Question about difference between 1981 300SD and 1984300SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

topherba2010 · #1 06-06-2011, 01:27 PM

I currently have a claim with Progressive Insurance and they have decided that my car is a total loss. I have another thread opened, but that is a little bit different.

Progressive has offered me $3500.00 minus $500.00 deductible for my 1981 300SD. Body and paint was perfect before the hail storm. It is beyond repair now in terms of the body. The engine runs excellent.

Progressives Team has told me that they called a few dealerships and asked what this car would sell for and this is how they determined the value. I call BS. Why would a car dealership sell a car as nice as mine for well below book value or more than 50-75 percent below book value?

I was also told that they could not find a 1981 Mercedes 300SD, so they are using other years like 1984 and 1986 300SD's, or even 300D's to come to a fair market value.

I have pointed out that the chassis on the 1980 is different than the 1981.

So my question is, aside from more 1982 300SD's being produced than the 81's, what other differences are there in the years of the cars?

Is the 81 worth the same as an 84?

I've been doing my research and countering their claims. I sent out a certified demand today for payment. I just think taking $3500.00 would be an injustice to this car.

Any thoughts and info are appreciated. I think it's safe to say I am firing Progressive.

TX76513 · #2 06-06-2011, 02:20 PM

Unfortunately your problem has been discussed many times. Unless you bought a policy that has a declared value and/or running classic insurance you are going to get a pay off of what the common market value of the vehicle is - not the collector/anitque/classic price.

tbomachines · #3 06-06-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Unfortunately your problem has been discussed many times. Unless you bought a policy that has a declared value and/or running classic insurance you are going to get a pay off of what the common market value of the vehicle is - not the collector/anitque/classic price.

Yup, Progressive prices their cars based on the market value (actually in most cases it is above market, since it considers asking prices). Any chance that you could have your car assessed by an independent mechanic or dealer? I had my DD totaled a year and a half ago and Progressive used this method to determine value, it was right on the spot of what we would have asked for the car prior to the damage. IMO they're one of the better companies to deal with but I'm sorry to hear that they're giving you so much trouble! Hopefully this all works out, good luck!

sixto · #4 06-06-2011, 02:38 PM

Talk about perspective, you're dropping Progressive and I've read just about enough to give them a call

I had a Dickens of a time with Ameriprise over a totaled 93 SD. The numbers were almost irrelevant. Where I still don't have closure is how they value a car when there are no equivalents on the market and very little in terms of recent transactions. Be thankful they didn't use an 81 380SE as a surrogate in your case. They used a 93 300SE as a surrogate in my case.

The 84 might have ABS and a driver airbag that the 81 doesn't.

How much does Progressive want to sell you back the car after the settlement?

Sixto
87 300D

Beastie · #5 06-06-2011, 04:51 PM

Not only progressive. My 92 500E had a small fire on the underside. It sat at the dealership for almost 2 months as they kept telling me they would be fixing it. Then Geico comes along and wants to total it and give me $12,000. grand
I had just bought the car for $32,000. 2 months earlier. I showed them 5 very good comps ( this car had 57ooo miles on it) still not good. I took their money and bought the car outright. I then used the money to buy all the parts and have been putting it back together. They robbed me but what can you do ?

tyl604 · #6 06-06-2011, 05:21 PM

I think $3500 is a pretty fair price.

vstech · #7 06-06-2011, 05:50 PM

if you have replacement coverage, they will have to find an equal condition vehicle to get a quote.
PLENTY of ebay sales on here, along with the craigslist ones.
they may even find you a car equal in condition to yours for less than 2K though.

topherba2010 · #8 06-06-2011, 06:47 PM

I'm actually getting a good laugh out of this with them.

They could not find any 1981 300SD's in the area. They pulled 3 vehicles total. 2 from California and 1 from Indiana to determine the fair market value. Keep in mind I am in Tulsa.

That's only anywhere from 800 to 2000 miles away.

For me, it's like a realtor pulling comps on a 3600 SF home that is in Tulsa and comparing it to a home in California on the coast. Huge difference.

As far as the car, I'm having it independently appraised. I sent Progressive a demand today. I'll file suit against them if they don't get more reasonable.

Also, in terms of asking price, they usually go to the dealers and actually ask them what the absolute bottom dollar is that they will take, and base their values on that. I can't actually see the cars in California or Indiana that they are trying to compare my car to, and I pointed out that the economy is much different in Oklahoma than in California or Indiana.

For all I know, the insurance company could have posted ads simply in an effort to pay people less.

If I thought $3500.00 was fair, I would take it. I don't need the money and the car is paid for, but I have seen them sale for much more in worse condition. I kinda have this thing about Insurance. We are required by law to carry it, we might as well hold them as accountable as possible and get as much as we are entitled to.

tyl604 · #9 06-06-2011, 07:09 PM

More power to you. Be interested to see how you do. At some point I will sell my beloved 81 SD and I would like to see a high comp.

bustedbenz · #10 06-06-2011, 07:58 PM

I've seen them sell for less than that too. That sounds about like median value to me.

I bought mine for $2000...

vstech · #11 06-06-2011, 08:39 PM

the thing is, it's YOUR car. it was rust free, and in premium low miles condition.
it's nearly impossible to find one like that. you may be able to for less than 3500, but if that's the case the insurance co needs to get you the car, not an ad for one that already sold.

topherba2010 · #12 06-10-2011, 04:09 PM

Well I found out that I cannot sue progressive.

Instead, its basically arbitration. I have to hire an independent appraiser which I've done and he will appraise the value of the vehicle and then progressive has one of their cronies appraise it. Then the appraisers try to agree on a value. If they cannot agree on a value, they have an umpire who settles the dispute.

I spoke with them again today and they went up a measly $500.00. I explained to them that the comps they are pulling are from California and if they throw in the cost of what it would be to ship a car from that far to Tulsa, I'd settle for that. So Progressive is getting $500.00 from the deductible. They put the salvage value at $1000.00 on a car they claim is only worth $3500.00 now. High value for the salvage.

So I'd lose $500.00 automatically and if I keep it another $1000.00. So $1500.00.

I cannot believe how hard it is to work with them.

They put the repair costs at $4500.00.