Hi All, first post. 2014 C250-my kids got into a fender bender. Repair parts question
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C250
Hi All, first post. 2014 C250-my kids got into a fender bender. Repair parts question
So this C250 was purchased for my 16 & 18 yr olds to share. They recently got in an accident (they are just fine) and it's in the body shop.
The shop is replacing all parts with OEM except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
Should I be concerned? Should I insist on OEM, maybe at least for the headlights?
Thanks!
Drew
The shop is replacing all parts with OEM except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
Should I be concerned? Should I insist on OEM, maybe at least for the headlights?
Thanks!
Drew
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 613
Likes: 42
From: NYC
2014 C300
So this C250 was purchased for my 16 & 18 yr olds to share. They recently got in an accident (they are just fine) and it's in the body shop.
The shop is replacing all parts with OEM except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
Should I be concerned? Should I insist on OEM, maybe at least for the headlights?
Thanks!
Drew
The shop is replacing all parts with OEM except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
Should I be concerned? Should I insist on OEM, maybe at least for the headlights?
Thanks!
Drew
Did I mention always?
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,581
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From: Mass
2026 GLE 53 Coupe
Why settle for potentially inferior aftermarket replacement parts?
...unless your insurance policy doesn't allot for OEM replacement parts.
Most insurance companies around my parts allow OEM replacement parts for newer cars with mileage under 30,000 miles.
...unless your insurance policy doesn't allot for OEM replacement parts.
Most insurance companies around my parts allow OEM replacement parts for newer cars with mileage under 30,000 miles.
Last edited by MASSC450; Sep 14, 2016 at 01:24 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190
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E class, C class
So this C250 was purchased for my 16 & 18 yr olds to share. They recently got in an accident (they are just fine) and it's in the body shop.
The shop is replacing all parts with OEM except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
Should I be concerned? Should I insist on OEM, maybe at least for the headlights?
Thanks!
Drew
The shop is replacing all parts with OEM except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
Should I be concerned? Should I insist on OEM, maybe at least for the headlights?
Thanks!
Drew
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 264
From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
If the headlights are LED or adaptive LED then you need OEM replacements. If they are OEM halogen, you can upgrade them to aftermarket LED or HID and get better lights for less than the cost of the crappy OEM halogens.
Your cooling system and AC components should be OEM.
If you let your 16 yo kid drive a 2yo Mercedes, you are either very wealthy or very foolish. I expect that the insurance alone is probably north of $5000 USD/yr. It will be even higher after the wreck. Kids are crappy drivers. It's better to let them trash something safe but inexpensive (think high-mileage and low-hp Volvo or Subaru) then let them upgrade later once they have proven they are responsible drivers.
Your cooling system and AC components should be OEM.
If you let your 16 yo kid drive a 2yo Mercedes, you are either very wealthy or very foolish. I expect that the insurance alone is probably north of $5000 USD/yr. It will be even higher after the wreck. Kids are crappy drivers. It's better to let them trash something safe but inexpensive (think high-mileage and low-hp Volvo or Subaru) then let them upgrade later once they have proven they are responsible drivers.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2016
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C250
The list for OEM parts is too long to list out. All parts are OEM Except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
I'm not aware of the quality of today's non-OEM parts and sometimes certain non-OEM parts don't matter. Headlights are the obvious ones that should be OEM. I'm just not familiar with the others.
I'm not aware of the quality of today's non-OEM parts and sometimes certain non-OEM parts don't matter. Headlights are the obvious ones that should be OEM. I'm just not familiar with the others.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2016
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C250
My wife past away seven months ago. This was her daily. I'm upside down on it just a bit and it's really not expensive to insure. I'm keeping in the family for now and they might as well use it. It's just us three and I can't, in good conscience, put them in a less safe automobile.
If the headlights are LED or adaptive LED then you need OEM replacements. If they are OEM halogen, you can upgrade them to aftermarket LED or HID and get better lights for less than the cost of the crappy OEM halogens.
Your cooling system and AC components should be OEM.
