vladsf

inside Caldecott Tunnel CA24 in Bay Area, mfcking suv hit my rear and then slided, and didn't stop. right side airbags opened, rear suspension damaged and front tire is flat......Everyone is safe.. already filed a claim. any special advises for insurance estimate?.. i thought it was kinda totalled at first, but not it looks like 15K in repairs or so.

blazinginder

Ouch...that hurts, glad everyone's okay. I would hope its totalled but based on the picture it doesn't look to be so

myfirstbenz

I remember reading that MB used the new technology nano paints on the dark color paints. Are there shops that can respray damaged cars with the same paints? That really sucks, that is such a beautiful ride.

rlee02135

ouch....such a hot car with the Brabus front...

ScottCLS55

Each air bag is about 1500 + seat belt sensors on each seat will have to be replaced at $400 each. 15k is a cheap estimate. YOu might get lucky if you want to get it totalled.

JAY55

sorry to hear that man.

love2skiutah

You should have had the police Taser the person who did it to you...

06CLK350

OMG! I hope it was a lease. If its a buy, make sure you get it totalled, or else......

vladsf

thanks for replies and support... the car was a Buy not lease... the following parts are damaged:
rear bumper, side skirt, rear side body, 2 doors, front fender, front bumper, side mirror, 2 rims/tires, rear suspension and airmatic damaged, front right side shock suspension damaged, 3 airbags, headliner damaged by airbag, , seat bealt sensors adjusters... the estimate of 15k is just words given by my body shop... i am waiting for the official estimate. I don't think it can be anywhere near "totaled" ... the current blue book value is 80K (18000 miles) , i wonder how much it gonna be After... 60k ?

TREZ63

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

sprins

Bummer. Can't you claim the loss of resale value (if any) as well? A good body shop can probably repair it just fine.

Perhaps you can make use of this misfortune by ordering a different bodykit if you are so inclined. Brabus all around, or another one (kleemann, MKB, etc.). They'll have to replace it anyhow. Perhaps even new wheels if you fancy that too.

sprink49

Glad you are OK. Consider finding a lawyer that will help you with a diminished value claim regardless of what insurance pays. Demand a total repaint in any case. That car is now and forever more labled as an accident vehicle and since it is a high end luxury vehicle you are due monetary compensation re: diminished value claim.

BoBcanada

Suv 1 - S class 0

Buy ML63

JRAMGV8

oh man...

SSM AMG

God damn that looks bad.What about the guy that hit you? Did the cops tell you anything?

ducksooc

WOW!!! what a jackass... i would ****ting my pants after i saw what i just ran into... haha im sure the SUV drivers never gonna get insurance to insure their car ever... haha but yeah glad to hear your safe and no one got hurt... but i would totally get that salvaged out...unless you love the car, and dont mind problems here and there from parts and stuff being shifted from the accident... it sucks to know your car will never be perfect again... but if anything then buy it back and sell pieces to forum members... jk jk... but yeah get a new s550 and call it a day....

pas

do not paint any panels that are not damaged. When you go to trade the car the first thing they look for is paintwork. The more panels that have been painted the less it will be worth. Although I agree 100% about pursuing a claim for diminished value.

peebs1

Diminished value claims in CA are tough to win, but certainly try. The car will clearly lose somewhere in the area of $10-15k diminished value from that kind of damage, even when made "whole" on repairs. Do a google search for firms in CA who handle diminshed value suits specifically before chatting with your insurance company.

Do us all a favor and post your VIN # in this thread so that we all know who the anus is who buys your car at auction and then tries to sell it as "Like NEW!!...No accidents, perfect condition...blah blah blah". It'll be fun to find out who the snake is...and believe me...it will happen.

CynCarvin32

Your car will be fine when fixed. I have seen much worse than that damage wise. MB's are just expensive to put back together once again!

So you were hit in the back and the pancaked the car into a freeway k-Rail (or wall)? That damage on the side sure looks like its from a concrete item not a car.

I would be most concerned with getting the suspension back to being ok. A few new links and replaced shock and I bet it will all fall into place.

And Cali is pretty firm with the diminished value issue since they consider a repaired car to be good as new. Worth a shot however.

AsianML

Sorry to see that happen to such a beautiful car...

...but your S55 would look good slammed like that without the damage...

vladsf

again, thanks for support and replies... I got good estimate of $23,000 (15k needed) so far & 3 weeks for repairs. I plan to drive the car for 2 ~ 3 years, so not gonna sell it. I will also do Diminished Value Claim and will be posting the progress/results.
....for now i decided to put new rims, probably 20" like hre, asanti or lowenhart, because my AMGs are seriously damaged and I got 3k from estimate towards them.

transferred

G/luck. I feel for you. Beautiful car doesn't deserve that but the amount of morons on our roads is frightening. At least you're in one piece

SteveFox

Ugh Everytime I look at those pics I cringe. At least nobody was hurt. I hate it when things like this happen; such a pain in the a** to deal with.

I was in a fender bender last week where a woman backed into my car and scraped my right front fender. Cracked the wheel too. Now I'm rolling on my spare in that same spot as you.

SEXYBEEST

bummer, i would take the car to a custom rod shop like chip foose and see what he would charge to repaint the car" the whole car, i would not settle for a partial" i would say 25k in just paint and body work. a friend of mine paints cars for sema and charges the big bucks, 12-15 coats of paint and that is just the color. very hard to match mercedes paint jobs even the one's with all the orange peel.

rslpartners

wow...i'm speechless.

not sure if you already took it to the shop, if not...i know a great shop that does very high end work in santa rosa.

in regards to after market wheels....not sure if you have the tpms....if so...only certain after market wheels will allow the mounting of the sensors....lorinsers are one of them.

good luck