Help: I need W123 AMG value advice - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mechanicspecial · #1 12-04-2010, 02:43 PM

A friend borrowed my car and hit a large deer at 50+ mph. Now it's being totalled by my insurance company. It is an '85 300CD with 310,000 miles. The car was owned by one guy from 1986 until 2006 (or so) and all the service was completed at the Mercedes dealership in Atlanta, GA. I have all service records, original warranty booklet, owners manual, window sticker, etc. The car was sold new with AMG Penta wheels, an AMG lower body kit (as indicated on the window sticker), all trim blacked out, and Euro headlights. If I am lucky, the ins. co. will let me keep the wheels and body kit, but...

I have been looking online, but I can't find another car like this. The adjuster said I should find a value of a stock car, then add to that the value of the wheels, body kit, headlights, and an estimate to have all the trim blacked out. I would love some feedback on what you guys think the car is worth. Everything worked (including the rear windows) and it was in really nice condition.

Thanks in advance

Hatterasguy · #2 12-04-2010, 03:53 PM

Was it done by AMG or by the MB dealer?

Either way don't let those wheels go to the junkers!!!!

Jim B. · #3 12-04-2010, 06:15 PM

W123's are rare, and always have been.

The owner of AMG WEST, personally known to me for over 25 years, who has been in business importing gray market Mercedes exotics, and who converted lots of W123 and W126's to
AMG specification, www.richmondmercedes.com told me last year, FLAT OUT he would REFUSE to convert any Mercedes diesel engine automobile to an AMG model.

This is because (he said to me about a year ago) of the fact that AMG is and always has been - from its inception in 1967, a German racing and speed tuner, and the very idea of a W123 240D automatic, that does zero to sixty in about 30 seconds and a top speed of about 80 mph floored, is UTTERLY incompatible with a aerodynamic body kit that lowers wind resistance at 130 mph.

American AMG franchises were free to convert ANY Mercedes Benz model beginning with the W116 to an AMG (options are chosen "a la carte" ), and indeed, I have seen official AMG color sales literature showing the W123 coupe with Pentas and a body kit, but most diesel owners are and always have been, concerned with economy over speed and racing. AMG got its start in racing, beginning with the famed red W108 6.3 Sedan.

In those days, with Mercedes Benz those two concepts mixed about as well as designer jeans, educational television or military intelligence.

This would make your vehicle a very rare AMG, if it is a diesel.

#4 12-04-2010, 06:48 PM

If the car was in really good condition before the accident, I would fix it before I would turn loose of it. I would want to look under the hood at the lower right front crumple zone rail, but I'll bet it's okay. The lights, a fender, lower valence, a hood and grille along with some pulling work and/or use of a porta power could put this car back in shape.

The lights and grille might be a problem to come up with, but I bet they can be had. The hood and grill will come out of the wrecking yard easily.

Best of luck with it.

POS · #5 12-04-2010, 07:11 PM

I remember this car when it was for sale within the past year. Shame it ended up getting wrecked. In your car's case, the body kit and wheels were added at the dealer, but it wasn't an AMG car. For the insurance sake, I'd want them to pay me back for the value of the car, then perhaps another $500-$800 for the wheels and body kit. It won't add up to much, regardless.

mechanicspecial · #6 12-05-2010, 12:32 PM

Thanks for the quick feedback. I did have the car for sale last spring, but decided to keep it. The AMG parts were installed at the dealer when the car was new, so it isn't a real AMG car. Maybe I should refraise the question like this: what would people pay for a set of euro headlights, an AMG body kit and a set of Penta wheels?

I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but the car is a coupe (my "smart" phone is being dumb and won't let me go back to see if I said that...)

Thanks again

DieselPaul · #7 12-05-2010, 12:42 PM

All CDs are coupes.

I remember the car from ebay, I bid on it.

I would buy the whole car back and fix it. It doesn't take much more than a cracked headlight to total an old car with a ton of miles.

mechanicspecial · #8 12-05-2010, 03:06 PM

Way worse than a broken headlight... the core support is bent badly, radiator is in the fan (which is bent now), the grill poked holes in the a/c condensor. The list goes on. I have too many projects as it is, so the Merc is going to the scrap yard... I'll post the location if I don't get to keep the AMG goodies.

