Tony_AMG

This is nothing, it is rebuilable bro, even if it has suspension damage

Sulaco

Yep. My absolute addiction with the car aside, the idea that they were trying to scrap the car over such a small wreck had me pretty angry.

On my various phone calls with everyone who would listen, I actually used terms like "indignation" and "beside myself in utter fury" or "absolute absurdity in the highest regard."

I'm not proud of my behavior, but I got the insurance company to rescue my C43 instead of crushing it.

I'm so freaking excited to get it back, though I don't know when that will be.

Also, since the car is more than 10 years old, I don't have to get a salvage title.

Saaboteur

Don't feel that way about yourself. Through my work as a lawyer, I have had multiple dealings with the insurance industry - whether through adjusters or insurance defence counsel.

Insurance, unfortunately, is a necessary evil. However, insurance is an industry built on money and margins and such. I suppose in that way, it is much like any other industry - however, insurance is different in that it is supposed to be there to help you out, not to screw you over.

When acting for clients up against insurance defence counsel, or on occasion against their own insurer, the aim is to extract as much money from the insurance company as possible. The adjuster or defence counsel's job is to minimize that amount. They are diametrically opposed objectives, naturally. However, it irks me to no end that sometimes, adjusters or defence counsel presume a plaintiff is not above board, or even worse, when they know they are faced with an insurance limits issue. That is, the insurance company will likely have to pay out the maximum available insurance policy (here, generally $1m), and as soon as the claim arises, they set that $1m aside and gain interest from it. Meanwhile, the litigation with the plaintiff drags on for years, and the plaintiff generally needs the monies more and more. So in the end, yes, the plaintiff gets the monies, but the insurance company has profited anyway. Boo.

So, long winded way of saying don't feel bad. You did what you had to do and got a satisfactory result.

Do you have a list yet of required parts?

Sulaco

Thanks for the interesting additions, Saaboteur.

I don't know the full list, but from what I can tell by looking at the car myself:

Bumper, bumper support, drivers side bumper mounting hardware, fog lights, head light, fender, corner light, radiator support, radiator support beam (the metal beam the bumper mounts to) tie rod, lower control arm+bushings, MAYBE the knuckle that the lower control arm attaches to, side skirt, fender trim, inner fender (which will likely be hammered out instead of replaced--would require cutting it off and welding on a new one from a donor $$$$$), both front wheels are scuffed on the lip but can be resurfaced and saved (thank GOD--OEM r129 SL55 2-piece Aero I's), and one BRAND new tire I had installed a week and a half earlier.

But I'm sure there are various suspension/steering issues I'm not aware of. Brakes appear fine as far as I can tell. If that rotor/caliper needs replaced, I shutter at the cost.

nkctb7

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Having said that, I'm glad to hear that no one was seriously injured. My C43 suffered a minor front passenger side accident. I'm in Canada and the insurance company of British Columbia (ICBC) values my C43 at just shy of 17K. They allowed me to purchase all new genuine parts and submit my receipts. I purchased a brand new front clip including the bumper joint, right fender, a pair of brand new genuine factory Xenons as I paid $600 for the pair and the cost for one was $1275. All necessary hardware, clips, etc. I did the strip down and reassembly to have the entire car painted. My buddy that owns the shop had told me that the total repairs, parts and labor came to just over 12K. It came within $240 of being written off. I was very fortunate and I don't know what I'd do if I lost her. There was only 65 '99 C43's shipped to Canada. Any C Class models '99 and earlier are inadmissible into Canada. This means that unless it was a Canadian shipped C43, you cannot import one into Canada. The upside to that is that there was 60 '00 C43's shipped to Canada. That is almost three times as many 2000's than in the USA. You have to believe that this happened to you for a reason. Buy it back and purchase your parts from genuinemercedesparts.com. The brand new nose clip is $762 USD. Fender $200 USD. Halogen headlight is $340 USD or 1K for the Xenon headlight. The salvage title is irrelevant as it is a rare car and you enjoy it. You can never put a price on something like that. Take pics of the parts and work performed and believe it or not, your car will turn out nicer and newer than before. Good Luck!

