It's a Write Off - Or is it ?

[Noel Goddard]

I am a long time owner (6years) of a beautiful E320 Cabriolet Sportline. 1995, Azurite Blue and Mushroom Leather. 109,000 miles, Full MB or Specialist (2) service history. 3 Owners from new.

Best car I have owned by a mile (better allround than my old Porsche Boxster S and even the 1968 280 SL I owned before that!!)

Last month my car was mugged by a log that fell off the back of a lorry on the motorway and went straight under my car. Everything under the car was wrecked as was the front grill, radiator and bonnet. Estimate to repair, £7,500 from a the best repairer/coachwork place I have ever been to (Tonbridge Coachworks).

The assesor has written the car off as an uneconomic repair and is about to give me a low-ball offer for settlement. I think the replacement cost of the car is realistically £15,000-£17,500 to find one in as good condition with a reputable history.

Can someone help me with what my car would cost to replace and what issues make a difference in the valuations. The last time I looked at prices was late 2000 when I bought mine.

Oh, and if anyone is actually selling a beautiful E320 Cabriolet Sportline with similar or less miles in either blue, silver or black, I am in the market as they say !!

Thanks

 

[BTB 500]

Welcome to the Forum, and very sorry to hear about your car.

Grab a copy of "Mercedes Enthusiast" magazine from larger WH Smith branches; you will see a number of nice-looking 320 Sportline cabs. in the dealer ads. at the front. That will give you useful ammunition when dealing with the insurers.

 

[Shude]

Sorry to read that a 124 cab has left the road for good

Your insurance company has probably valued your car at less than the repair cost. Parkers (not gospel) has this to say (won't go older than 10 years):

Mercedes-Benz CE-Class Cabriolet (92-97)
E320 2d Auto (5) 1997/P
Average mileage 90,000 miles
Original Price £51,825
Independent Dealer £11,760
Private Good £9,335
Private Poor £6,615
Part Exchange £7,645

Charles Ironside (http://www.charlesironside.co.uk) often has some (IMHO) overpriced 124 cabs for sale (£20k+) but none at the moment, keep your eyes on his site, these will help prove your case. That said, just because they are "for sale" at that price it does not mean that they sell at that price.

It might be in your best interests to investigate a classic policy in future with an agreed value (usually by an independent assessor).

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[ADY1983]

Sorry to here that , such nice cars sounds like a project to me...

Oh and welcome...

 

[janner]

How much do the insurance company want for it?
E320 sportline cabriolets are like rocking horse poo and Azurite blue is arguably the best colour. Shame about the accident and good luck with the search.

 

[Noel Goddard]

Thanks

Thank you for the responses. I will grab myself a copy of the aforementioned magazine and get researching on Charles Ironside's site (amongst others).

I imagine the insurance assessor will low ball in the £7,000 region although the Customer Service people at Admiral have assured me twice now on the phone that I have a "replacement policy" in that they need to ensure I have restitution to uphold their contract with me.

The real tricky part is how do I assess the pro's and con's of my car (few owners, colour combination, condition vs. 109K on the clock) with other "similar" cars.

Is a dark green with grey leather interior, but with 70K equivalent ?? Does Sportline carry that much extra value over a non-Sportline ??

I am looking forward to a long and challenging haggle and in future I will go for an agreed value policy. When I bought the car though, it wasn't really a classic !!! No one warned me I would fall in love with it....

I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[nickg]

When my SL60 AMG was stolen I produced ads from autotrader.co.uk and Mercedes Enthusiast to support my valuation of the car.
The insurance co coughed up at my valuation relatively easily.
Try and drag the process out a bit - the further into April you get, and the weather improves, the more good quality cars will be on the market at premium prices, which will help your case.
Speak to a few expert dealers and get their views on valuation. Sportline is rare so should add value to a real enthusiast.
Good luck

 

[Noel Goddard]

Janner,

Sorry I didn't se your question until I scrolled further. Believe it or not this is my first time on a Forum / Chat room ever !!

I don't yet know how much it would cost me to buy the car back. I am considering doing just that and blowing the insurance money on a project rebuild of the car.

I am usually a big fan of originality, but in this case, as the car will be almost unsaleable as an ex-Cat C or D write off, it could be a chance to have some fun.

I always wondered what engine mods and suspension upgrades were available (without running the risk of wrecking the fluid ride or twisting the body!!). The car was plenty quick enough once it got into it's stride, but it was ponderous off the line and slow to kick down (my only complaints).

I also fancied retro fitting a COMAND, Hood Operation on the move and upgrading the sound system (no, not a full "pimp my ride" boom box, but something that sounded crisp with the hood down).

Any ideas welcomed...

Cheers

 

[Howard]

There are people on here who share your views !

Ian B Walker is the man to talk to about engine swaps (V8's for example)

There's nothing Alfie and Miro don't know about retrofitting Comands ....

KLP and Aka$h are both w126 and w124 nuts and both have recently completed mega project rebuilds of the models mentioned .....

Welcome on board and i hope everything works out well for you !

 

[janner]

Unless the insurance company are going to virtually give it to you I think I'd take a cash settlement (after much haggling) and buy another one.
They do come up but it may take some time to find the right one.
This one made £6500 at a classic car auction recently and I wish I'd gone to see it (would probably be in my garage now if I did!)
I guess you should be looking at £8-10,000 from the insurance?
Charles Ironside's prices might help with the insurance payout but I'm not sure I would ever pay that much.
£10000 could buy a really nice SL500 if you don't need four seats?

Edit..
Some car ads to show your insurance company
£21950
£16950
£15950 (non sportline)

Edit, more...
Hairpin
28000 Euros
£19950 (Ironside)
£6500 (current e-bay auction)

 

[jeremytaylor]

If the insurance company can't be persuaded to re-assess their figures, then if I were you I would buy it off them and have it repaired properly. I think Parker's figures are too low, whilst Charles Ironside never advertises cheap cars - I would be interested to know what they actually sell for ...

You know the car, which is worth a lot, although not something the insurance co. settlement will reflect. I think a rebuild would be viable.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

NEVER accept the insurance company's first offer.

NEVER.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?f=23&h=0

Post there, theres a fella called Annie something or other, he specialises in these kinds of problems. Hes helped many people with insurance claims where the insurer has been messing them around.