Deers are not as cute as they look
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
2003 CLK500
The deer got up off the hi-way after a couple minutes and stumbled into the ditch and bush. I guy who stopped about a minute after I hit the deer said it would proabably die in a few hours.
The bill was $12,200 when I picked it up the car the first time. But I am sure that by the time everything was completed it wasn't too far off of the original $13,800 esitmate that the insurance company said was too high in the first place.
The bill was $12,200 when I picked it up the car the first time. But I am sure that by the time everything was completed it wasn't too far off of the original $13,800 esitmate that the insurance company said was too high in the first place.
I just recently avoided a deer, but ended up ditching it because I had my ESP off. I drove through a conopy of trees, which scratched my 500 from the front bumper to the trunk, over the hood and roof, both left and right sides, busted my passenger taillight, bent two wheels when I hit the curb, and tore my leather door trim as I slid into the tree line (windows were down). Its in the shop now... I miss my baby. Total bill so far, $12,300!
[sorry for the run-on sentence]
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
2004 CLK55
It took 3 trips to the Body Shop to get everything inside and out 100% as it was before or better. They expected me to bring it back at least once. I was real picky and Reflections Body shop in Edmonton addressed all my concerns. Nobody should be able to tell that most of my right side panels were damaged and replaced. The paint job is awesome and I feel like a proud owner to drive it now again which is certainly a lot better than I felt after the incident, wondering if it would ever be the same as before.
Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 78
Likes: 2
From: Alabama gulf coast, formerly Charlottesville, Virginia
2004 W220 (S430), 2001 R129 (SL500 Sport)
The thing I found when I was trading my E300 several years ago is there is generally no "wreck discount" on the price anymore. Good shops can repair and repaint the car so correctly that it is restored to as new condition. That certainly wasn't true not so long ago. When the shop matched 10 year-old smoke silver paint perfectly (rear ender...everything behind the C-pillar was replaced) I was convinced. You should not hold onto that feeling that the car isn't right--it is. I so completely forgot my car was damaged after a couple of years, I never thought to mention it to the dealer. It showed on the VIN report, of course, but the dealer allowed full value.
Deer are dangerous, all right. Hitting one is the hard way to put venison on the table. I knew a guy who came along right after one had been hit and killed by another car. He threw it in the back of his truck and had it butchered.
Deer are dangerous, all right. Hitting one is the hard way to put venison on the table. I knew a guy who came along right after one had been hit and killed by another car. He threw it in the back of his truck and had it butchered.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
2004 CLK55
DiscGolfer74; as long as took it to a real reputable body repair shop, everything should turn out where nobody can tell. Like I said mine looks just as good as before I hit the deer. My biggest problem was the insurance company wanted me to take my car to their preferred repair shop which everyone said was only good if I had a Honda. But they eventually let me take it to where I wanted.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
2003 CLK500
DiscGolfer74; as long as took it to a real reputable body repair shop, everything should turn out where nobody can tell. Like I said mine looks just as good as before I hit the deer. My biggest problem was the insurance company wanted me to take my car to their preferred repair shop which everyone said was only good if I had a Honda. But they eventually let me take it to where I wanted.
