[B15M]

The car was hit from behind. About $6000.00 damage. The car was fixed by a Mercedes dealer. When I got the car back, while putting the top up and down, the top scrapes the tail lights. The car was returned and adjusted and now the same thing. They said to bring it back again. Don't they try it before returning the car?

I'm thinking something is bent. An operating arm or something like that. The top seems to wobble a little too while operating.

Just really kind of sucks.

 

[98 roadster]

Get ahold of the general manager and tell him you want him to personally check it out before they call and tell you its fixed again.
Just an idea.

PS... general manager of the dealer...not the department head flunky.

 

[B15M]

They still have the car.

 

[B15M]

Another weekend without the convertible.

 

[B15M]

I know you guys probably don't care but, another weekend without the SL

 

[bayhas]

When you say without the convertible, you mean you still cannot put the top down, or the dealer still has the car?

 

[B15M]

When you say without the convertible, you mean you still cannot put the top down, or the dealer still has the car?

They still have the car. My wife got a manager on the phone yesterday and they promised next week. We'll see.

The current problem is a "Hinge frame assembly" that they are awaiting.

 

[SinSL]

Convertibles are notoriously difficult to repair after serious accidents. Demand to see laser measurements of your car, I am willing to bet the chassis unibody is twisted and they tried and failed to pull it straight.

The car will also likely vibrate at highway speeds.

Try to write it off, don't sign any wavers, and don't accept any compensation payments that are less than full value of your car.

Good luck.

 

[B15M]

They can't seem to fix the car. I'm not sure what will happen. How do they decide the value of the car? I'll never find another 2003 with 30000 miles. I might be out of the SL thing for a while. To bad, I really liked the car.

 

[SinSL]

Generally, you go by the blue book. Kelley Blue Book - New & Used Car Price Values

You don't have to take their initial offer, but you have to keep it reasonable enough that they don't decide lawyers are cheaper.

About the worst outcome for you right now, if you get stuck with badly repaired car. It will leak. It will rust. It will vibrate. It will rattle.

 

[bayhas]

They can't seem to fix the car. I'm not sure what will happen. How do they decide the value of the car? I'll never find another 2003 with 30000 miles. I might be out of the SL thing for a while. To bad, I really liked the car.

There is plenty of low mile R230s out there... just getting out of extended warranties, and being sold as their owners move on to something newer...

Try to settle with insurance company on totaling the car, and getting a check for what the car is worth, insist on actual replacement value of the car...

Your beef is with the insurance, not the dealer btw. just get the needed paperwork from the dealer that the car is not reasonably repairable, and present the case to the insurance...

Sign the car over to the insurance company, and start shopping for a new one...

 

[98 roadster]

B15M
Sorry to hear the status. Is all hope lost on repairing? I guess if they said its not repairable, then that's that.
Regarding the payoff from insurance. My experience is that it is not the same with all insurance companies. I totaled a car back in 97 and State Farm paid considerably more than the KBB number. They said there were two reasons. The car was in really good shape, and it had a high salvage value. That was OK with me because the car was so mangled and I was afraid they were going to repair it and I really didn't want it back. They said the high salvage value lowers the bar on when they say "totaled".
Let us know what they say.
Good Luck

 

[B15M]

Got the car back.

When you close the trunk, about 15 seconds after it's closed there is a clunk.

Every now and then when you put on the breaks the rear end clunks.

The trunk opens and closes without hitting anything but goes up and down one side faster than the other.

So far the insurance company has paid 10,000.00 to fix the car. Maybe I should just give up and drive it to the end.

 

[bayhas]

There problems will only get worse... The repair quality is not acceptable,

-The vacuum pump will eventually give up, and stop trying to pull the trunk down, thus, the top will quit working, unless you slam the trunk.

-The seals sound like they are not in place, or binding, the trunk will eventually (if not already) start leaking rain water. the trunk contains enough electronics to total the car again if they get wet, and you try to replace them at dealer cost

-The uneven operation of the trunk lid will eventually stress the frame of the lid; no biggy in typical cars, but in SL vario roof, and the like, and because of its scissor operation, proper alignment is of the essence for proper and long term operation...

Don't worry about how much the insurance paid, that's why they are in business... the dealer did a crappy job, the insurance company will go after them for refund if they chose to do so...

 

[SinSL]

If I were to take away your pre-collision car away from you, and return rusted Caravan, would you accept that? I hope not. This is what this deal is doing to you. Your car has ZERO resale value right now, and it won't keep working for much longer.

Don't accept this because you'd rather avoid the conflict.

 

[B15M]

The car is fixed. Hard to believe, they stuck with it until it was right.