate claims;
Your injury, the passenger's injury, and the damage to your car. to state the obvious, EACH of these should be separately settled, with a full awareness of
how much $$$ each is being paid for each of them...
Your car was a beauty, and being an excellent conversion to a manual, was special and unique. That and the fact the 1984-1885 were among the best S class diesels Mercedes made, are good reasons to try and save it. Good luck.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)