importfan21

Long story short: I had a weather-related (snow) head-on collision yesterday with a Ford Expedition.

The car is deemed totaled (some frame damage evident). I walked away with some sprains, lacerations and possible concussion. Other guy walked away fine and with a small dent in his bumper.

Took my car to the shop; the quote for the whole bill is: $8,500 USD. Parts make up $4,700 of that (mainly hood and bumper cover).

There's a lot of mystery as to the extent of the damage. The radiator assembly was pushed several inches towards the block. Couldn't see the pullies but the belts look fine. Car starts/steers. Only the coolant light comes on (coolant leak somewhere).

The shop is gonna strip off the busted stuff and assess the frame and then call me with an adjusted quote and will go from there. Not looking good.

Album of pics:
http://s184.photobucket.com/user/imp...lideshow/Wreck

svt ricco

If you decide to part out, I got dibs on the engine cover with the star. Good to hear you're ok. Let me know

DRBC43AMG

Glad to hear you are OK, or sort of.... Hope the concussion gets over quickely. You need calm and no stress for a rapid recovery.

The 43 looks not too bad, but the front end will need to be rebuilt. I hope the chassis rails have not moved.

Who's fault was it? The insurance should pay if it was the other driver and tell them that the c43 is a collectible so you can get more value

KJI3jflarryfe93

sorry to hear about your accident.
hope you're ok.

looks like you are driving with summer tires, or do you have all season M/S tires for winter/summer use?

in my country, if drivers uses summer tires in winter and causes a collision or cops pull you over for a vehicle check out that's considered reckless driving and as a bonus comes a nasty little fine from the cops.
also if driver cause the accident there's no payout from insurance company.
that's a total bummer for the driver

i hope you fix your car
please keep us updated
good luck

eFifty5AMG

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Hope you recover quickly. Sad to see that C43 go..

importfan21

My fault...was approaching a red downhill (slowly) and when I braked, just slid. Swerved to avoid rear ending the guy in front of me and went onto oncoming (which was empty). Guy rounded the turn and BAM.

I didn't have collision coverage (because why have that on a car worth ~$5k and then have a $500 deductible? Not economical to me). All expenses are out of pocket for me.

They're Falken 452s....never had issues in the snow in the past 3 years...yesterday was just an anomaly.

mickey13

Sorry for the loss. Hopefully, you'll feel better soon.

RPB

Sorry to hear about your car! Roads were bad down here in VA too!!

Tony_AMG

Not to worry, most important is that u are ok is #1.

2nd car is savable. found u a few around your DC Area
Used fender
LKQ - VA Dumfries USA-VA(Dumfries) E-mail 800-858-7547 $105
Used hood with grille
T'S Quality Used Auto Parts USA-VA(Hampton) Request_Quote 1-757-723-1942 $300 (haggle)
Used radiator support
Phoenix Automotive USA-VA(Culpeper) E-mail 540-825-2571 $150 (Haggle)
Used headlamp used from my98-2000 halogen
Bill's Used Parts Inc. - PRP-MA, VARA USA-VA(Christiansburg) Request_Quote 877-917-5470
they have is NEW
Cooling fans, radiator, condenser used from:

Mercedes C 220 Sedan 1994, 1995, 1996
Mercedes C 230 KOMPRESSOR Sedan 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Mercedes C 230 Sedan 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Mercedes C 280 Sedan 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Mercedes C 43 AMG Sedan 1998, 1999, 2000
Mercedes C36 AMG Sedan 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
Mercedes CLK 430 Convertible 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Mercedes CLK 430 Coupe 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Mercedes CLK 55 AMG Convertible 2002
Mercedes CLK 55 AMG Coupe 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Tony_AMG

BTW have the shop take off the bumper and take pics. I can tell u if its savable from looking at it at the point of impact. If the radiator support is bent, get a used one in A condition. The cooling system our C43 has, dual fans from any C class, all same, radiator from CLK430, CLK55, slk320, slk32 kompressor, condenser from C36, C230 V6 my97-98, clk430 or clk55. Dont pay more than 300 for cooling assembly. More than likely the bumper bar new OEM and right side bumper bar mounting support (welded at frame rail end). That and a nice Frame/Floor pull to square underhood engine bay area. Car-o-liner is a more sport on specs for our car years. so see if this helps if u decide to fix it.

DRBC43AMG

Good work Tony_AMG. Nice to see help you can obtain from great people on the forum

Sulaco

Agree with Tony. I "totaled" mine with similar damage. Probably worse than this. Driving her every day now. In most states if a vehicle is more than ten years old you don't have to get a rebuilt title.

Looks like hood, grille, bumper cover, radiator, electric and mechanical fans. Highly doubt you have frame damage.

Jumped my 43 6 feet in the air sideways and no frame damage!

I beg you to follow Tony's advice. Seriously hate to see that 43 go.

benzslo

Sucks to hear, I'd never drive a w202 without good snow tires in the winter. I've done it both ways on my c280, even with all seasons, they are horrible, its a light and short rwd car. With snow tires it changes everything.

w202mylove

that really sucks, hope you will fix it!!!

mdaviscda

Just wanted to say that i'm sorry to hear about your car. Our numbers are small and it is a greater loss for c43 owners when we hear news like this. I hope you can get her back on the road or best case, find another c43. Keep your head up.

importfan21

Thanks guys (especially you, Tony_AMG). I'm having the shop strip her down to get a good look at the frame, but the inspector/adjuster and I looked for the prelim quote and did see the slightest bit of frame separation (talking like an inch up front).

