Saturday night trouble

[Marque]

I parked my car on the drive on Saturday afternoon after running various errands. I now park nose-in after some **** nicked my bonnet star. I came out on Sunday morning to find a big dent on the tailgate.

It looks like quite a lot of force was used, but I doubt it was another vehicle because the car was well away from the road and there is no damage lower down. (The red colour is just a reflection.)

The question is: how much is this going to cost to repair? It looks like an insurance job to me.

 

[wemorgan]

Sorry to hear the news......have you tried calling?

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/members-offers-traders/69898-dent-clinic-paintless-dent-removal.html

 

[Marque]

It looks like the paint has come off in various places - can they fix that? You can't really see in the picture but it looks like someone has whacked it with a heavy object.

 

[evdok]

I feel sick for you mate, but am not shocked...we do live in the UK.

 

[SilverSaloon]

scum.

i hate this and my 124 got vandalised (although luckily not to the same extent) a few weeks back when i had to park it at the very end of my drive when the caravan was on the driveway.

p$$ heads on their way back from the pubs etc unfortunatly. one of the reasons i bought 6ft gates a few weeks back!!

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Reckon thats going to cost more than your excess

 

[evdok]

Might be worth getting The Dent Guy to remove the dent, then getting it sprayed or else they will prob tell you you need a tailgate or a load of filler!

 

[nick mercedes]

The question is: how much is this going to cost to repair? It looks like an insurance job to me.

A good dent man *might* get that out, otherwise pay these guys a visit:

Ital Coachworks

If you search the forum you'll see that they've got a good reputation.

 

[verytalldave]

A convincing dummy CCTV camera MIGHT help prevent a reoccourance.
Or a real one if you can be bothered.
They are not that expensive nowadays and some of the shopping channels sell them for quite a bit less than £50.
Sorry about the news. Mindless tw@ts.

 

[evdok]

The dent guy is a member! & he's work is good.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/64023-reversed-wheelie-bin.html

 

[Marque]

Update...

Well, after ignoring this for a while, the car's going in to Ital Coachworks for a proper repair (insurance claim). That's a new tailgate and respray. I hope they do a good job. Gary seems to be a good guy.

I will ask them to fix a few chips as an extra while they have the car. Then I thought I might have the paint sealed and get the interior leather cleaned and reconditioned. Any recommendations as to the best products or good places near me?

I also have the opportunity to de-badge the tailgate. I know this is usually done to disguise a powerful car, not the other way around. I just wondered what opinions people have on doing this on a standard E220 CDI Avantgarde. (What are the benefits or drawbacks?)

 

[PXW]

Well, after ignoring this for a while, the car's going in to Ital Coachworks for a proper repair (insurance claim). That's a new tailgate and respray. I hope they do a good job. Gary seems to be a good guy.

I will ask them to fix a few chips as an extra while they have the car. Then I thought I might have the paint sealed and get the interior leather cleaned and reconditioned. Any recommendations as to the best products or good places near me?

I also have the opportunity to de-badge the tailgate. I know this is usually done to disguise a powerful car, not the other way around. I just wondered what opinions people have on doing this on a standard E220 CDI Avantgarde. (What are the benefits or drawbacks?)

My observation is that debadging is generally done to either the top or the bottom cars in a range. Debadging the top is classy - it says I can afford the best but don't feel the need to shout about it. Debadging the bottom of the range, IMHO, isn't. It says I wish I could afford a bigger engine but I can't so I'm going to try to hide my inadequacy

You've got a 220 CDi. Nowt wrong with that. Be out and proud

 

[richard]

If U do decide to debadge, ask the repairer to supply the badges but not stick them on. At this point the insurance company is expecting to pay for them ...

You may as-well have them incase you change your mind - and being Mercedes I don't suppose they are that cheap !!

Richard

 

[Marque]

I've just seen a picture of a de-badged black 2006 E-Class estate and it looked very nice IMHO. I'm not trying to hide anything - I'm proud of my E220 CDI - it's just that the rear-end is a little cluttered.

Sometimes de-badging leaves the rear rather bare (if you get my drift) but there's enough stuff on an estate tailgate to avoid this problem. Of course, there's still the three-pointed star.

 

[Marque]

Here is the picture of a de-badged estate on Auto Trader:

Auto Trader UK - MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E220 CDI AVANTGARDE 5DR TIP AUTO(GOOD SPEC)

Maybe it's had a rear-end shunt too.

 

[Adam230K]

Absolute c0cks. Feel for you mate

 

[Shude]

Maybe it's had a rear-end shunt too.

The servicebook and datacard will reveal whether the debadging was a factory option or not!

 

[LimitedSlip]

Disgraceful... it really cuts deep. Theft is for criminals, damage is for mentally retarded chavs - and God knows this place produces them with great efficiency.

That is repairable if you need to pay from your own pocket, but there may be quite a lot of stretching of the metal there, there will be some filler involved.

If you have to go the insurance route, then you may as well try for a new tailgate.

 

[PXW]

Here is the picture of a de-badged estate on Auto Trader:

Auto Trader UK - MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E220 CDI AVANTGARDE 5DR TIP AUTO(GOOD SPEC)

Maybe it's had a rear-end shunt too.

Hmm, see what you mean. [PXW retreats to reconsider his 'two types of people' assessment of debadgers...]

 

[Shude]

Disgraceful... it really cuts deep. Theft is for criminals, damage is for mentally retarded chavs - and God knows this place produces them with great efficiency.

That is repairable if you need to pay from your own pocket, but there may be quite a lot of stretching of the metal there, there will be some filler involved.

If you have to go the insurance route, then you may as well try for a new tailgate.

If you check the previous page you'll see what's been decided!