If you let your 16 yo kid drive a 2yo Mercedes, you are either very wealthy or very foolish. I expect that the insurance alone is probably north of $5000 USD/yr. It will be even higher after the wreck. Kids are crappy drivers. It's better to let them trash something safe but inexpensive (think high-mileage and low-hp Volvo or Subaru) then let them upgrade later once they have proven they are responsible drivers.
Your cooling system and AC components should be OEM.
If you let your 16 yo kid drive a 2yo Mercedes, you are either very wealthy or very foolish. I expect that the insurance alone is probably north of $5000 USD/yr. It will be even higher after the wreck. Kids are crappy drivers. It's better to let them trash something safe but inexpensive (think high-mileage and low-hp Volvo or Subaru) then let them upgrade later once they have proven they are responsible drivers.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 613
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From: NYC
2014 C300
The list for OEM parts is too long to list out. All parts are OEM Except for the headlights, radiator, condenser, hood and fenders.
I'm not aware of the quality of today's non-OEM parts and sometimes certain non-OEM parts don't matter. Headlights are the obvious ones that should be OEM. I'm just not familiar with the others.
I'm not aware of the quality of today's non-OEM parts and sometimes certain non-OEM parts don't matter. Headlights are the obvious ones that should be OEM. I'm just not familiar with the others.
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2016 C300
It depends on the insurer. The mark up on OEM crash parts is so absurd, I think if you had to reconstruct a car strictly using the parts in the catalog it would cost several hundred thousand dollars to piece together a 205.
Just as the car as a whole depreciates with time, so do its parts. As a general rule, a car in the current model year with less than 15k miles gets all OEM parts, no questions asked.
Beyond that, LKQ (salvage) or aftermarket. My preference would be LKQ, since they are OEM parts with some use (just like the damaged parts on your used car were OEM with some use.)
Aftermarket stuff tends to have fitment issues, especially sheet metal. Sometimes a shop will have to spend so much extra time massaging an aftermarket hood or fender it would have been cheaper to just buy OEM.
Insurers could certainly offer a policy that stipulates OEM parts regardless, but most people wouldn't want to pay the extra premium. Buyers of insurance are almost entirely price sensitive, because they don't believe they'll actually ever need to use it.
You can always pay the difference between OEM and aftermarket if you're dead set on new parts.
Just as the car as a whole depreciates with time, so do its parts. As a general rule, a car in the current model year with less than 15k miles gets all OEM parts, no questions asked.
Beyond that, LKQ (salvage) or aftermarket. My preference would be LKQ, since they are OEM parts with some use (just like the damaged parts on your used car were OEM with some use.)
Aftermarket stuff tends to have fitment issues, especially sheet metal. Sometimes a shop will have to spend so much extra time massaging an aftermarket hood or fender it would have been cheaper to just buy OEM.
Insurers could certainly offer a policy that stipulates OEM parts regardless, but most people wouldn't want to pay the extra premium. Buyers of insurance are almost entirely price sensitive, because they don't believe they'll actually ever need to use it.
You can always pay the difference between OEM and aftermarket if you're dead set on new parts.
Last edited by Mike5215; Sep 14, 2016 at 09:12 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190
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E class, C class
My wife past away seven months ago. This was her daily. I'm upside down on it just a bit and it's really not expensive to insure. I'm keeping in the family for now and they might as well use it. It's just us three and I can't, in good conscience, put them in a less safe automobile.
Do you have any photos of the accident?
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Joined: Sep 2016
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C250
Thanks,
It looked much worse that it was. It still drove well and no leaks. Nose was pushed in to the radiator and the hood buckled. I didn't dare take a closer look then I wouldn't get the hood closed again. Don't really care either. I will just pay the deductible and move on I suppose.
It looked much worse that it was. It still drove well and no leaks. Nose was pushed in to the radiator and the hood buckled. I didn't dare take a closer look then I wouldn't get the hood closed again. Don't really care either. I will just pay the deductible and move on I suppose.