If they don't find any more damage and the $8,500 quote stands (give or take), I'm proceeding with repairs.

Radiator support/assembly is definitely all mush, as well as the bumper reinforcements.

Also, I was informed after the shop guy was frantically calling around the country for a C43 bumper (new), that apparently I'd be taking the last new bumper available from Mercedes (in the US at least).

Will keep you all informed; I'm expecting the shop to call tomorrow with their findings.

Sulaco

If that number of $8,500 is in USD, that's a bit much IMO. Seriously don't think it's that bad once everything is off. ALL of the parts are easily scavenged from an updated C230k or C280 except the bumper cover. That thing is indeed an absolute ***** to locate. I went with a duraflex fiberglass cheap replacement, but they sent a C36 bumper, and told me no refunds, no exchanges. On top of that, it was AWFUL, and the shop did a **** poor job of installing it. One day I'll have the right bumper, but it might be a while.

But the fact that you're ok with $8,500 is a good thing. I bet if you're resourceful and find many of the parts on your own, you'll save thousands. My shop wanted to spend $230 on a salvaged fender. I found one on craigslist the same day, picked it up for $80. Hood? Found one for $100. There are millions of w202's out there! But only 5,000 C43's were built. (To put that number in perspective, there are 26,000 Dodge Vipers in the world)

importfan21

That's the thing. Virtually every shop in the D.C. area has an "all or nothing" policy when it comes to repairs; they won't let you provide some/all parts, etc. Trust me, I asked. If there is a shop that does that, they're a mom and pop and I wouldn't trust them to work on a C43.

I don't know why this is the case for the region, but I guess it has to do with keeping the image of quality for their shop's reputation around here. And since I can't fix frame, I gotta let them do it all.

Sulaco

My father in law managed the shop, so i got some special treatment. But the reasoning is to protect profits. Thats straight from the horse's mouth. The entire system is fixed and rigged to make insurance companies pay through the nose for repairs. They REALLY hate situations like you and me, where it's an individual with a sentimental attachment to his car that isn't being given a blank check by an insurance company.

And don't sweat frame damage, either. Sounds scary but once they pull off the damage they have easy access to the frame rails up there. From the looks I highly doubt you have any damage. Your airbags did not deploy! The car didn't even sense an impact. And even if it is damaged, the frame-pulling process is fairly quick and painless. It's kind of like an expensive, slower, but more barbaric alignment. They bounce lasers off it and hook up chains and pull on areas until it lines up.

importfan21

Yeah, profits would also be a viable explanation too. I know the guy was getting fed up with me because I pointed out in the initial quote that he got me the wrong bumper cover and told him he could source the fog light from the w208 (since he had no part # for that). He definitely got the hint that I knew more about that car and its parts than anyone else at the shop.

And that frame fixing process does indeed sound barbaric!

venturaexit

Sorry to hear that. I broke my bumper 3 months ago by backing out of a parking spot, a rebar was sticking up 2 inches or more and pulled out of the driver side (which had been repaired already) I finally found a shop that fixed it for $150. Plastic welded and sprayed the corner...

I noticed you have after market headlamps, where did you buy them?

I almost got the same wheels you got. Cool look, hope you can save it.

Tony_AMG

Text me importfan21. Ill walk you trhough this process (I have worked 8+ years MB Certified collision center MB cars as parts manager and body shop manager and estimator, so yeah. Not sure if this applies to you, but you can ask you insurance carrier to give you the check in your name and you will decide the repair on this car. Worst case scenario u pay 100-200 for body shop tear down of your vehicle. Just make sure you do not authorize repairs yet until you are happy with the repair facility. In California, you decide where you want to fix your car. Just find a small shop with a car--liner and frame puller/ floor puller. Hell you can even buy the book that gives you the under hood dimensions.

importfan21

Headlamps aren't aftermarket. The smoked corners are off eBay...


Tony, I don't recall if I stated before but I had no collision coverage aka I own the car outright. Thing is, I'm in the DC area and the only reliable shops have the "all or nothing" repair policy.

Also, just got word from the shop that the pass. side frame rail is rolled/possibly collapsed. They're gonna give me an updated quote on Monday but I'm afraid I'll have to let her go.


And no, guys, no parting her out. Don't have the time or space to do so. I will sell the whole car though.

Tony_AMG

got it bro. missed that part. take pics anyways. i dont think is that bad of damage. i think they want you to give up your ride. i still think fixable

Sulaco

I can absolutely verify that in situations like this they are inclined to make you want to give up your ride. 2 different times in the situation with my "totaled" C43 I had guys telling me completely false information trying to get me to walk away and let them keep it.

One guy quoted me $1700 to buy it back from the insurance company but only $3,000 value leaving me $1300 for repairs. Obviously that was INSANE so I escalated past his supervisor and talked to his boss, when I found out the guy had given me very misleading information. Then, guys at the shop tried to jack the repairs up way high and lied about some of the damage (including saying I had frame damage when I did not) until my father in law stepped in and told them it was his son-n-law's car and that I was going to keep it and repair it no matter what.

Insurance co gave me $6k, sold me the car back for three hundred bucks, and I spent $4,700 in repairs. You just have to know how to fight the battle.