Great Appraiser for Total Loss or Diminished Value

[emerydc8]

Last November I bought a 1999 S320 for $6500. I subsequently had the dealer install a rebuilt 722.6 transmission from Sun Valley Mercedes transmission. I replaced about $1000 more in parts for things that needed changed out like motor mounts and a duo valve. The car was in very good condition. Interior was nearly perfect and the exterior had a few small nicks. Last month, my dad was driving it on I-10 and changed lanes without seeing that there was another car next to him in his blind spot. He swerved left then right then left again and ended up against the cable guardrail, doing an estimated $8000 in damage to the front left suspension and body. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

My insurance company totaled the car and predictably low-balled me with a $2445 appraisal. I invoked the appraisal clause in my policy and found an appraiser in Ft. Pierce, FL who apparently does a lot of appraisals for people fighting insurance companies over total loss valuation and diminished value claims. He charges $275 and it took about a week. He came through with an estimate of $7800. Under most appraisal clauses, the appraisers get together and try to settle (he said it was usually somewhere in the middle). His fee for that was an addition $125. In my case, he was able to settle, but if they can't settle, under most policies the appraisers try to agree on a third arbitrator to decide the award. If they can't come to an agreement on an arbitrator, a local magistrate will appoint one.

I was pretty impressed that this guy settled my case in a matter of a few hours for $7300. I had USAA's optional Car Replacement Assistance where they pay an additional 20% over Actual Cash Value if the car is totaled. Between taxes, licenses and title, I ended up with just over $9000.

I thought I'd pass on his contact information for anyone in need of a good appraiser. I think he does collector cars as well. I would definitely recommend him.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
Frank Colletta

Automobile Valuation Appraisals

Total Loss Disputes - Automobile Valuation Appraisals in all 50 States for Financing, Insurance, Estates, Charitable Donations and Claims.

www.totallossdispute.com

(772) 359-4300

 

[gsxr]

Sorry to hear about the accident, Jon, but glad you had a reasonable outcome! Thanks for the reference to the appraiser, although I hope to never need one again after our debacle in 2013. *shudder*

Will you be repairing the S320? Seems like you have too much invested to give up on it just yet.

 

[Trae]

Bummer Jon. Glad your dad is ok!
Not to many 99's out there in good shape.
What do you think you'll do?

 

[emerydc8]

I was never really crazy about the W140, so I didn't buy it back from USAA. I suspect there was some frame damage since the ball joint sheared off. It's not worth it to me to repair it. I think I'll wait until I see another E420 in good shape and jump on it, not that I need a fourth car but I like the W124/M119.

 

[gsxr]

OUCH! That's far worse than I had pictured. I was thinking a sideswipe against cables. Yeah - I'd have let them keep it too. Not sure there's much of significant value in parts.

 

[gerryvz]

The W140 did its job. Thankfully for your dad's health and welfare.

You want another W124/M119 so you can amortize the investment in your parts hoard.

 

[Jlaa]

I was never really crazy about the W140, so I didn't buy it back from USAA. I suspect there was some frame damage since the ball joint sheared off. It's not worth it to me to repair it. I think I'll wait until I see another E420 in good shape and jump on it, not that I need a fourth car but I like the W124/M119.

Fascinating! Why may I ask were you not enthralled with the w140? Folks like @Klink opine that the w140 is the absolute zenith of MB-well-made-machinery.

 

[emerydc8]

Fascinating! Why may I ask were you not enthralled with the w140? Folks like @Klink opine that the w140 is the absolute zenith of MB-well-made-machinery.

I agree that it is the best big car Mercedes ever made -- double-pane windows and all. But IMHO the silver color and the side trim made it look kind of like an old person's car. Maybe if it was all black with different tires it would look nicer. Obviously, a lot of thought went into the engine design with all the black trim that made it look really clean (pic). No yellow reservoirs to look at once it's a few years old.

My dad still contends that the steering was "too light" and that's what caused him to lose control. I told him it's a 5,000 pound car and that's just how they designed it. I'm still trying to figure out how he managed to fish tail it and hit the left side of some guy's car with his right rear fender. He's really depressed over the whole thing because in addition to it being my car (a reversal of roles, huh?) it was his first accident and he's 83. Kind of a blow to his ego because he was a hot-rodder in his earlier days and I always remember growing up that he had some pretty fast Ford trucks with big block engines that he had built for the truck. He's been driving Hyundas for the last 25 years so he's used to a totally different type of steering and handling. Probably the accident wouldn't have happened if he was in his Hyundai, but he also admits that he probably would not have survived hitting the wood posts of the guard rail in the Hyundai.

