Frank Castle

I am so efing pissed. I am being told that they want to total me out. I have not spoken to the thieves yet but fear some BS offer.

Have any of you out there gone through a total and what was the payout? Is there a hard fast rule? They have always used what the street price is vs blue book. I fear they will use blue book this time.

My intentions were keeping it forever after its transmission replacement. Its not major damage what the hell.

Pics : https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...80243-dam.html

PJmak

Thats not enough damage to total it. What insurance company do you have??

Frank Castle

USAA. The other driver was issued a ticket for unsafe backing. I called my insurance to get the ball rolling faster and its done nothing but drag. I still have no answer of a price. Thank God I have rental on my policy.

austinholloman

I use USAA too. You need to pull NADA on the car and go back with that... Did one of your bags deploy? This simply isnt enough to total your car.

Frank Castle

No bags deployed. Its basically the passenger front side panel, bumper shell, bumper holder thingy thats the actual bumper, and some minor but her fault paint marks down the side. They are basically saying my car is worth dogsh1+

RANDY_P

hate to say it, but to repair and paint it to like it should be would probably total it based on actual values these days. It ain't cheap for bodywork at full price.

Get an independent estimate from a reasonable bodyshop and go from there. They probably want to total the car because in it's present state it will fetch quite a bit at auction netting them the least overall cost- they will recoup quite a bit from auction. It's worth quite a bit as a salvage if it's driving and a light hit like that.

*******s, I know.

rjp

RANDY_P

ask the adjuster to buy the car back for $1.00 and see what they say. Seriously.

rjp

austinholloman

How many miles are on the car?

Frank Castle

I had very similar damage on a 95 C230. I hit a deer and it had hood, grill , headlight damage. They (GIECO) totaled it. They gave me $3k for it based on the "local" area which according to them was 75 mile radius had two C230's for sale on line. One had 275K miles on it and they used it to make up their price. I could not had replaced the old C230 for $3k. BUT this really has less damage . Its a W202...I think you may be right. They may be hoping I will go for a total. I hate to have a salvage title but I'll call the bluff.

Frank Castle

135000 according to NADA it adds $400

austinholloman

Do you have a lean on the car or is it paid for? Was this her fault? If they are going to make you total it out, then print out the NADA retail value and make sure you get it. Pretty simple to me. For that kind of money you could but the car back, fix it and drop in a 5.4 with that new tranny.

austinholloman

I totaled my 1993 400E with USAA a year ago and they gave me 6k for it. So, you should be able to get at least 8-9k for your car.

RANDY_P

You aren't trying to get rich off of this deal, you might just have to work with a bodyshop to make the math work in your favor..Go out and shop quotes on repair work and get the bodyshops advice on how to hit the insurance co. they can tell ya. Tell them u want to save the car.

Given the state of the economy I imagine there's someone out there willing to do this / fix your car just to keep the lights on. Had this been a cash deal you can hook it a fix all day long thru sidework and horse trading.

I hope it works out, especially after all this horseschit u just went thru with tranny and all.

Tony_AMG

The major problem is that the labor for setting up structural and frame, you also have to replace the RT Fender apron panel that really kills the car basically since it is structural. Find a body in your area that specializes in Mercedes cars and remember you have the right to choose you repair shop. Only way you can't total the car is to Replace & Repair only the front of the vehicle. Fender/Apron/Core support/Bumper. You still have to take it to alignment since it hit the wheel too. What you can do also is do the claim with USSA and ask them if they can repair it and have them deal with the insurance the lady has.

If your headlight is Xenon OEM: $1300
Front AMG Bumper: $1070
Apron Panel: $484
Fender: $350
Core Support: $380

Body labor maybe +/- 20 Hours (Repair Doors, Overhaul doors, bumpers, fenders, body part alignment)
Structural labor 8 hours (For apron panel, set up on Car-O-Liner & Core support)
Frame (To square unibody if applicable) 4 hours
Paint labor 13 hours ( blend Hood, paint Doors, paint Bumpers, paint Moldings x3)
Clean up 1 hour
Reassembly Time should be always included with body labor time.

austinholloman

Only on an MB can a headlight cost more than an entire bumper...

hozzzer360

These guys are right about the cost of repair and mostly materials nowadays....and not to mention how insurance companies continue to screw everyone each day

