I went through a similar experience a little over a year ago.
Totaling is tough with these new cars since the market value is so high. In my state your car is totaled when repair estimates exceed 75% of the car's market value. Totaling requires massive damage with these cars being 40-70k -- more than quarter panels, bumpers, hood and trunk replacement.

The site below has a list of MB approved collision centers. Despite the inconvenience and the fact it may not be an insurance co. 'blue chip' shop, I'd take your car to one of these places for piece of mind and more accurate estimates.

http://www.mbcollisioncenters.com/pa...blicindex.aspx

btw if you haven't already, the rear seat belts need to be cut. The ETR emergency tension restraints cinch the rear seat belts down extremely tight to the point they cannot be loosened. This will result in impressions in the leather seats.

I also went through a rear end experience in my S55... Check my past posts for pictures.... Insurance company totaled it.

I was thinking the same thing. Do you know what guide they use to determine current market value? Since new cars tend to lose a large chunk of value in the first year, I wonder what value an insurance company would assign to a 1 year old E350?

She must been VERY drunk to have not noticed the W212s bright LEDs. Seriously, you can see those taillights a mile away.

Glad your mom is ok. Mercedes once again does not disappoint, those pictures make my eyes sore and good at the same time. It really is a right for sore eyes, both headreast almost proudly sitting there showing they were always ready.

Thanks for all the info and sympathy.

THANKFULLY, we were informed by insurance today that the car is totaled, and rightfully so, there was $35k in damages.

We are getting an '11 E350 when the insurance check comes.

good for you guys, you deserve it!....planning on any different options
or goodies? going with the same stuff?
congrats

We want to keep everything the same, besides the color. No more white. We are thinking Obsidian Black or Palladium Silver, and not sure if we will be getting full leather this time(although the Natural Beige with the Black wood trim was gorgeous). The '11 sports all come with LED daytime running lights, which for me, is a plus.

Currently talking to our sales guy on what they have in stock and what is going to be coming in soon. Will keep y'all updated

Glad to hear it worked out and that seems pretty quick too! I would try to get the leather interior again. I think going from Leather back to MB Tex you might be unhappy with the change.

haha, awesome! I wish I would have spent the measly 720 for obsidian...

DAMN!!

but oh well....

well, had a palladium silver '11 delivered today!..... will post pics soon

I should have read this thread sooner.

For the color I would have told you to go with Palladium Silver as I have one and it is just absolutely georeous color. I'm happy to see that you actually got this color, good choice.

Another thing I would have told you is to go with P2 if possible.

I don't think real leather makes that much difference for interior. Yes, it probably is more clasy first but over time I think MB Tex might hold up better...?

But the real gem that I have in my car and was going to tell you to absolutely get is the multicontour driver's seat. It has only $660 extra in car price but is worth every penny and then some.

Very good to hear no injuries resulted from the accident and congratulations for the pleasant outcome with the accident vehicle!

I got rear ended last month. Repair cost was $6200, should be picking up my car tomorrow. I can't wait to get rid of this Bright Red 2011 Chevy HHR rental. makes me carsick. lol.

Wow - that is painful to look at!
Just one question... No airbag deployment?
Hard to believe not one of the 9 airbags were activated...
Never seen the Neck-Pro in action; standard feature for the active head restraints!

Good luck in your new MB!

You DO NOT want Airbags to deploy unless necessary. In a rear accident like this, all a deployment will do is much more harm than good. The car and its Airbags did their jobs perfectly in this case.

Good decision.

Palladium is gorgeous and looks nice without too much work.

Even on my tiny SLK, black is a headache. On a E, black would be a bigger headache.

Enjoy that palladium E. Sweet car!

+1 on the Paladium Silver ...

Initially I was going for paladium silver for my 2011 E550, but there's just too many mercs on the road with that color and I wanted something unique. So I opted for iridium silver instead. I ordered in mid-August and my car still has not arrived at the dealer, do you know what the normal ETA for these cars are like?

Iridium silver mercs are rare in the States? They are like a dime a dozen over here in the UK. Iridium silver mercs are more common than black ones. There are 4 mercs on my street, An A class, a C class, my E class and an ML. Guess what? They are all silver.

Iridium Silver is far from rare in the U.S., but I would say that I see less Iridium Silver cars and more Palladium these days at least in my part of the country...

Iridium is very common here. Although, I am seeing less Iridium W212's then I do many other Merc models I think.

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ded-55mph.html

A good read. Glad everyone is OK, and that they totaled the car

Out of curiosity, did you suffer any whiplash/neck injuries as a result of that accident?

Neckpro deployed - just curious if you think that it made a tangible difference.

Glad that you are ok though!

I see the C pillar is bent from the depression in the sheet metal - that cars safety cell performed well and did what is was supposed to do -absorb the impact forces.

Functionally it is a write off - will never be the same or as safe as it was simply because once auto metal is bent it is fatigued.

If the insurance co will fix it - get rid of it and get a new one.