450SE picks up his 450SE

[Andrew280SEL]

That's quite a story! Good on the neighbours (and the dead end ) for catching the guy out.

A real pity about the whole crash taking place though, but, hopefully it all goes smoothly for you from here. And hopefully the car is soon back and looking as beautiful as ever

 

[Michel]

Amazing story, although a bit saddening (anyone who's car gets damaged like that or in any other way gets upset).

Let's hope it gets repaired and at no cost to you.

 

[Styria]

Hi 450SE, the way I see it, it is the driver that's responsible for the accident - not the owner of the company, even though the trailer may be registered in the Company's name.

I do foresee some problems for your Insurance company to have recourse for recovery - the driver probably has no money and probably not even Insurance cover. So, it'll be interesting to see what happens from hereon in. What a pity that this had to happen to your new acquisition - mind you, if it is repaired by your Insurer, the car will probably come back looking better than ever. Good luck. Regards Styria

 

[450SE]

Well, it looks as if the car will be written off, if Mercedes Benz of Melbourne Panel Shop have anything to do with it. Here is the quote using new parts.
Next step is to hear the sound of the Shannon's assessor choking to death...

================================================================================
REMOVE + REFIT Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RBD REAR B/BAR D & A 350.00
LTL L/H/R TAIL LAMP 50.00
LTLM L/H/R TAIL LAMP MOULD 30.00
UL001 L/H QTR PANEL INNER TRIM 50.00
UL002 REAR PANEL INNER TRIM 30.00
UL003 R/H QTR PANEL INNER TRIM 50.00
UL004 NUMBER PLATE & RIVETS 30.00
UL005 NUMBER PLATE LIGHTS & MOULD 30.00
UL007 BOOT RUBBER & REGLUE 50.00
UL006 BOOT LOCK & READJUST 50.00
RTL R/H/R TAIL LAMP 50.00
RTLM R/H/R TAIL LAMP MOULD 30.00
UL008 PETROL FLAP 30.00
UL009 STRING REAR SCREEN 40.00
UL010 R/H DOG LEG MOULD 30.00
UL011 R/H CANT RAIL MOULD 50.00
------- ---------
950.00

REPAIR Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL013 REAR PANEL 200.00
RQP R/H QTR PANEL 500.00
------- ---------
700.00

PAINT Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MM MIX AND MATCH 100.00
OA OVEN ALLOWANCE 150.00
UL013 REAR PANEL 250.00
UL008 PETROL FLAP 100.00
RQP R/H QTR PANEL 450.00
UL012 R/H CANT RAIL 150.00
------- ---------
1200.00

MISCELLANEOUS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WC WORKSHOP CONSUMABLES 25.00
TWD TOXIC WASTE DISPOSAL 5.00

30.00

Markup
30.00

PARTS
New Parts Part Number Qty List
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RTL R/H/R TAIL LAMP 1168203664 1.00 2197.33
UL014 R/H REAR BUMPER BAR END 1168800471 1.00 823.21
UL015 R/H REAR BUMPER BAR UPPER 1168800871 1.00 1315.22
UL016 R/H REAR BUMPER BAR UPPER RUBBER 1168850321 1.00 92.82
UL017 REAR BUMPER BAR CENTRE SECTION 1168800271 1.00 1428.25
UL018 REAR BUMPER BAR RUBBER 1168850221 1.00 156.11
UL019 MOULDING CLIPS 1.00 60.00
---------
6072.94
Markup 0.00
---------
Total New Parts $ 6072.94




S U M M A R Y M /Up S/Charge List Subtotal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove & Refit 950.00
Repair 700.00
Paintless Dent Removal
Paint 1200.00
Other Paint
Parts 6072.94 6072.94
Other 30.00
-----------------------------------------------------------

Total Labour 2850.00

Subtotal 8952.94
---------------------------------
Estimate Total 8952.94
Plus 10 % GST 895.29
Total Inc. GST 9848.23


================================================================================
Estimate Messages
-----------------
ESTIMATE FOR VISIBLE DAMAGE ONLY

 

[Michel]

Don't despair.

Shannons are good to deal with.
They will simply pay you out and you have first crack at keeping the car.

You then get it repaired at 'normal' non-insurance rates.
If you need more help PM me and I will explain

I had that happen to me in November and I got around it.

 

[Lukas]

Yikes - I read it first time thinking "$50 for a tail light, that's not too bad" - then I realised it was $50 to unscrew a tail light.

 

[Styria]

Probably unethical to say this - it is one instance where, financially, you CAN make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. That's all I say other than to listen to Michel. Regards Styria

 

[450SE]

Bit of an update for you:

Over the weekend, a little nervous about what may become of my car due to the insurance claim, I went in search of an alternative quote for repairs. I went out to a Audi / BMW / Ferrari / Mercedes Benz / Porsche specialist in the eastern suburbs, recommended to me by a friend who works at Mercedes Melbourne.
The guy that was going to quote me (still haven't received paperwork from him) said that while they did very good work, but are "panel replacers", not "panel beaters" and that if they were to do the work, the car would probably be written off, based on cost, rather than actual damage...
They, in turn, suggested a family run business in Croydon - just over an hour east of home.
When I eventually found the place, it was essentially a large shed, hidden under huge pine trees. A small annex style portable office was the only give away from the street that a business may operate from the site.
The place looked deserted, but there was a side roller door open. The place was an Aladdin's Cave. Mustangs, Cobras, GT-HO Falcons, Monaros, Camaros, old Chev pickup trucks. This place had it all crammed in and unlike the previous panel shops, a thin layer of panel beating dust lay over everything.
At first, the guy working in the repair area told me they were closed & was not able to do a quote - his father was the only person who could. 'Come back Monday, mate'.
Explaining that I lived over an hour away and had made a special trip out, could he please take some photos to show his Dad Monday so we could try to get a quote happening (mainly cosmetic damage, after all). He agreed & took about a dozen photos. We ended up talking for about a half hour about the car and the family workshop. I was pretty comfortable to send the car there instead. All I had to do was organise a tray truck to collect the car, which would be covered by insurace & they'd take care of the rest.
Speaking Sunday afternoon with some friends who live out that way, confirmed that that panel beater was known for great work (mainly hot rods & custom vehichles).