Jim B. · #9 12-05-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanicspecial

Thanks for the quick feedback. I did have the car for sale last spring, but decided to keep it. The AMG parts were installed at the dealer when the car was new, so it isn't a real AMG car. Maybe I should refraise the question like this: what would people pay for a set of euro headlights, an AMG body kit and a set of Penta wheels?

Thanks again

Register and Advertise it here,

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/

And you will probably have it all sold by sundown tomorrow if not sooner.

If they are not afflicted with curb rash, and have the AMG center caps, if you take GOOD pictures, the wheels should bring at least $800 - $1,000.

The AMG body kit, if it is complete, decklid spoiler, front and rear spoilers, and side skirts, and the correct A M G decklid badge, (NOT the newer ///AMG one) and the front spoiler is NOT chewed up at all, I'd look for $1,500, because these for the W123 are virtually non existent.

Post it in benzworld above and also in their parts for sale section, as these are where the REAL w123 enthusiasts hang out and talk and help the other W123 enthusiasts. For the most part they are honest and good people, I actually personally know some of them.
(Though many are young and on a budget, these are older cars.).

Try posting them ALSO on peach parts (used parts for sale,) too.

Be SURE to take LOTS of GOOD pictures, including the AMG inscription and part # EVERYWHERE you can find it, for each individual item. There is no such thing as too many or too good pictures or too well described for items this rare and valuable, for sale long distance on the internet.

DieselPaul · #10 12-05-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanicspecial

Way worse than a broken headlight... the core support is bent badly, radiator is in the fan (which is bent now), the grill poked holes in the a/c condensor. The list goes on. I have too many projects as it is, so the Merc is going to the scrap yard... I'll post the location if I don't get to keep the AMG goodies.

I didn't mean your car only has a bad headlight I meant the threshold for a total is very low. If the car wasn't in oregon I'd buy it from the insurance agency to repair it, its a very neat car. 310k mile totals just aren't worth a $900 shipping bill. I was the guy who sent you the message at the auction close asking what it took to the buy the car.

panZZer · #11 12-05-2010, 04:05 PM

An 85 CD mthis color alone would be enough reason to fix it--The damage does not look unsurmountable at all. There was another thread of a guy who loaned his D to kis kid and it got creamed in Plano tx last july or so-WiskyDan got a bodyman he knows to fix it-The crash parts came from my old 85 300D, That car was MUCH worse off.
Your car would need a new front support ( or a used one-) and some minor straightening of the RS front inner fender /unibody structure. it could be done so you would only know it was done--For the purpose of NOT ending up with a salvage title. Telling a potential new owner--I would do because I know I could fix this one perfectly-I got the parts here and this is only the 6th cd I have seen this color-mines one of them , $$ so what are you thinking $??

#12 12-05-2010, 04:18 PM

I totally agree with DieselPaul and Pannzer. This car is not hit that bad and given that it is not a run of the mill CD, should be fixed by someone. If I had access to it for a very low salvage price I would take it and fix it even if I only broke even just to see it stay on the road.

panZZer · #13 12-05-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

I totally agree with DieselPaul and Pannzer. This car is not hit that bad and given that it is not a run of the mill CD, should be fixed by someone. If I had access to it for a very low salvage price I would take it and fix it even if I only broke even just to see it stay on the road.

However -Reading the first post closer--The insurance Co gave it the kiss of death, I was already plannin on mailing a headlight and a radiator out there and ........ just what i needed-not, another 2010 diversion.
The owner should NOT have let the insurance Co total it. he MAY be able to still tell them-No , You are going to fix it, let them cut you a check, and then do as YOU wish-if you havent signed the papers.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/insurance/knowyourrights/p35062.asp

mechanicspecial · #14 12-05-2010, 06:12 PM

No papers have been signed yet... I tried to sell this car last spring and the most anybody was willing to pay was about $3500. That ready isn't worth the headache of all the repairs. I don't mean to sound like a non-car guy, but...

#15 12-05-2010, 06:17 PM

The parts for this repair do not add up to anything close to $3,500. Like pannzer I would even donate a few parts if that would keep it on the road.