jjw509

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I stopped at a stop sign downtown and assuming it was a 4 way went on. It was not and my 2007 CLK 350 was hit just behind the door by an Infiniti. I was spun around and passenger side head air bags popped. The damage was above the frame and caved in the panel behind the door pretty good. The molding came off and the bottom molding was detached some because of the dent. The door has a small dent in it.

My guess is the damage might be borderline totaling the car. Current book value is anywhere from 15 to 17, it looks like area replacement cost is 19 to 21. If the damage is close to totaling can I convince the insurance company to total instead of fix it. With a certified MB repair shop doing the work this will be documented leaving with the only option if I ever want to sell is low trade in or carmax. This is going to be tough to sell in the future if it is fixed.

Any thoughts? Am I overestimating damage? I have heard airbags are around $1000 so that leaves paint and body work. The guy I talk to at the shop said the impact was above frame. The advantage of being low to the ground. I am guessing $5 to $6K does that sound right or it would it more likely be in total range 10 K or more? If they do want to fix it should I try to convince them to total instead?

Rudeney

I doubt it will be totaled. The head airbag itself is about $370 retail (cheaper at parts.com). Figure $500 per panel for paint work, plus cost of new parts and labor. Not knowing exactly what you need, but based on experience with a side collision like that, I'd guess maybe $6K. Takes some photos - then we can see more about what it may need.

As for trade-in value, dealer trade is always the lowest value for your car. They buy at wholesale prices - you buy at retail. If they detect or see records of body repairs, they use that to devalue your car - and It doesn't matter if it was paint a panel on a bumper repair a parking lot scuff, or having half the car replaced. Dealers use anything they can to devalue a trade. It's better to sell it yourself at retail. Of course that can be a bit of work, but you'll make much more that way. Another thing - take detail photos of the damage and keep the repair invoice. If you do go to sell it yourself and the buyer sees the Carfax report, you can then show them the damage so they can understand it was some dented panels and not a total.

jjw509

Thanks for the reply. I have a few pictures of the damage.

Rudeney

That doesn't look bad at all. It looks like it will need a door skin, a rear quarter panel, a new rocker panel, and some straightening of the B pillar. I assume it didn't hit the tire, so no suspension problems and it still drives fine? I had a very similar accident in my ML and it was about $4K.

jjw509

I didn't drive it far. Although I should not have I turned it back around after the 180 and went to parking lot to clear the intersection. I didn't notice any pulling at the time and the rear axle was obviously not broken. I think the wheel can be refinished they might have to shim the rear axle to get it aligned again. Yeah once I saw it again today to get some stuff out and take pictures it didn't seem near as bad as it did when it first happened.

Rudeney

If there is a problem with the wheel, then it will likely be more than an alignment issue. Generally, it bends a control arm (they are aluminum). This happened on our C240 on the front wheel when a guy in a pickup truck backed into it. It was a pretty simple repair - one lower thrust arm, one new wheel and tire, an alignment and all was fine.