How to ruin a perfect 21 year driving record...

[wallingd]

It won't be eligible for the scrappage scheme will it... It's a Y-reg.

 

[trapperjohn]

It will be against a Nissan!!

 

[219]

I'm quite a positive glass-half-full sort of person, but I think you're going to struggle with getting all the parts to repair quite so cheaply.

Rust-free genuine MB wings are going to be a little tricky to find and would probably cost more than £15-30? Same for the other stuff IMHO

I'd definately look into it, but wouldn't hold my breath that it'll fix up all that cheaply.

You'll still need to sort out the radiator, airbag, possible bent metal underneath etc and then get it all painted up in a bodyshop. There could obviously be other damage that hasn't been noticed which will all cost time/money to repair.

If you want to keep it, 'contract repairs' sound like the way forward. If you're not attached to it and it's not special to you in any way, there'll be other 210 estates out there for you

Will

These are the sorts of prices breakers up here tend to charge - I've paid £15 for W201 wings recently , my pal bought an AMG front bumper off a W124 coupe , complete with foglights for £20 last week ... Hereabouts it would be quite easy to buy a complete donor car for a couple of hundred , then sell the remains back to the breaker when you're finished .

I agree a lot depends on unseen damage ...

There's a national chain of breakers 'pick a part' or suchlike advertising similar prices , but I do accept prices can be higher down south .

 

[grober]

I'm with Pontoneer If the front bumper assembly isn't involved or the airbag system [ gives credence to the severity of the impact] then its probably repairable with 2nd hand/pattern parts. Biggest cost would be painting but reasonable colour to match.

 

[Barbanasos]

Definately do not get the insurance involved, try and get a quotation from a garage on the labour and an evident list of parts that need replacing. Then ring around all the used mercedes specialists getting prices. Add it all up and if you think that what you would get for the car plus the repair bill would get you another one in good condition go down that route.

Again it looks as the damage is all at the top. Scrapyards maybe cheaper, and even better from one person breaking their car on ebay. Some breakers have complete cars damaged at the rear you could do a bulk parts buy, that would be the cheapest. I still think though including parts and labour it could mount up to £1900

 

[G.O'Rilla]

Let us know how you get on with this. Pleased that nothing hurt apart from the pride......it could have been almost any of us.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Gutted

At least your alright

 

[DuFFmAn]

Huh, Why would you not go through the insurance???...

Repairing it yourself would only be viable if you were 18!...

Im guessing you're around 18 + 21 = 39 years old with a clean license...

Send it to the insurers.. They will deal with everything including a loan car and "should" give you a considerable amount to buy a new car (if written off)..

Your next year's quote will near enough be the same (assuming protected No claims bonus)...

Looking at the damage, your looking at well over £1500 including airbags etc (Im not an expert in body repair)... in comparison to..

£200ish policy excess... Plus an extra £20 or so on your policy for the next 5 years..

Hope the above makes sense

 

[Peter DLM]

Thanks all for your advice, but I put it in the hands of the insurers and had a courtesy car in a few hours after I called them. I've 11 years NCB that's protected, and as said earlier 21 years claim and crash free. It does suck that some insurers though only stop at 5 years NCB even if you've been with them for a few years and then move on, they still only give you the 'full NCB' which is 5 years. Some do increase it so this is why I'm on 11 now. Bit annoying really.

It's a somewhat unpleasant Mazda 3 TS, but it's serviceable, just.

I'm actually 38 (and a half) years old, for those interested :bannana: and all I want is this wreck dragged off my driveway and a cheque so I can go and get another Merc E Class estate asap. I'm really not the type to do the salvage option, though I admire those that do. My buddy is such a person and buys/sells these cars after repairing them.:bannana: I don't think there's sufficient value left in my car for this to be viable?

 

[crockers]

Thanks all for your advice, but I put it in the hands of the insurers and had a courtesy car in a few hours after I called them. I've 11 years NCB that's protected, and as said earlier 21 years claim and crash free. It does suck that some insurers though only stop at 5 years NCB even if you've been with them for a few years and then move on, they still only give you the 'full NCB' which is 5 years. Some do increase it so this is why I'm on 11 now. Bit annoying really.

It's a somewhat unpleasant Mazda 3 TS, but it's serviceable, just.

I'm actually 38 (and a half) years old, for those interested :bannana: and all I want is this wreck dragged off my driveway and a cheque so I can go and get another Merc E Class estate asap. I'm really not the type to do the salvage option, though I admire those that do. My buddy is such a person and buys/sells these cars after repairing them.:bannana: I don't think there's sufficient value left in my car for this to be viable?

Be prepared for a premium hike next year. Protected NCD (it's a discount not a bonus) is as it says - the discount is protected not the base premium.
So if say you were paying £1000 discounted by 60% to £400 this year and they raise your base premium by lets say 50% to £1500 you still get the protected discount of 60% so pay £600...

Even so better than paying for all the repairs and knowing its all settled.

Best thing I read is that you weren't hurt - cars can be replaced people can't..

 

[219]

Thanks all for your advice, but I put it in the hands of the insurers and had a courtesy car in a few hours after I called them. I've 11 years NCB that's protected, and as said earlier 21 years claim and crash free. It does suck that some insurers though only stop at 5 years NCB even if you've been with them for a few years and then move on, they still only give you the 'full NCB' which is 5 years. Some do increase it so this is why I'm on 11 now. Bit annoying really.

It's a somewhat unpleasant Mazda 3 TS, but it's serviceable, just.

I'm actually 38 (and a half) years old, for those interested :bannana: and all I want is this wreck dragged off my driveway and a cheque so I can go and get another Merc E Class estate asap. I'm really not the type to do the salvage option, though I admire those that do. My buddy is such a person and buys/sells these cars after repairing them.:bannana: I don't think there's sufficient value left in my car for this to be viable?

Good luck with the outcome anyway - hope you get a decent settlement .

 

[grober]

Quite often people lose confidence in a car after its been in a "shunt" even if its been repaired to a high standard, so perhaps best to "get rid" as you have decided. It also removes the quandry of declaring it as accident repaired when trading in or selling in the future.

 

[Peter DLM]

Yup, Salvage yard (HBC) collected it this morning.

The Mazda 3 TS really is horrid BTW. If it's really based on the Focus platform, it's been done really badly. Also, people appear to treat courtesy cars really badly, as this poor 57 reg 20k mile old car is in poor condition. Both outside and inside have been trashed, so much so that I spent ages updating the Vehicle Condition Report before I signed it.

Never thought I'd miss the little 'things' in the Merc, but I do!

 

[LimitedSlip]

Assuming you have no plans to sell car on - in which case I would feel morally bound ( as well as legally ) to tell prospective buyer the car had been damaged and repaired .

Last time I knew for sure, the law was such that you were legally bound to tell the truth about prior accident damage if asked, but not bound to volunteer the information or mention it in advertisements.

Always ask the vendor about prior stuff when buying a vehicle (with a witness if poss.), even if you've checked by HPI or similar, as there is plenty that never gets recorded.

 

[Peter DLM]

If I had the chance to buy the salvage back, as it drives fine, what price would make it all worthwhile? What might it be worth?

It has COMAND, mint Wood/Leather steering wheel, and 150k. Brakes and a Cat are all recent.

 

[219]

Last time I knew for sure, the law was such that you were legally bound to tell the truth about prior accident damage if asked, but not bound to volunteer the information or mention it in advertisements.

Always ask the vendor about prior stuff when buying a vehicle (with a witness if poss.), even if you've checked by HPI or similar, as there is plenty that never gets recorded.

That is the position as I understand it , and I always ask , when buying , for precisely that reason