RonNSoCal

This time I backed into a fence while picking up my granddaughter from school. As good of a driver as I think I am, I am a disaster in parking lots! I managed to scrape up the rear bottom panel and break the tail light assembly. So what do you do, bite the bullet and just pay to have it repaired, or make an insurance claim? While this will undoubtedly cost me a couple of grand out of pocket, insurance claims result in negative Carfax reports and premiums on insurance policies for 3 to 5 years. I am inclined to just bite the bullet. I found a new tail light at Autohaus for around $450 (retail $635) but the body work and repaint will not be cheap. The back panel goes around the whole back of the car. The bottom corner of the panel above it also got a little nick. Suffice it to say, I am feeling sick as there are few things in my life I love more than this car.

fscir60

what year is your car
i just did a facelift and may have what u need

MB2timer

My vote is bite the bullet.
Yes, you could get insurance to pay for it, but they would get any money they settled on back, in as little as a year in increased insurance premiums.
Or, they might try to drop you. In which case, I am sure they would try to put you in an increased risk pool.
You almost can’t win with the insurance companies, unless it’s your last claim ever. It’s just really hard to get that kind of timing right.

ThatsMyDawg

What the heck is going on with you in parking lots?
And don't you also have a rear camera? Again I say, what the heck is going on with you in parking lots?

RonNSoCal

2016 SL400

RonNSoCal

I wish I knew, but I think it is related to my old age and long relationship with alcohol, although I was cold sober when I did this and do not drink nearly as much as in my younger days.

crconsulting

Self sustained damage always sucks...

Of the damage I've sustained to my cars over the years, the majority has been in parking lots!
It happens young and old. I had a friend that was killed (run over) walking thru in a parking lot.

I would fix the car out of pocket so it doesn't make it to the Carfax and for the insurance reasons stated above.
Doesn't sound too bad, except for the cost of repaint.

Good Luck!

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Couldn't you just tell the insurance company that the fence hit you? After all, were there any witnesses? Is the fence able to give testimony against you?

Do you have accident forgiveness? I am long past buying cars with an eye on their future value, as long as I really like the car. That's why I drive a used Mercedes -- the other guy had to worry about resale value.

RonNSoCal

I also tend to go for used over new for the same reasons. I will have to check on accident forgiveness, but with Auto Club of SoCal I am not hopeful. Until I get a few estimates, it is tough to decide what might be my best options.

Keon

Frankly I'd just shop online (eBay, local classifieds, this forum) for a replacement tail light, and then see how well the bumper damage can be buffed out. If you post up a few pics we might be able to guide you in the right direction in terms of getting it fixed cheap. The good news is that since no one else was involved in the accident, you can hold off on reporting it to insurance because you can just lie about the date it occurred on in case your policy has a limit on how long you can wait before reporting a collision.

fscir60

I have one perfect tail light and the complete rear bumper. If you can use any of it I would love to get rid of it. I will look to see what side tail light I have.
My parts are from my 13 SL550
it only has 6k on it so parts are very nice

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

I may be wrong, but the time limit for placing a claim is determined by which state you are in. Again, I could be wrong about that. My insurance company always says I have up to three years to file a claim.

fscir60

Here are some pics if it helps
thanks

RonNSoCal

I definitely need a right side tail light, but the bumper would probably be difficult to ship all the way to SoCal and I believe I have the AMG package requiring a different bumper (part # is different). How much do you want for the tail light? Unfortunately, after looking at the picture, I think yours is a left side light (driver side).

streborx

I never have had problems with bumps and bruises until I bought a 2013 Lexus LX. Over 4 years owning it, I experienced 6 or 7 freak incidents including a busted tail light, a crinkled bumper, and several rashes. Never before or after with any car have I experienced anything like it. I swear it was possessed -- it attracted objects into its path, and was attracted to objects with which to collide. I'm not a superstitious person, but I sold the car entirely out of fear. The 2017 LX I bought never misbehaved.

fscir60

Yes mine is a left side (drivers)
sorry about that

RonNSoCal

I stopped by a MB certified repair shop and was told to expect to have to pay in the range of $4000 and that they would need the car for about 4 days. The employee who looked at the car told me that they prefer to do work for insurance companies. He said I would need a formal estimate to be sure of what it will cost.

RonNSoCal

Too bad!

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Was the name of the shop BOHICA Collision Repairs, LLC? Definitely get a couple of estimates. I'm not sure what being MB-certified adds to a better repair when it comes to plastic and sheet metal.

RonNSoCal

Caliber in Thousand Oaks. I kind of agree, but all body work and paint work are not equal. I want to make sure the work is high quality and the paint is OEM MB paint that will match well.

tx170754

I would only go to a Mercedes certified centre, a Mercedes/Lexus certified centre fixed one of my LS 460, hit in the back. The insurance paid for it ( it wasn't my responsibility ) it wasn't cheap but the work they've done was amazing, there is absolutely no sign of any repair.
Good luck !

RonNSoCal

We had a similar experience with my wife's E350 years ago. No one would ever know it had been hit

streborx

Lexus is not so difficult as paint finishes are rebranded Toyota colors. MB with its Manufaktur palette requires greater effort.

rmorin49

I had a small family owned body shop respray my front fascia. It is a perfect match. They use Spies Hecker paint. They were 1/3 what I was quoted by a MB run body shop. Replacing a tail light assembly and refinishing a bumper is not a complex job. I agree perfect paint match is important but any decent body shop should be capable of doing a good job. YMMV

tx170754

A certified MB certified centre is not run by Mercedes. You're right, a decent body shop will probably do a good job, if you want an excellent job, the same as the factory original job, then is only the certified centre that can do it, there is a reason they're certified. In my case it was Amica , my insurance, who paid for it, obviously they charged the responsible party for everything and it was very expensive.