Frank Castle

I am thinking maybe even a junkyard fender thats already painted could take out the middle man even more.

The brace or whatever its called that is the actual bumper folded. SO I know I'd be needing that. Again I W202 in a junkyard can help out.

Thanks so much for getting that list together. I may take you up on the Mono too. God I want my car back.

RANDY_P

that brace that holds the bumper on on the end is just a metal bracket that bolts on, you can probably salvage the one on the car, it's just a metal piece with a plastic insert that the bumper slides onto.

Heck the whole bumper comes off in like 2.5 seconds on this car. 4 10MM bolts and 3 harnesses (fog L+R and temp sensor) and it falls off.

rjp

RANDY_P

Did u notice in the pic the fender and hood gaps are all still perfect?

Underlying structure holding the fender on is OK.

The biggest issue is the paint match, which fortunately it's a black car so it's not terribly difficult to blend into the door and hood. Frankly, you will probably just have to pay a pro to scratch and squirt and blend clear...

rjp

Frank Castle

Not sure about the gaps.

I just got a call from State Farm and they said they will be accepting liability. I still have to speak to my a$$clown rep. Perhaps this new info can change the outcome as they won't be out a dime in the end. If I drop my claim with USAA I fear state farm would be more apt to total?

austinholloman

Just explain it nice and slow to them, the price of parts and the NADA value of your car. Don't try and slip by them, it just makes it harder. The nicer you are to the reps at USAA, the more you get away with. They are after all, just humans and they make the decison that can make or break your day. One of my close friends works for an insurance company and he tells me all the time that he would let people get away with a lot more, if they were just nice about it.

Tony_AMG

We work for state farm over here, we are on their program where we bill directly to them and the normally let us fix about 80% of their cars that are Mercedes-Benz and we could have made it happen much less. I wish you could bring it here in L.A. and I (we) would have your car fixed up in less than 2 weeks. Would be fun posting pics of your car in progress to back to C43 Condition.

I think state farm knows more about high end vehicles since thats where a lot of their money comes from. Just remember that you don't mind & tell them that it is ok to put a used fender and OE Replacement headlight (if not broken or course) and OEM bumper. to save the car.

Frank Castle

OK they gave me a total valuation of $8900.00 plus they will be adding more for the tranny install after I send in receipts. So less $500-

I am waiting to see what the value is if I keep it. Its going to be less the salvage costs.

I found a Black fender off a C43 for $160- . No painter needed.

I have been told that the frame may be damaged?? The front bumper part that bent?

austinholloman

WTF? If the frame can be damaged that EZ on a w202, then im selling it today.

Tony_AMG

heres the actual prices on the parts with labor times

bumper $910 + 2.5 b labor + 2.5 p labor + 1 clear
bumper facebar $98 incluides labor
rt bumper absorbers (3) $15 + $15 +$42

headlamp w/turn signal w/o xenon $392 oem
aim headlamps .5 b labor
rt hlamp molding seal $25
rt hlamp molding $24.50 + .3 p labor + .1 clear
rt signal lamp bracket to fender $4.50

r&i upper tie bar .5 b labor
repr lower c'member 4 b labor + .5 p labor
radiator supprt $220 6.5 b labor + 1.5 p labor
overlap panel -.2 p labor
evac & recharge cooling system 1.5 m labor
add refrigerant .4 m labor

r&i radiator included
r&i expans tank .5 b labor
coolant 2 gallons @$22
Trans fluid @ $10 each
r&i fan shround

r&i condenser c43 included
refrigerant @ $25
refrigerant oil @ $8

align hood .5 b labor

rt fender $264 2.5 b labor + 2.5
add clear 1.1 p labor
add edging .5
rt fender liner $47.5
rt apron panel $570 7.1 b labor + 1.3 p labor
r&i bolted parts for acess 1.1 m labor
repr rt side rail, weld .5 b labor + .4 p labor

repr rt door 1.1 b labor (if dented) + 1.1 p labor
overhaul rt front door for paint 3.1 b labor
r&i rt rocker molding .4 b labor
repr rt rocker molding 1.1 p labor

repr rt rear door 2.1 b labor + 1.5 p labor
over haul rt rear door 2.5 hours

repr rt quarter panel 1.5 b labor + 2.2 p labor
refinish fuel door .3 b labor (r&i) + .2 p labor

ovhaul rear bumper 1.5 b labor
repair rear bumper 5.5 p labor
add clear coat .8 p labor

r&i intake pipe

r&i battery, disconnect .3 b labor
r&i wiring harnesses 1.6 m labor

car cover from overspray $10
mask engine compartment $10
etching primer (corrosion primer) $5
color match / color tint
color sand / polish
feather edge and fill
apply seam sealer
apply undercoating
add labor time paint 7.5 hours


weld trough primer
apply cavity wax + .2 b labor

waste disposal

clean up 1.1 hour

$600 - $950 materials w paint supplies

austinholloman

Your right, you do work for an insurance company.

