I just got the appraisal report on my 1996 E300 Diesel (W210) from the Automobile Appraisal Association, a California company. The purpose of the appraisal was to give me a tool to use against insurance estimators in case I ever have a claim. One copy of the appraisal will go to my State Farm agent while the other will live in my fire resistant (2 hour) safe.

The concern that led to the appraisal was that I am the fourth owner of this eleven year old car with 253,000 miles. Even a Mercedes can be worn out at that age and miles if it isn't properly maintained. I wanted an independent professional to give me a written statement of the condition of the car and its value today, backed by documentation.

We normally think of an appraisal as having value when a car is damaged -- the appraisal shows what the car was like before the accident. But what happens when a car is stolen and not recovered? It is stripped and the expensive pieces vanish into the market while the remaining bits are crushed. Now you have nothing to show the insurance adjuster, who then has little to go on. Even if he is not out to lowball you, he still has to present some justification to his company for giving you a bunch of money. An older car with a lot of miles and no documentation doesn't look good on his paperwork but with your appraisal in hand he has something to work with.

As to the appraised value of $17,500, well, we know that has to be taken with a grain of salt. Appraisers tend to come in high -- that's their job. The appraiser told me that he would deliver as high a value as he could, provided he could document it. In this case, he was able to start with basic numbers of the "Kelley Blue Book" variety and modify them based on the condition of the car, options, my records, etc. Whether I would ever be able to sell the car for anything like that is irrelevant. Likewise, the insurance adjuster is unlikely to give me more than I paid for the car ($10,800) but at least he can't claim that the car is a junker. What I have purchased (for $295, their prices have gone up) is a weapon that I hope I will never have to use.

Anyone who has an older car with a lot of miles that is in much better than average condition should seriously consider protecting themselves by getting their car appraised.

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