Cheers

nkctb7

I have the front bumper support as mine was replaced. After I removed the nose clip, I discovered that the support is perfect as it sustained no damage. I'm also selling my set of factory halogens, corner lamps, grille and fog lenses (glass only). I also have a set of genuine tail lights that I'm selling. PM me if you are interested in any of the aforementioned parts.

Cheers

Super B

Sweet deal that sounds more like it. Those first numbers were insulting for as nice as your car was before. But really glad it worked out for ya. Time to get a parts car.. Swap all the parts (cause all the little nick nak plastic pieces add up) then buy the AMG goodies.. Part the rest of the car on Craigslist to get your money back and away you go. Hopefully you have access I a shop or some large space for the rebuild.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/3756530364.html

Sulaco

I'm half-considering finding a junked w202 parts car to pull most of the stuff I need from (except crucial things, of course).

Stumbled across this: http://chattanooga.craigslist.org/cto/3802050823.html

And began to ponder buying it and using it as a daily driver while I finally turn the C43 into an E55+Kleemann project car.

TOO INDECISIVE I AM

Super B

That's a nice ride for 2700 but I'd be crawling all over it since its been painted. A man might be better off looking for silver one with good paint. Save some $$ and time if your already the right color.

Sulaco

Still sourcing a silver 202 junk car to use for parts. Found a few for around 2k but they're working big miles cars with some kind of caveat like a blown transmission or head gasket. Not sure it's worth it to junk one that expensive. Any one know if it's a dumb idea to source a used lower control arm or stick with new?

IcedOUT56

my c43 front bumper almost came off the other day also, my car is lowered and I parked over the parking stopper. When I backed up it almost took it right off. Scary stuff.

Sulaco

Car's at the shop and on the lift. Wheels are back from refin shop. They did a decent job except for paint being too thick on one of the rears. You'll spot what I mean in the photo. I took other random photos since I rarely get to be underneath the car like this. Notice they got the wrong bumper. No refunds, so I'm stuck with a C36 bumper. AND: Looks like I have TWO oil leaks to sort out later... Also think I need a new flex disc in the rear.

DRBC43AMG

You still have the secondary cats and resonator? Wow, you could be one of the rare owners who post on here who haven't done the delete!

Sulaco

I don't really see a point in the cat res delete. From what I've seen it adds maybe 1hp and makes it considerably louder? Don't feel like paying an exhaust shop several hundred dollars for a louder sound.

nd4spd13

I still have both of mine! More out of laziness than choice though

Also Sulaco: I'd file a complaint through ebay/paypal, or get the shop to. That's great for them that they say no returns, but if they advertise a C43 bumper (especially if it includes a picture) and send you a 36 one, that's definitely breaching ebays terms of sale

svt ricco

Sulaco- what rotors are those?

Sulaco

No idea. Can't find any markings anywhere on them. Leads me to believe they're cheap.

DRBC43AMG

Funny because when you look at the photos of the rotors, they look like 2 piece items. Is this true, because two piece without markings seem weird...!

Sulaco

They appear to be one piece. I looked them over front and back and found no marking. Went through extensive service history compiled by previous owners and found no mention of them but I can tell they have very little wear.

DRBC43AMG

If they do the job, keep them and be happy!

Sulaco

They do their job extremely well. No complaints here! I know rotors are a hot topic on C43/36 so I'd like to identify them in case it is useful for other owners.

eblaudeau

I feel your pain. I lost a C43 in Hurricane Katrina. It was the best car I've ever owned, and 7 years later, after a BMW X5 4.4 i and a Mustang GT, I still miss it dearly!

503C43 ////AMG

Not just louder, it changes the sound all together and gives it a vicious growl. Even if it didn't add any power I would do it all over again. The best part is as long as you aren't heavy on the pedal it is still fairly quiet. My buddy was mentioning the other day that he liked how when cruising it was barely noticeable but when I stabbed the throttle it roared.

Tony_AMG

So what happened with the car sulaco? Did you end up fixing it?

Sulaco

Picking it up from the dealer and going back to the body shop today. The key died so the shop had to stop all work until it was replaced. Should be finished next week.