FLYNAVY

If you are looking for comparison, mine was totalled by USAA for ~ 11k USD, based on San Diego values. IIRC mileage was ~ 135k, pretty much mint int as well as drivetrain, and maybe 8/10 ext due to some minor rock chips from driving....ie on the breakdown, I got average value for exterior and engine, and about 1k extra for interior condition. This was early last summer FWIW

Tony_AMG

nah i meant to post it as if they were to fix the car, then thats ballpark what the repair would be like. I say if state farm can pay frankcastle out like $7,500-$8000, he might be able to fix the car on his terms to be able to save it from total, in other words he gets a $7,680 check, that is what he has to fix his car, that is if ONLY he does not use a car rental, since you have to take into consideration car rental let say for 14 days @ 30/day. So good luck frank im hoping for you the best. I can't believe usaa always totals alot of cars that have more value itself for the kind of car it if. I think they clearly can't really identify with claims with high end vehicles, but then all (most) insurance companies seem to rip ppl off these days to save money, and adjusters are on limited surplus commision per repair.

btw: austinholloman, i see "Location: Dallas, Texas (Manhattan Beach, CA Coming soon)", nice, hope to see your C43 around the neighborhood here in los angeles. (cheap plug) If you ever get here and need a certified star technician here, my co-worker is one, and who has put together alot of AMG vehicles post accident damage and does side work services in factory like quality and fair prices. he comes to you. and tells you what is up. (end cheap plug). So yeah Hope to race my V4 C230 K ///AMG Sport against your V8 C43 ///AMG in the 405

Frank Castle

Now I have 10 days to get it done before the rental goes away. Ya, that'll happen.

A 2002 C32 did pop up for sale local . 141k miles for about the same price as my pay out. I could roll over and submit and it'd be a easier/ faster fix. However, I like the W202 better and the C32 radiator thing scares me. I know my car runs solid with its new E55 trans installed.

Its BS forcing your hand like this. Why do I have a rental...so I can get my car fixed right? Why they pull it after they give you a price is beyond me. Clock is ticking guys. I know the 141 miles is highway- I know where he works.

KJI3jflarryfe93

c32 = bad quality cars.
doesn't even have a rock solid feel like the C43
to many electronic gremlins and rust problems in europe made this car very problematic for the owners.
c32 had a brute performance way better than c43 but I wouldn't buy this car unless it was dirt cheap!

Frank Castle

$8500- C32. Thats what caught my interest.

They adjusted and added the transmission work. $9669- if i walk from C43
$7755- if i choose to salvage title. Soul searching. Logisticaly i don't see it fixed in the short time.

ohlord

of c43's from any area since you won't find 5 near you.
Don't take the salvage
Is it your insurance ?Sorry not clear on why you are dealing with your insurer if the other guys company accepted liability.
If they accepted you need to get those comparable prices you should be able to find 5 with high ball prices.
In the end if you get 10k you can find a mighty nice lower mile example if you are willing to travel.
Don't get a C32 not worth the powder to blow it up.

They need to add sales tax and registration to the total offer

82k mile c43 back east $9500obo

RANDY_P

Let's get real. Minty ones are barely commanding $7.5K these days.

There was one on ebay in Henderson, NV 6 mos ago with fresh tranny, 18" AMG wheels, rare adn beautiful blue mint mint mint barely 100K mi. all records that just scratched $7.5k. Looked like new I was going to sell my kidneys to get it I simply didn't have the cash raised in time so I settled for my C36.

We would all love to think these cars are "rare and collectible" but face it, economic reality these days says otherwise.

at $9699 walk away and wait to buy a clean one for under $8 and pocket the difference.

You'lll be back within 6 months. Good way to repay yourself for the tranny you just popped your savings on.

rjp

RANDY_P

PS forget about a w203, all the wrong traits behind the right badge.

Wait till someone's nutz are in a pinch and they need to sell their C43 and then kill them.

rjp

ddtham

I would do a PPI on the C32 prior to buying. Known issues on C32s are: glycol contamination with the older Valeo radiators, seat modules (all W203s), and Intercooler Pump (makes the car runs like C320, but cheap to fix).

C32s are solid cars and it might be subjective, but I drove C43s before and there is just no comparison in power, handling, and ride quality.

Good luck in whatever avenue you choose!

ohlord

C43's are few and far between and of the 20 or so on the market none at $7.5 K is anywhere near under 100k miles. Most are over 150,000 and need work.
A year ago there was a glut of them. I think with the economy people are hanging onto the the nice ones and not opting to go newer.Not because they are rare but because they can't afford to go new

Frank Castle

Funny

RANDY_P

We all want top dollar when we sell.

The one in Henderson SOLD under $7.5K, and the rest just sit.

at $9600 you are starting to get into E55 territory- a newer, more expensive car to begin with. Something else to ponder.

rjp

FLYNAVY

Yeah, all of the above. I took 11k and ran, better than I expected, ESPECIALLY in socal!

I think what USAA (and others) does is just run the local numbers based off things like autotrader, dealer sales, whatever. While it may be damn hard to get 8k for a private forum sale of a C43, there are folks out there who trust things like autotrader to be reflective of car values, and I'd guess this is probably where they derived their totals from.

austinholloman

[QUOTE=
btw: austinholloman, i see "Location: Dallas, Texas (Manhattan Beach, CA Coming soon)", nice, hope to see your C43 around the neighborhood here in los angeles. (cheap plug) If you ever get here and need a certified star technician here, my co-worker is one, and who has put together alot of AMG vehicles post accident damage and does side work services in factory like quality and fair prices. he comes to you. and tells you what is up. (end cheap plug). So yeah Hope to race my V4 C230 K ///AMG Sport against your V8 C43 ///AMG in the 405[/QUOTE]



I cant wait to get the h#ll out of Dallas and come hang out with all you guys on the coast! Racing in Mexico? We could arrange something im sure! ;-) The plug was amazing, I do love a good cert indie tech, I love one that comes to me even more! I have a great one here in Dallas that acts more like my dad than a tech but he gets the job done and charges very little.

Back on topic!
I really hope all goes well and you get this car back on the road. I hate when insurance company's push people into loosing good cars.

Frank Castle

I hear ya, but a divorce with a cyco X drains funds like no tomorrow. My credit shot after the loss of the house. So I am trying to work with what I have preferably less. I know, kind of boxing myself in. The conservative man says get a beat honda civic, cut my sac off and call it a day. I can't do it.