AMGC

well ill come down to MD and buy if from you. PM me if you part with it

Tony_AMG

Yeah and th materials just went up this past new years. Jeez man it's killing a lot of repairs these days, 203's mostly since they have gone down gradually down in value, Slk's, 230 SL's pre facelift. Idk but people can't even afford their deductible when they crash their car, I mean it's playing hardball with customers who drive a new Mercedes and expect everything to be so cheap. We had a $22,000 loss repair of a 2009 CLK350, which was low mileage about 20,000, we had torn down the car and lady was being a pain in the *** cause she did not want to pay her $1000 deductible. Jeez, if you plan to drive dumb and crash the car, then expect some consequences you know. So in th end it was more frustrating because she want the car done in less than 3 weeks. This takes more than 4 Weeks, plus loss time of ordering parts and shipping. Anyways I hope you fix the car man, I really do.

money-one

The way you told me it sounded like a minor incident. For them to total you for that is insane. They almost totaled mine out for 2 headlamps hood, grill and paint. The breaking point is 8-8.5 and my additional supplemental claims put it over the top but it was too little too late for my insuarance. They had to pay up. I hate insurance companys. Buy it back and fix it up. I'll help you out.

Jasssc

when i was in a fender bender, and i mean a very minor! fender bender, they wanted to total it. they first quoted my car at $3500, but i definitly didnt take that! i fought them for over a month before i finally hired my own independent appraiser, who was actually a collector's car appraiser, and he quoted my car at $8500! so i got my baby back!
moral of the story, don't let the insurance company jerk you around, they will try anything to screw you over

Frank Castle

They still have not got back to me on a price for the total

The light is OK. Some trim around it may have issues but its in working order. If I refuse a total I believe they will cut a check and its up to me to repair but I have to get a salvage title and state inspection after its been repaired. So I cant accept a check and sell it if I wanted to. Screwing the value of the car with the salvage title unless they were aware of the circumstances.

Now I do have access to a full Autobody shop in Bethesda. I won't give up on this no matter how bad this gypsy curse is...(I figure i must have pissed some gypsy off to get this luck).

Frank Castle

I think it is. See pics HERE . I'll take you up on the fixings help if they force this.

RANDY_P

man that's a driveway fix right there (my uneducated, shadetree redneck homemade fixityerself mechanic in me speaking of course). source out a dead black W202 for the fender and do an extremedimensions C43 front bumper clone and it'll look good.

Some love taps with some heavy objects laying around in the garage to make it all fit and she's as good as new.

rjp

austinholloman

This can be fixed for cheap man. Doesn't even look like you need a head light. That mono wheel can be cleaned up ez. Take it somewhere and get a low bal estimate and fix it your self, dont take it some where they will charge you 4k to fix it. A little BS shop the will low ball the quote so USAA wont total it out. Take the check from your or her insurance and we can help you find the parts to DIY or let the cheapo shop fix it. DONT take the total loss and salvage title. You will loose so much money, after you just dumped money into for the tranny.




Fender here for $27 bucks
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-00...Q5fAccessories

Bumper Cover $230
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-00...Q5fAccessories

Clear signal cover $36
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-...item19be70103e

If you MUST have it, here is a 17 inch front Mono too $255
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/65160...item4cf43c2070

Not sure if you need a fog light but here they are: Full lens and housing is $88, just lens is $19
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...15015@Foglight

It doesnt look like it but if the headlight is scratched here the lens for $95 bucks
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...adlight%20Lens

If some how the headlight housing is broken and it really doesnt look like it by the pictures but here the whole headlight for $226
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...2796@Headlight
I know some of this is a bit sketch but I just put this together in five mins flat. Ez to fix and cheap and
F***



So lets say you do need:
New fender
New Bumper
New Headlight (Whole light)
New Foglight (Whole light
New Wheel
New Corner Light

Thats still only $870 bucks and thats the WORST case. I bet you dont even need most of this. Paint a fender and a bumper to match for $500 and bam your done. Thats only $1370 with paint... Take the whole headlight out of the bill (If you dont need it) and your at $1100 bucks with paint!



The scratches in this video look like just paint scratches not dints or bumps. EZ FIX! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6WFUQvFaok

503C43 ////AMG

I have a 17" front Mono I'd sell ya for $150 + shipping