ksing44

It looks like it is really over this time. My son hit a Honda Accord slipping in the snow. He wasn't going too fast, and nobody was hurt, but the E320 took a good hit in the front. The headlights and the grille are smashed. The hood might be OK, but the radiator must have been pushed in, because the car makes a heck of a noise when running.

I'm wondering if it is totaled. KBB says it is worth about $3800.00. It seems it won't take much work on the car to add up to that price minus my deductible.

By the way, the Honda only has a scratched rear bumper. It seems they matched up just right for the Honda and just wrong for my E320. The Honda bumper went right into the grille and headlights. There was a little bit of a grade and my car is lowered a bit, so my car just went right under the Honda into the bumper.

Anyone want to buy a set of AMG Aero I 16" x 7.5" ET37 wheels?

Just 2 years ago it was looking so good, March 2009.


Car show, July 2009


from flickr

RHW

THIS makes your decision making pay off. Kids wreck, scratch, bump and bruise cars, why not let that play out with a 17 year old car?

Part her out, put the young'un in charge of dissecting and listing, with dad's help.

Glad everyone is okay, got pics?

ronmiller609

Glad to hear that your son is OK and not hurt.

semis1

First off, glad no one was hurt!

Without pictures we can only speculate if it is worth fixing, or totaling it.
The car in 2009 looked great!!! If it was close to that condition before the accident, it might be worth repairing.
I assume the radiator mounts just broke (easy to replace the entire assembly-even with a used one-read cheap) and the lights, hood etc are just bolt on.

From here on, your decision.
My 2 cents.

ksing44

Thank you guys for the encouragement and support. My car is being towed to my favorite body shop. They are also designated adjusters for my insurance company. I'm toying with the idea of paying for the other car out of my own pocket and just letting the E320 go. I have accident forgiveness, but they only forgive you once. I'm thinking it might be better to take the hit than give up my forgiveness for a possibly more serious future event.

It just depends how much the other car costs to repair and how much they would agree to pay for the Benz. Some cash from the insurance could turn into a nice down payment on a lightly used car for my son or something new for my wife if she decides to give her car to my son. Originally we were just hoping to get through about half of the summer with the E320, because my son will be going off to college mid-August and he won't need a car at least for the his first year as a freshman.

My mom also has a 2002 Cadillac with only 42K miles that she stopped driving, so we may be able to make do with my mom's car for the next few months. My son may go from my 1995 E320 to a 2002 Cadillac Deville. My mom's car is beautiful, but just so much of a cream puff. It is tan on tan with polished wheels and a light tan simulated convertible-top. oh my

Shoomakan

I've driven those Caddys. A lot more grunt and pull than you'd expect. If he's not a gearhead, he'll probably enjoy it more. Sucks that they're FWD, though...

Like everyone, glad your son wasn't hurt. I hope that E320 remains in good hands, whether it be yours or someone else's.

hogan

Sorry to hear - price for the AMG's? I purchased very nice wheels 16 x 8 vs. 16 x 7.5 with 225 x 55 x 16, unfortunately rubbing in around the front wheel wells. I assume you had none of those issues.

ksing44

I hadn't really settled on a price, but I will say $500 for set of 5 wheels. I purchased one extra wheel not long ago for $200 just to have a matching wheel as a spare. Four of the wheels still have my Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires mounted and are stacked in my garage. They are definitely not new tires, but I think they will pass inspection. I was going to remount them soon for spring, to replace the OEM wheels I was using for winter tires.

Regarding your situation with rubbing, those 225/55/16 tires are too big! My tires are 205/55/16 and my wheel is 16" x 7.5 ET37. For a 17" wheel, a few guys manage 225/45/17, but it takes a perfect offset to make it work without modifications. As I remember, 17" x 7.5" ET42 is the optimal wheel size to run 225s. Guys with lower offsets on their 17" wheels were typically running 215/45/17.

RHW

Re: Those wheels,

SOLD!

ksing44

Thank you Rich,

I'm very happy my wheels are going to an enthusiast like you. You are also the best wheel hunter/finder I've ever seen, so you deserve first choice.

Thanks again,
Ken

bsmuwk

G'damit!