 

[LWB250]

W140s rock. I loved mine and would consider a bucket list car to be a 1999 Grand Edition.

And just impress upon your Dad that he's still here because of the cars we drive. The car did it's job, just as we want them to do in a situation of distress like this. As you said, he probably would have been shredded if he had been in a Hyundai.


Dan

 

[emerydc8]

W140s rock. I loved mine and would consider a bucket list car to be a 1999 Grand Edition.

And just impress upon your Dad that he's still here because of the cars we drive. The car did it's job, just as we want them to do in a situation of distress like this. As you said, he probably would have been shredded if he had been in a Hyundai.


Dan

I wasn't aware of this model. The 18" AMG monoblocks make this W140 look so much better, especially with a black exterior. It retailed initially for around $92,000 and it looks like some are still selling for over $30,000. Nice looking car, but I still like the W124 better.

 

[Jlaa]

I wasn't aware of this model. The 18" AMG monoblocks make this W140 look so much better, especially with a black exterior. I retailed initially for around $92,000 and it looks like some are still selling for over $30,000. Nice looking car, but I still like the W124 better.

How was the 3.2L straight six in the behemoth w140?

I've never driven a w140 but I've driven w126s and I had extensive seat time in a 3.0L 177 hp 1989 300SE. I really really liked that car --- moreso perhaps than the v8 w126s that I had driven. I cannot explain why --- something about the way it drove; it felt much more spry (perhaps because of gearing and less weight in the nose) than the v8 models I had driven.

 

[emerydc8]

How was the 3.2L straight six in the behemoth w140?

I've never driven a w140 but I've driven w126s and I had extensive seat time in a 3.0L 177 hp 1989 300SE. I really really liked that car --- moreso perhaps than the v8 w126s that I had driven. I cannot explain why --- something about the way it drove; it felt much more spry (perhaps because of gearing and less weight in the nose) than the v8 models I had driven.

I was thinking the same thing -- the 722.6 transmission really seemed to make up for the lack of horsepower of the straight six. I never once felt that it was bogging down and not downshifting fast enough. Of the limited work I did around the M104.994 engine, it sure seemed to be a lot roomier to work on compared to my E420s.

 

[Trae]

 

[gsxr]

The 722.6 combined with lower gearing (higher numerical) can make a noticeable improvement in driveability. My old 1994 S500 had the old 722.3 four-speed and tall 2.65 gearing, along with second gear start, which made it reluctant to get rolling. It was better in first gear, but 1996-up models with the lower 1st gear ratio of the 722.6 and always starting in 1st, it would be pretty spry.

The M104-powered 140's all had 3.45, 3.46, or 3.69 (!!!) gearing depending on the year, and a 5-speed auto trans (either 722.5 mechanical, or 722.6 electronic). The lower gearing would have helped tremendously with getting that bulk in motion, and the overdrive 5th kept freeway RPM's tolerable.

 

[JC220]

The w140 is in my opinion the best build is quality MB of the era and nothing that followed it has came close.

I have 3x 140s including one from Singapore with 44k miles on it. That car is simply amazing to drive and silent. I turn the radio off and bask in the silence in traffic etc.

The 6 cylinder 140s drive nicely. No real fuel saving though so may as well get a V8 if you had the choice. They are big heavy cars, like driving your living room down the road. So IMO it will never be a fast sporty car so just get the lowest miles and nicest condition one you can and it will be sheer joy to own.

 

[JC220]

PS the best insurance valuation is pre accident and the insurance is agreed value with no questions asked. But then hindsight is 20/20

 

[emerydc8]

Great car for sure. But if you're looking at one, make sure the factory Valeo radiator hasn't already started to leak coolant into the transmission or you are in for a repair that will cost as much as the car itself (ask me how I know).

 

[LWB250]

The w140 is in my opinion the best build is quality MB of the era and nothing that followed it has came close.

I have 3x 140s including one from Singapore with 44k miles on it. That car is simply amazing to drive and silent. I turn the radio off and bask in the silence in traffic etc.

The 6 cylinder 140s drive nicely. No real fuel saving though so may as well get a V8 if you had the choice. They are big heavy cars, like driving your living room down the road. So IMO it will never be a fast sporty car so just get the lowest miles and nicest condition one you can and it will be sheer joy to own.

