1982 300CD value - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mclearwater · #1 03-02-2013, 09:28 AM

A couple of months ago, I was involved in a accident with my 82 300cd. The accident was not my fault, and the other driver's insurance company has accepted full liability. I have finally gotten the car to a body shop after much screaming and yelling. The problem is that the insurance company has valued my car at $4000. They are threatening to total the car, based on the value and the cost of the repairs. The car is a 300cd with 114,000 miles on it. The interior is immaculate, the motor solid, no leaks, and the only thing that was wrong with the exterior of the car is that the clear coat was starting to peel on the trunk lid. Is there any way to get a proper estimate of the car's value? There's nothing comparable for sale for less than $6000. Any guidance would be great.

vstech · #2 03-02-2013, 10:24 AM

The only advice I have, is to aquire as many for sale ads as you can...

barry12345 · #3 03-02-2013, 10:46 AM

Vs tech is right. My own feeling is 4000 will definatly not buy a coupe with 114k miles. Even 6000 sounds too low unless yours was not what a decent 114k mile example should generally be like.

That model with low miles like you quote and good condition is bringing low collector dollars now. Good ones have to be pretty scarce. Watch for the claimed good ones coming up on ebay and print off the ads.

One problem though is not too many really good ones come up. If you are in a position to prove the overall accumulated miles might help. I wonder if ebay does not have a past sales retaining system that one might get access to as well. I am pretty sure for many reasons ads they have rum must be some form of archives for many reasons.

Some things in your favour or not perhaps is the adjuster may not be aware that certain colors may bring more than others. Many of those pristine cars will not have the true milage indicated in the add. It is good they have assumed liability though. One reason they might not want to fix it is you could hit them with the reduced value because the accident will be reported. If you do fix it get lots of pictured before the repair so a future purchaser will probably want to see them. I know I would if the accident came up on the car check or whatever. The accident may or may not reduce the cars value.

From my past experience and love for insurance companies they would find it very hard to give me less than the overall situation warranted. As additional protection I would express some concern about my sore neck or whatever. I am not a crook at all.Still if I have to deal with them there is no option to using their own types of tactics sometimes.

The Grinch · #4 03-02-2013, 10:50 AM

There are a few nice and mid-range CD's on ebay right now. I am not surprised they wanna total it. Not seeing the damaged I can't believe they even considered fixing an 82. Maybe have a private appraisal done? It is probibly a moot point but what kind of insurance did you carry on it? If full coverage what did you insurance company value the car at?

barry12345 · #5 03-02-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grinch

There are a few nice and mid-range CD's on ebay right now. I am not surprised they wanna total it. Not seeing the damaged I can't believe they even considered fixing an 82. Maybe have a private appraisal done? It is probibly a moot point but what kind of insurance did you carry on it? If full coverage what did you insurance company value the car at?

Falls back on common law in my mind. I damage your property and you are reasonably expected to be made whole again at my expense. Not come up holding the bag to some extent. I have become agressive towards insurance companies simply because of my past dealings with them. I would get a real value for the car. Repairing a serious hit does have a financial downside on the car as well and can be calculated if you wish to repair it as well. Then even sue the person that hit me if required to get it. Four thousand valuation just does not cut it in my mind if your car was nice. Unless they give them away in your region.

shertex · #6 03-02-2013, 12:01 PM

I'm afraid what you're going to bump up against is how the insurer calculates ACV (actual cash value). Unfortunately, that may be a very different figure than the market value of your car before it was hit.

mclearwater · #7 03-02-2013, 12:03 PM

The car is nice. There is no denying that. Runs strong and no rust anywhere. It is dark green with a tan interior. I just looked it up on NADA and it said for "Average condition," ie a 20-footer, it is valued at $10,100. The adjuster that came out and saw the car initially listed the car's condition as "good," so I'm assuming that it would fall in this price range. The insurance company has been maintaining radio silence all week, so I can only assume they are trying to figure out how to screw me. The biggest thing is that I don't want a salvage title. I own the car outright and hold the title, and I'm trying to avoid handing over the title. The damage to the car is at about $3200, hence the reason they want to total it. But my car is worth quite a bit more than $4000. If you guys could only see this car, take it for a ride, you'd understand why I'm so pissed off. Yet, my 300d, with it's driver's seat falling through the floorboards and oil puddle in the driveway isn't going to the junkyard, my 300cd with a crumpled hood and fender is. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for the replies

shertex · #8 03-02-2013, 12:23 PM

Maybe you could ask them how they calculate ACV.