Yesterday I phoned Shannons to advise that I wished to change repairers & my reasons. They offered to send an assessor to home or work to take a look. Within an hour, I had an appointment for this morning.
The assessor was at my house at 9:00am today. Luckily, I'd planned ahead & had the 380SL & the 450SE professionally washed yesterday - just to make them look spot on.

Quite a pleasant chap, he asked if I'd had a quote yet, so I produced the paperwork for the quote you've all seen from Mercedes Benz of Melbourne. We agreed that their quote was their way of saying that they didn't want the job.
Instead, he suggested using their preferred repairer in West Melbourne. Apparently they only repair Mercedes Benz & Porsche. The assessor suggested doing a drive by & taking a look. I am not obligated to use them, but he did stand by their work.

I told him of my paranoid concerns with:
Colour matching
Having one new rear light lens and one old one and also of the
New or re-dipped chrome work standing out from the 33 year old parts. He assured me of their work & that I didn't have to accept the car back until I was totally satisfied with it.

Apparently I'll have a phone call this afternoon sometime to book the repair in within the next week. So far, I cannot speak more highly of Shannons.

 

[John S]

Shannons is a respected sponsor of the Mercedes Benz Club (NSW) and their help was highly spoken of by a number of NSW club members after the hailstone storm wreaked havoc just after our Christmas Picnic about 2 years ago.

 

[450SE]

Word has it that I'll have my 450 back from the panel shop by the weekend!!

In the end, I was happy for it to be repaired by the panel beater in West Melbourne, recommended by Shannons.
He's so far had it since the 22 June, meaning a three week long repair. Whilst I first gagged when working out how long the repair will have taken, I do keep in mind that the panelbeater has sourced three different second hand tail light clusters, eventually settling on one from WA. Other parts have been flown in from Singapore. PLUS - I will have a second set of rear bumper bar rubbers and a couple of spare new rear bumper bar sections to keep my little city shed cluttered until the next 4x4 decides to use my car as a braking ram.

The great news that I'm thrilled about is that the car will be ready for this weekend - in time for the next car club run... and the first run I'll be able (& happy enough with the condition of the car) to take it to...

Photos to come in the next few days.

 

[Styria]

Hi 450SE, just to follow up on your post (thread). I know you have already conveyed your impressions of the 450SE in another thread, but I've not found it - not quickly enough anyway - (presently I am back to DIAL-UP speed, and the PC is S-L-O-W. Hence my reluctance to look.

Thus, as a matter of interest, are you still happy with the car, and have all jobs been attended to that you have previously mentioned ? Also wondering, do we have any pics of the car ? Regards Styria - not wishing to impose on your time.

 

[Styria]

Well, well, well, what an interesting story. Interesting from my point of view as it illustrates the amount of damage that can be caused to the rear bumper bars of the 116s, and the cost of replacement parts as far back as 2009. The figures are staggering, but I also suspect that some of those beautiful bumpers and bumperettes are probably no longer available. The method of fitting the bars, both front and back, are all encompassing the way they are fitted to the body of the car, the main attachment bars behind the chromed sections and anything other than a very minor shunt will not only damage the chromed sections, but also the body parts of the car, such as rear guards and the rear beaver panel.

It's many years since 450Se has been on TK (well, since 2012), but he has given us a comprehensive insight into the cost of Panel Beating and Spray Painting. Regards Styria

 

[c107]

Looking back at this thread it is a lovely 450SE. I wonder if it is still with the same owner and getting the same level of care as outlined in this thread.

 

[Patrick_R]

I’d really like a 450SE or SEL.

However I would imagine a good one would be readily available any more.

 

[c107]

Patrick,

This one looks ok and I think the price is about right:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1979-mercedes-benz-450se-auto/SSE-AD-6923173/?Cr=0&fbclid=IwAR1eeLr8I2aCPA-bONrc_YGwAyPe6YRMgkXMfS21M-txgne07KIBnNEv3SI

Only two things that would concern me is that it has chrome arch moulds (which hide rust) and has a towbar (puts stress on the transmission and chassis)

 

[Patrick_R]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and it has hub caps as well

 

[c107]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and it has hub caps as well

Plus being a 79 it has the better wood and updated carpets.

 

[Patrick_R]

Suspect why there are no pics of the engine bay or boot, or the front seats.
Very strange the star is missing off the grille.

 

[c107]

Suspect why there are no pics of the engine bay or boot, or the front seats.
Very strange the star is missing off the grille.

Yes all good questions. 450's being standard leather often have ratty front seats as having them done properly is not cheap.

 

[Patrick_R]

The middle of the back seat looks ratty as well.

The star missing indicates neglect to me.