someone rearended my 1985 300SD..
 

And now I am told that the insured's company wants to total it; my next step is to 'scarp' it BUT I would prefer to sell it to someone on this forum who can use this car. It runs perfectly at 199,990 miles, and has a lot of work done on it incl new suspension stuff, etc. AC runs perfectly, and the car has no oil leaks and gets 23mpg. I am the second owner.

All it needs is bodywork, but every part of this car works great, so either it is the perfect repair car for someone who can do the bodywork, or the ultimate parts car.

can you folks point me to how to sell / etc this car? I am in the lower CT / Westchester NY / Bronx area; the car was being used for a daily commute to NJ and I'm happy to drive to the purchaser if needed.

Sorry to be so confused, I just don't want to simply 'trash' this car - I'd prefer that someone get the benefit of use of this vehicle. Even as a parts car, I'd prefer selling it rather than junking it for a few $$sss...

Folks will want pics to see how extensive the damage is, and to see what kind of shape the interior and other parts are if it is used as a parts car. ;)
BTW, sorry to hear about the car.....:(

If the damage is not that bad, why don't you buy it back from the insurance company and have it fixed. Even with a Salvage Title you should still be able to register it and drive it.

Just a thought...

Otherwise, do you have a good front bumper? Does the '85 still have the chrome strip on top or is it all body colored? I am looking for one to replace the one on the '81 that some idiot backed into and bent the chrome strip.

Thanks!

Yes, bodywork is all - but I don't have the resources to find the used panels etc...

However, it DOES have a chrome bumper in front...

Find out what the ins co wants to buy it back from them once totalled and let us know what you want from it. That way we don't lowball you.

Buy a new one!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1&viewitem=&item=140156594327

hmm? 22MPG? the 85 should be getting around 28 or so. some have "Claimed" 32 or so, anyway, post pics and lets see.

When I was in a wreck with my 300CD a number of years ago, the other guys insurance rep wanted to total it and I told him that he could do that if he would find and pay for an identical car to mine. He said he wasn't obligated to do that, so I told him, in that case I was going to get one of those lawyers that advertise in the TV guide , "I'm Jim Adler, they call me the Hammer" types and get what I wanted which was actually for him to not salvage my car, just pay me the $$ that he was going to for totaling it out, then get out of my life and I would figure out how to fix it. The damage to mine was to the front end, so I found a donor car for $500, the body shop swapped the front end, etc and I actually came out about $1,000 to the good and that including having the whole car repainted at the same time.

This sounds like the way to go for me. I would rather you save the car even if it means I don't get the bumper.

If you do decide to part it out, PM me with the price of the bumper and your location.

Best of luck!

Joe

I'll have pics up later today (it's really rainy here now).

here are some pics
 

Doesn't look so bad- do the rear doors and trunk still close OK?
If it's just a commuter vehicle, you may want to deal with the ins. co. to keep the vehicle as part of the settlement as was mentioned, and just keep driving it as is.
You can always sell it later or have it fixed.

Man....I love that interior color....my favorite along with gray....

I don't think that's all that bad....I'd get a payoff that keeps you from getting a salvage title then have it fixed...I have to believe you can do it and still have a great looking MB....

rear door sticks, trunk does not work. it'd need some work.

I JUST found out that the ins co has totalled it but I can sell it, so it is now officially 'for sale', and does NOT have a 'salvage' title!! YAY...

Our '83 was rear-ended the same way, it had a little less damage, but the same overall. We had it pulled back out at a Body Shop for $600. Looks 98% like it did prior to the hit. Doors jammed on ours too...but it was fixed by pulling out the damage. Looks like a very nice car overall, I would fix it if it was mine.