I had a Car crash...(pic of my car now)...

[Wisher]

I own a F-reg 190E auto,, 99.000 miles, It was in mint condition, no rust, no marks, engine was perfect, ran sooo smooth..I've had it for ten years and was hopeing to keep it for another ten years...I've kept on top of repairs.
I was in a crash on monday 28th June.. a truck went into the driver side of the car.. the insurance Inspector came out to see it today.. he said because of the age of the car, regradeless of it's condition before the crash, they would only ofter me book price, so it would be written-off cos the cost to repair is higher then the book price....
The thing that has got me about this..it's really only the doors on the driver side and the front wing that need replaceing, how can they get away with writting off a perfectly good car, for just door damage... I'm fighting this as much as I can, and don't seam to get it though to them that I just want my beautifull car fixing.
I really don't know what i can do... [/img]

 

[guydewdney]

accept payment on the basis you keep the car... buy new doors (on ebay iirc at the mo) and wing...


guy

 

[Wisher]

thanks for that.. I didn't think about looking on Ebay for doors... so I will...
this crash has really messed things up. I love my car, and never thought I would have to think about it not being there.. it's my first car, I bought it when I was 23.. and ten years on , it's still a dream to drive...

 

[guydewdney]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....;item=2483386851&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

for four doors, boot and grille and bonnet. no bids - 10p!!!! 3 days to go in greenwich

 

[NormanB]

Wisher

I am sorry to hear of your misfortune. you clearly love your car.

But if the damage is truly confined to the doors and wing alone and there is no other structural damage, then do what Guy suggests. I would pay out for a full chassis alignment check and bill the guilty party too!!

I hope you are successful on the ebay bid too, if you time your bid carefully you could get a real bargain there. (Guy you are a wizard!!).

I recently replaced both my front wings (with Merc OEM parts) and then had them and the bonnet resprayed and it now looks like a new car.

So do not despair - onwards and upwards.
:wink:

 

[Wisher]

thanks for your replys..

I've had a garage look at it this morning,,, they aswell said yes it would cost to much to get it fixed... where the door and the front wing is, the chassis is buckled.. so yes it's a write-off...

it's a shame..

I'm going to look at another 190E tomorrow... I'm just hopeing that it a automatic.. as that's the only car I like to drive.. and the garage has said that it's the same as mine in everyway... but it's marroon.. not white..
and it's at a good price...

so I've got my fingers crossed, and hopefully will still be a 190E owner by this time next week.

 

[Spike]

Bazza's one in the classifieds looks like a good one for the money...

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6548

 

[Wisher]

The update on the car.....

I went to see the other 190E this morning....
It is the same inside as mine....

It's a 190E 2.0. auto. 77.000 miles,, G-reg... full merc history.. ABS... new alloy wheels, new full exhaust . new brakes..engine sounds smooth.. only one tiny dent in the passager door. no rust on the wheel arch..everything works inside... it's marroon in colour..marroon body kit..grey inside.. alarm.

so I've said YES to buying it...they have told the owner that it's sold..
I'll pay for it monday, and then they can get it ready for me.

as soon as I tell the insurance that I'll except the price they offered for my car. then the rental car will be taken off me. this is before I get the payment from the insurance . so I'm having to buy the new car now.. so I wont be without a car...

I'm trying to think of something I can take out of my old car, to put in the new one, so it's like the heart of the car is coming with me...
How easy is it to remove the front emblem???? not bothered if it falls apart........

 

[guydewdney]

take the wheels off, the ign leads (exbenzive), pas pump, vacuum pump (under back seat, radio, all the fuses (always useful) and bulbs, relays esp the ovp relay - hell, strip it and flog all the bits on ebay!

rip anything electronic out of it - they are the most expensive bits...

bonnet emblem - has a twist lock mechanism under it, remove blanking plate / bonnet catch (two 10mm bolts on mine) and its there in front of you.

guy

 

[Wisher]

Thanks Guy..

I wish I could strip it down and sell the bits... but i can't..

the alloy wheels on it have worn too much but I'm taking the spare.the radio doesn't work...
I'm taking the jack. tools..first aid box. bulbs. mats. ashtrays.lighter...two window buttons and the fuse's..warning sign in boot...maybe spoiler(new car doesn't have one).. not sure how to get the gear knob off...and front emblem.

 

[guydewdney]

i think - but dont quote me - that you put the gearknob in N then push down hard until it clicks, then pull out....

relays? windscreen washer pump? window regulators? (just rip off the coverings... use 10mm socket..)

 

[Wisher]

Wish I could post a picture of my crashed car on here.. but don't know how to...?

 

[guydewdney]

pic from wisher...

shirly thats fixable...

 

[Wisher]

thanks for posting the picture for me.....

that's what i thought.....this is why i'm so upset about it....

they have said that the frame that comes down the side where the door and wing is, is buckled. and that's what is expensive to fix... but even if i got a garage to look at it,, they would have to take the wing off to see the damage. then i'd have to pay them for doing that.. but at this point it's not driveable because of the front wheel is touching the wheel arch. and they are not sure of the damage to the wheel..

it not bad considering it was a truck that went into me... and I walked away with only whiplash...
that's how good these cars are....
and that's why I wanted another one...

(hey. maybe I could get the new one sprayed white..lol.)..not sure about marroon..lol

 

[guydewdney]

to take the wing off:-

open bonnet.
undo all the screws along the channel
open door
undo two? bolts inside
undo bolt on sill
remove bumper (from underneath, prob 2 17mm bolts
remove headlight / indicator (4 bolts probably)
remove 1 or two from around there...

or - as the wing is fecked anyway, just use a crow bar / wrecking bar to bend it to the right shape - even use a sledge hammer.

get it home

take to an indy body shop.

hadrian car panels have wings for exampple

Make: MERCEDES
Model: 190 TYPE W201
Variant: 09/83-09/93
HCP Part Number: 50-21-230

 

[Wisher]

the car is at home....which is good..

you make sound so easy to do the job....guy...

I wish I had some male friends that have some idear about doing these things to help with the strong stuff( like undoing bolts).. and lifting things... but i don't...

I have till monday to get back to the insurance about what I want to do...

but I may have a go anyway....

 

[guydewdney]

where are you? if its anywhere near me (watford-ish) i can have a go in return for bacon sarnies :wink:

 

[Wisher]

I'm in manchester...

thanks for the offer..... but bit too far away...

I'm sure I've seen that the wing has rivets not bolts under the bonnet.

 

[NormanB]

The update on the car.....

snipped
I'm trying to think of something I can take out of my old car, to put in the new one, so it's like the heart of the car is coming with me...
How easy is it to remove the front emblem???? not bothered if it falls apart........

If it were me.............I would take:

1. Wiper motor.
2. Headlights in toto.
3. Switch Gear - all
4. Coil, HT Leads, Dizzy
5. Electric aerial (if fitted).

2 hours tops - and I would just clean em up, spray of WD on the bits that needed it and wrap em up and stick in a box and store in loft.