I have driven the straight six W140 a number of times, and while it doesn't compare to the M119 powered models, it's not for lack of performance. It will definitely get up and go and even with accessories on like AC. Where I found the difference was on the highway when you push the accelerator down at 70 mph and expect there to be a push back in the seat. It's there, but meek compared to what the M119 will do under the same circumstances.

Because of the gearing and weight there's no real economy with the straight six. Mileage wasn't any better than the M119, in fact, it might have been worse, I don't recall.

Dan

 

[TerryA]

I remember test driving a 94 140 500S w/ 30K miles. I thought it was a great car and appeared to be in beautiful condition. I did not do a PPI because I did not want to buy it. test drive

My memory of the test drive was that I felt like a little kid behind the wheel. It felt like I was driving the car on my living room sofa. The interior was gargantuas to me. The trunk could probably hold 10 bodies.

BUT it was definitely a cruiser but way to much car for me. I might have felt different if it was a V12.

It's a 500E for me always.

lol

 

[gsxr]

... I felt like a little kid behind the wheel. It felt like I was driving the car on my living room sofa. The interior was gargantuas to me. The trunk could probably hold 10 bodies.

This about sums up my impression after owning a V140 for a few years: ^^^

 

[Trae]

Don't know if the W140/C140 V12 ride can be surpassed. . .sublime airliner type experience.

Possibly the W222, but I have not been in one.

 

[Jlaa]

Don't know if the W140 V12 ride can be surpassed. . .sublime airliner type experience.

Possibly the W222, but I have not been in one.

One of my neighbors has a beater w140 v12 that he streetparks. @gerryvz has seen it.

 

[Bogeyman]

Looking at the front seats in a W140 and the amount of space, they always reminded me of Barcaloungers...

 

[LWB250]

I have always likened driving a W140 as sitting on your living room couch and watching the world as it passes by. Never had a V12, I can imagine what it would be like, however. And despite what some might say, they're not bad to maintain once you are familiar with all the systems. I've owned a number of them and only had a challenge a couple of times, but those were M119 issues that could have easily occurred in any other chassis powered by one.

Dan

 

[BobC]

I have always likened driving a W140 as sitting on your living room couch and watching the world as it passes by. Never had a V12, I can imagine what it would be like, however. And despite what some might say, they're not bad to maintain once you are familiar with all the systems. I've owned a number of them and only had a challenge a couple of times, but those were M119 issues that could have easily occurred in any other chassis powered by one.

Dan

As a car-guy, I highly recommend Vehicle Inspection Solutions, Inc. for automobile appraisal: Larry is so knowledgeable about rare cars that he advances comps from multiple sources and really achieved the appropriate fair market value for our total-loss car. Our insurance carrier’s appraisal company originally advanced cars that appeared on their face to be comps, but in fact were entirely different models, only determined through investigation of VINs, which proved that these “comps” were neither objective nor fair. Larry spotted this and forced our carrier to hire a different appraiser; then Larry went to work to maximize our FMV and achieved a favorable result. Larry is working for your best interests, not for a fixed fee. I highly recommend Larry at Vehicle Inspection Solutions, Inc.

 

[emerydc8]

It's always nice to get five times more than the insurance company offers for total loss valuation. Most people just take the low-ball offer after they add a few hundred to it.

 

[LWB250]

Values have increase significanlty for used cars since COVID, case in point:

My oldest son was driving my 1998 E320 wagon. Great W210 as they almost all are, I bought it from a mom and pop dealer who got it at auction from the original owner in Tallahassee. I paid $3300 for it in 2017 with 170k on the clock. Full records, a lengthy VMI, and generally well-cared for example of the model.

In November of last year, he got rear-ended on the interstate in a construction zone. It barely dinged the hatch but pretty much destroyed the bumper. The other driver's insurer (Liberty) agreed to repair it, as the parts are all still available with the exception of some foam blocks used for impact absorption that they could make out of the same material. It sat in the shop for a couple weeks until the shop asked for more money due to additional damage they found (I think they needed to do more metalwork on the hatch than was originally expected.)

Liberty backed off and said they wanted to total the car. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for a battle over a $2000 car (if that!) because now it had a bit of "patina" from the Florida sun and over 225k on the clock.

They offered $5300. I took it.

One of the few times I've actually made money on a car on paper, probably even more when you factor in the cost of transportation that it provided.

Dan