My beautiful '84 300TD is dead, rear-ended by some kid fooling with his iPod (literally). The car did what it was supposed to do: protect my pregnant wife. Sig at MBI says that the frame is bent halfway through the car, and the driveshaft pushed forward. It won't drive over 10MPH, and the rear doors don't open (the front doors barely do).

So now I get to argue with an insurance adjuster, which I've never done before, and I need some advice. I'm afraid this guy's going to try to lowball me, and all I want is enough money to go and buy another car just like Das Boot.

I bought the car from the original owner, so have all the service records. I've been trolling Craigslist the last week, finding every 300TD for sale in a dozen cities and printing the ads. I'm in Portland, and prices are higher here on the left coast.

For this who've done this before: any words of wisdom? Don't skimp on advice just because it seems obvious to you.

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2003 E320 wagon, ~80k, "Sputnik"
1987 300 SDL, ~160k, "The Pimp Daddy" (sold April 2010)
1984 300 TD, ~200k, "Das Boot" (Demised March 2008)

Don't take a lowball offer. That's what I did when dealing with the insurance adjuster about my fence that was run through by an SUV. I thought it would cost more in legal fees to pursue it. I recently found that as long as you win the case, your fees are covered. Had I known that, I would have gone through with a case.

I hope your pregnant wife and baby are OK. If you haven't already, make sure she gets checked out THOROUGHLY. I believe you can seek damages (healthwise) for at least a year after the accident regardless of a settlement.

Good luck with everything.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

I'd also look at Ebay completed auctions.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

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

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"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

If you are friendly with the local Mercedes dealer immediately get an estimate for repairs from them and talk with everyone there. The insurance company will likely resort to asking them about value on an unusual car.

Years ago I had a VW Jetta diesel for sale when it got rear ended. Within 30 minutes of the accident, I took it to my VW dealer friend to show him. The next day, the other driver's insurance company called the dealer to ask the value. The dealer knew what car they were talking about, quoted them his retail price for such a car, and I got a very nice settlement.

In my past, I was a lawyer. My advice at that time would be to take your wife to the doc in the box and have her complain of neck and back pain, maybe a few contractions. You would be surprised at the efforts the insurance company will make to settle.

__________________
1983 300SD "Guderian"
1987 MR2
2015 Camry
2015 Chevy Spark
2006 Hyundai Tucson

I don't think that I'd start worrying until I got the offer. The only time I've had to go through this, I got a fair amount more than I paid for the car. There should be plenty of evidence around for its worth.

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For Sale: 1982 MB 300TD
1995 Chevrolet Suburban 6.5TD

Sold: 1980 IH Scout Traveler- Nissan SD33T Diesel

There should be pain and suffering for the loss of a nice 300TD.

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

Nineteen years ago, my 7 months pregnant wife was rear ended by a pickup.

I have never in my life found the insurance company to be as solicitous, as when dealing with a pregnant victim. My first offer of compensation was more than sufficient to make me feel whole.

Don't despair, find some comps and hope they will be as anxious to settle as they were for me.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Indepent appraisal and doctor visits....

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

Glad to see another Portland area member, sorry to hear about your wagon.

Just show the adjustor the prices from THIS site

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Yeah, $19,500 seems about right! (That's what this one apparently sold for on ebay).

http://jgsmercedes.com/1983_300TD_A_P.html

Drooooool!

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1984 300TD Wagon

Have family now living in Germany ? Sorry, a take off of old WWII war movies.

Hope you and yours are all OK. Best of dealings with insurance compaines though.

Regards

Run-Em

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1983 300SD - SPARKY THE DIESEL
2004 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro Roadster
1999 SLK - aka - LIL RED
1956 Chevy Nomad - aka - REAL MAD
1940 Ford dbl dr. Deluxe - aka - ORANGE U GLAD
1998 Kawasaki Nomad bike --

I never, never commit fraud. Just because of my personal respect and experience with adjusters and insurance companies on claims though they are the exception. Kind of fighting fire with fire if you wish.
Take your wife to a doctor with superficial complaints like abnormal back and neck soreness from the accident. I also like the light contractions. As the ex lawyer suggested. I believe it's called convering your posterior.
Then if ( I almost want to insert when instead of if ) they lowball you on the car just introduce the personal injury items. It is always a toss up in my opinion. Some adjusters are fair but many get much more work from insurance companies if they really get away with the insurance company paying sub standard amounts. The emotional stress your wife suffered under this situation in her current condition is a payout factor itself.
I could not concentrate for over a week to work after the last high speed accident I was involved in as a passenger. .Told them they owed me and they paid. It was legitamate by the way.
I really have learnt to despise the insurance industry over the years. They do not seem to mind taking thousands per year from me for various coverages though. Wish you well. Remember unfortunatly I feel the ex lawyers advice is valid. Why should you take a loss for something not your own fault? You in fact should gain a little with at least a better car for all the trouble.

I just went throught this..........
I think you should figure out what you would be happy accepting from them and go from there.
They of course are going to try and low ball you, that is their job, but it is also their job to get you back to the same place you were before the accident, That being said, They need to give you as much money as it is going to take, to get you in a comparable 300TD in YOUR area....
They started off with me at $2600, I had to take copies of Ebay and Cl, posting plus all my records but in the end they gave me what I wanted.
Looking back though, since they do use and average system and Autadex (which thinks 150 000 is high miles for these cars)
I would have taken every obscene HIGH listing instead of the reasonable ones to make their averages right.
Nada low reatil is $4875.....
NOT A PARTS CAR...
So dont feel bad for not wanting to except anything less.

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85 300SD
Black Sassy!!
260,xxx

78 300d ~~~ Norcal Car
Medium red on Bamboo
I am the second owner
565,000
Best $900 EVER SPENT!!!!!!!!!!
RIP 12/19/2010 617,000

83 300 SD~~~ CALI CAR~~~
And GREASIL was her name~o
172,000 pampered miles and many more to come
R.I.P 3/5/08 Death by Drunk Driver booo 180,222

The Colonel Mustard
80 Landcruiser HJ47
"Troopy" Right hand Drive
82 2H motor in it. 70,change on Motor.

There are 2 possibilities...

1. He was insured
2. He wasn't and your uninsured motorist coverage is taking care of it.

If it is #1, (and I have heard this before on the board) I don't understand why there is a concern. They need to make you happy.

Their customer rear ended a woman who is pregnant and your worried? I would guess they are waiting for the lawsuit to show up coming after them for policy liability limits. They will be only to happy to make you right. You could ask the adjuster the question...
In your experience do you think something like this causes trauma to a fetus?

If it is #2, I suspect you need to negotiate and need to be prepared.

Good Luck

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it