DaveGT · #9 03-03-2013, 12:51 PM

Jeez guys, you all seem ready to throw in the towel.

You don't have to accept their first offer. You can negotiate with them. Waiting several months to get the car into a shop to get an estimate done is totally unacceptable to me. How were you supposed to get around without your car?

I'd be reading my policy, and their policy very carefully. If you have full coverage I wouldn't hesitate to get your insurance company involved.

mclearwater · #10 03-03-2013, 03:53 PM

unfortunately, I do not have full coverage, so I am at the mercy of the other guy's insurance. I am not even close to throwing in the towel, and I will continue to fight to get this problem resolved. I have been driving my 300d for the past two months while the insurance company exercised every known method to screw me over. Then my 300d died. It was nothing wrong with the car, as it turned out, the GFI outlet that powered the block heater popped. Should have known there was nothing wrong with the car. But I called the insurance company, and they rented me, of all things, a bright red camaro. In New England. In the middle of winter. Then called a day later to say that they had revoked the rental because my 300cd was "driveable," according to the adjuster. Even though I had no headlight and no turn signal, they expected me to drive it anyway. Any tickets incurred were my responsibility, of course. After politely stating that the world would seem quite different with her head outside of her rectum, the adjuster hung up on me four times in a row, until I had my lawyer call them up. Instantaneously, I was told that my car could be brought to the shop of my choice, and work could begin. Now they're trying to total it. My lawyer is a friend of mine, and he does little things for free, but I don't want to over use his kindness, and I lack the funds to pay him for real, so now I wait. I have already emailed the NADA price report to the adjuster and the body shop, and I have not heard back from either of them. Hopefully, this new week will bring some answers.

The Grinch · #11 03-03-2013, 07:09 PM

good luck with it and i hope you get it fixed right. I wonder how they will view the NADA info. I find them to be high on values. Here in MA they calculate sales tax based on NADA value... I have been screwed on that a few times. Sucks paying tax on money you never spent. I hope there figures work out in you favor.

cooljjay · #12 03-03-2013, 09:07 PM

You'll never win, the insurance company is god.....they give you 2 options take the offer and receive a salvage title or don't take the money and keep a clean title. If you plan to keep the car till it dies, take the offer re register it and fix the damage....keep the change and have fun...if you planned on selling it for 10 grand well.....and if is deemed your fault.....you get notta

Codifex Maximus · #13 03-04-2013, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveGT

Jeez guys, you all seem ready to throw in the towel.

You don't have to accept their first offer. You can negotiate with them. Waiting several months to get the car into a shop to get an estimate done is totally unacceptable to me. How were you supposed to get around without your car?

I'd be reading my policy, and their policy very carefully. If you have full coverage I wouldn't hesitate to get your insurance company involved.

Always have rental car on your full coverage insurance. The expense will make the insurance company anxious to serve you so as to reduce the time you have the rental car. Otherwise, they're free to dawdle at your expense. Ask me how I know.

HammArch · #14 03-07-2013, 04:36 PM

It would make me cry to see your 300CD totaled. Ask for the written estimate(s) from the adjustor. Pay particular attention to each item and how the repair was calculated. I assume the car is not drivable? If not the insurance will pay all towing charges to have it towed to a reliable and knowledgeable shop. Then use one you know for comparison. Get all the estimates in writing.
Once the research is complete (1-2 weeks who is in a rush?) then write your reply based on the known shop's input. Is there any mechanical damage, any suspicious damage under the hood? Make sure your reply is very detailed with all supporting ads and other estimates. E.G. My '83 300CD has 209K miles and I have been replacing parts for the last two years. M-B parts as you all know are $$$+$, but once complete I wouldn't take less than $12K plus. At 114K miles Barry12345 is spot on. Do not give up. Send all letters registered return receipt as well as regular mail.
Were you injured in any way? A trip to your MD might give the insurance company pause.
If you even think of throwing in the towel contact me first, sounds like a nice diesel.

HammArch

HammArch · #15 03-07-2013, 04:40 PM

P.S. I have had fair success with insurance companies using the methods I outlined. Might help to have a friendly adjustor to guide the effort.

HammArch