Happy Benz !!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 07-31-2002, 12:16 AM

Back on June 24 I posted a picture of my daughter's crunched-up 300TE. (See "Sad Benz !!!" thread). Well, four weeks later, and $7,200.00 worth of repairs (there was more damge than the pic that I posted depicted) the little wagon ("Alice") is back home where she belongs.

Today I drove the car to work, to run errands, etc. I am happy to report that she runs just fine. She is as good as new. Those 300TE really grow on you, I like my 420SEL, but the 300TE is a lot more fun to drive.

I had them put in a new windshield (the old one was pitted) and the entire car was re-striped. We didn't put in the euro headlights because the insurance company was giving me the run around about not wanting to pay for non-DOT euro lights. In light of the fact that they came close to declaring the car a total loss but didn't (thank God for complete service records) I decided not to push the euro lights issue.

I will post of the Happy Benz tomorrow. I want to tank all of you who posted on the other thread, or who e-mailed me with suggestions and comments. You guys were right, my daughter will certainly be a better driver after this little incident....

BenzOnline · #2 07-31-2002, 08:38 AM

That is good to hear about the 300. You said thet there was more damage then expected......what else was damaged, the frame?

BENZ-LGB · #3 07-31-2002, 10:14 AM

B-O-L: thankfully there was no frame damage. Bit in the 300TE a number of components are right up front and they took the brunt of the damage. The radiator, the shroud, the fan, the fan clutch, the A/C dryer, the upper and lower radiator hoses, the headlight assemblies, the wiper motors (both side), even the two horns (high and low tones) were replaced. It takes a lot of man-hours (or person-hours to be politically correct) to remove and replace these items. Then there was the hood, the hood pad, the radiator grille, the plastic inserts, etc. Finally paint..so you can imagine. I had first estimated $5k, based upon my own previous experience (I used to do insurance-defense work).

In order to keep the car from beig declared a toal, I agreed to have certain used items incorporated in the repairs, so for instance, the hood and the grille are used. I inspected these items, to make sure that they were up to my own standards...

The car is back and my kid is happy...a happy teenager is a happy Dad...

JCE · #4 07-31-2002, 10:21 AM

Did you have any discussions with the shop on the air bag lifespan issue? As I recall, it didn't deploy during the accident, and it is at the end of the 15 year life cycle for the bag/sensors. Yet I am not sure that air bags really add that much safety over proper use of a seat/shoulder belt, at least when you start talking $1300 replacement costs. What did you decide on this?

G-Benz · #5 07-31-2002, 11:23 AM

Let's see what the car looks like now!

Post some "before" and "after" pics...

Ashman · #6 07-31-2002, 11:57 AM

I know just how you feel. I was so happy to get my baby back, and running better than ever.

Alon