Bent frame on G63
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Bent frame on G63
Greetings everyone!
I was the proud owner of a recently purchased (new to me) mint 2021 G63 which had almost no miles and babied from new which is still under factory warranty. I had the car for 3 weeks then unfortunately was rear ended at a stop light. Other car was totaled and I drove off safely in the G after the police report and all. My car had to be taken apart to assess all the damage and rear subframe was found to be bent and the authorized MB body shop in Thousand Oaks stated it needed to be dissembled to put the frame on a rack to straighten. Im working with a reputable auto appraiser for a diminished value claim and he stated that Mercedes-Benz does not allow any repair to the frames of any G-Wagen's, period!
I'll call the shop to discuss tomorrow as well as the local dealership but was wondering if anyone has heard that, or have any advice.
Thanks in Advance,
David
I was the proud owner of a recently purchased (new to me) mint 2021 G63 which had almost no miles and babied from new which is still under factory warranty. I had the car for 3 weeks then unfortunately was rear ended at a stop light. Other car was totaled and I drove off safely in the G after the police report and all. My car had to be taken apart to assess all the damage and rear subframe was found to be bent and the authorized MB body shop in Thousand Oaks stated it needed to be dissembled to put the frame on a rack to straighten. Im working with a reputable auto appraiser for a diminished value claim and he stated that Mercedes-Benz does not allow any repair to the frames of any G-Wagen's, period!
I'll call the shop to discuss tomorrow as well as the local dealership but was wondering if anyone has heard that, or have any advice.
Thanks in Advance,
David
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From: NC
2026 G63
Sorry to hear and hope everybody is ok.
Agree if the frame is bent I’d push for it to be totaled. It won’t ever be the same. The diminished value company should be able to make sure you get market value. Keep us posted on what happens.
Agree if the frame is bent I’d push for it to be totaled. It won’t ever be the same. The diminished value company should be able to make sure you get market value. Keep us posted on what happens.
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
This is somewhat of a Lucky situation made out of an unfortunate one. Since Mercedes does not recommend repairing the frame, you can use that if the insurance company tries to tell you to go somewhere else to get the frame straightened. Ultimately, this means you get a new vehicle instead of driving around in a vehicle with diminished value. Now to try to find the lawyer that will help make you whole on whatever you had spent.
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S 63 (W221 MOPF) E 450 (A238 MOPF) G 63 (W465)
I am incredibly surprised to see the word “subframe” in the context of a G-Klasse, as the construction method doesn’t really allow for/contain something like that. Is it possible they meant the rear of the frame/rear frame crossmembers?
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Thanks for everyone's responses. Yes I will definitely keep you guys in the loop. My adjuster had said subframe, but now that I'm looking at the estimate for repair it is the rear frame crossmember that was bent when the tow hitch was hit. Estimate so far is about 35k. And they have my actual cash value listed as 178K so I'm getting an independent appraiser for diminished value.
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From: California
2025 G550
This may be semantics but Mercedes has no say in whether or not a bent frame gets repaired, I assume when you say that MB doesn't allow it, that means they won't do it. It's your car, you could drive over it with a train and fix it if you want, MB doesn't get a vote.
Having said that I would use that as leverage to total the vehicle. If you pursue the diminished value route, I have used a law firm that specializes in this with some success in the past when my Model S was rear ended. PM for info.
Having said that I would use that as leverage to total the vehicle. If you pursue the diminished value route, I have used a law firm that specializes in this with some success in the past when my Model S was rear ended. PM for info.
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
This may be semantics but Mercedes has no say in whether or not a bent frame gets repaired, I assume when you say that MB doesn't allow it, that means they won't do it. It's your car, you could drive over it with a train and fix it if you want, MB doesn't get a vote.
Having said that I would use that as leverage to total the vehicle. If you pursue the diminished value route, I have used a law firm that specializes in this with some success in the past when my Model S was rear ended. PM for info.
Having said that I would use that as leverage to total the vehicle. If you pursue the diminished value route, I have used a law firm that specializes in this with some success in the past when my Model S was rear ended. PM for info.
The insurance adjuster should not be writing the estimate. The body shop estimator should be writing it and then giving it to the adjuster. Then they negotiate, and you negotiate for new and not used or lkq parts. I made sure to get all Mercedes parts when I did this.
You can even take the time to reach out to Mercedes corporate and ask their opinion on a repair. Make sure its all on record, by email.
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It becomes a leverage-able argument when the manufacturer does not approve a repair. When going to a Mercedes authorized shop, they must follow Mercedes approved procedure, which is WAY more detailed and expensive than normal body repair. Insurance does pay this extra money when going to that type of shop, and the shop will not cut corners because they cant based on their Mercedes relationships. Ive done this personally. If one of these shops says it is unrepairable or totaled, the insurance company doesn't have much ability to prove a safe repair procedure. Asking an adjuster how they can approve a repair that the manufacturer does not approve will put questions in their head and make them backtrack. The only instance in which the adjuster may have a point is if Mercedes sells the parts for repair. IE does Mercedes act differently in and out of warranty? I dont think so based on my experience.
The insurance adjuster should not be writing the estimate. The body shop estimator should be writing it and then giving it to the adjuster. Then they negotiate, and you negotiate for new and not used or lkq parts. I made sure to get all Mercedes parts when I did this.
You can even take the time to reach out to Mercedes corporate and ask their opinion on a repair. Make sure its all on record, by email.
The insurance adjuster should not be writing the estimate. The body shop estimator should be writing it and then giving it to the adjuster. Then they negotiate, and you negotiate for new and not used or lkq parts. I made sure to get all Mercedes parts when I did this.
You can even take the time to reach out to Mercedes corporate and ask their opinion on a repair. Make sure its all on record, by email.
