TREE FALL or GEFALLEN 400e 5.0

[grmichaelj]

This is a dark day indeed... A tree came down this weekend. Hit my house, landed on the hood of my 400e (5.0), and missed my 124 convertible. Fickle are the fates!

Question: What to do with it... Insurance will total it, 10 tons of tree laying across the hood on the front end and a branch poked through the windshield.

Should I buy it back, is anyone here interested in it, can anyone recommend a place to repair it? Is something like that repairable after all the weight on the engine and suspension?

And yes, I have a trunk full or parts like ETA (ASC), different modules, modules like EZL leftover from original 4.2 motor...

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[r44raven]

Really sorry to learn what happened. Hopefully, no-one was injured? And yes, what to do? From what you describe, I guess it's inevitable that the insurers will total it. Difficult for you to see any silver lining at the moment, but the sum of the parts may be greater than the all?

I'm thinking particularly of that "5.0" you've added to the 400e description? I don't think (I might have missed it!), but have you posted about your 400e (5.0) previously. How have you arrived at the 5.0? If its a genuine E500E engine, then that's really worth something. Even if all the rest of the car is totalled, then an E500E engine might soften the financial blow?

Good luck with it all - dealing with insurance companies can be a nightmare! Ask gsxr (I'm sure he won't mind me mentioning him in this context).. As my father used to say "Insurance companies give you an umbrella until it rains"!.

 

[ArauzMotoring]

Wow that’s rough… If you have documentation for the engine swap and associated costs it may help them take that (costs) into account… (maybe not though).. it comes down to what level of coverage you had I think.. If you’re willing to do it again then it maybe worth buying the car back and buying another 400e for the swap ?

Hope they are good to you!

 

[sheward]

It's very unlikely to be repairable economically. If you can document a good amount of work that has been put into the car, especially if you paid for said work, then you may want to use an appraiser if you are not satisfied with the insurance number. This will cost you between $500. and $700. I'm told insurance companies do not honor the owner's labor.

We don't have details about the car, but buyback is generally a percentage of the payout and is debatable. I advise you consider a buyback if the car has many newer parts, especially NLA parts.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

 

[grmichaelj]

Engine came from a 500sl. It’s been a great car, always started, fun to drive, fast … gsxr was very helpful in a lot of issues including first gear start module, ezl questions, issues with traction control and abs brakes! A shout out to him for sure!

 

[gsxr]

Have a photo of the damage to the front? If the chassis isn't tweaked and you just need fenders, hood, and windshield... it MIGHT be fixable. If everything is squished up front, then yeah, consider a buyback if the cost is reasonable.

Very sorry to hear this, btw. I feel your pain... we lost our silver E420 a number of years ago.

 

[grmichaelj]

I will try to upload photos, the main bough landed diagonally across the hood, a branch went in to the lower windshield, and the hood looks like it is flattened and left side front lifts up... tree will be removed wednesday so I will get a look then... I am considering a buyback, and the insurance even suggested that as parts become NLA... funny thing is this car was sacrificed for the convertible (124) right next - not a scratch!

 

[grmichaelj]

 

[grmichaelj]

 

[alabbasi]

I'm sorry to hear, insurance will surely total it and offer you a buy back for next to nothing (hopefully). You can decide if you want to do afterwards. Where are you located?

It might not be as bad as you think:

 

[gsxr]

You'll need to wait until the tree is removed, but that MIGHT be fixable... I was imagining a foot-deep crease in the hood, lol!

 

[grmichaelj]

I'm sorry to hear, insurance will surely total it and offer you a buy back for next to nothing (hopefully). You can decide if you want to do afterwards. Where are you located?

It might not be as bad as you think:

That was the scene I thought of when I saw the tree... how much does an elephant weigh and how much can this thing handle...

 

[grmichaelj]

Well... Anybody got anything for sale ... or need some parts?

 

[sheward]

I suggest you post some pictures and information about the car in an owner's thread if there is none. When you get the tree removed and can assess the damage let folks know what's been damaged.

 

[grmichaelj]

Tree removed, valuation returned - $7900... Uff... how to make the argument to increase this? The buyback was $1879.

Thanks

 

[sheward]

That's likely a fair valuation. If the car was Very nice with documentable repairs and improvements an appraiser may get more but not enough to justify the cost. They use other recent sales. It's more likely you can agree to a buyback for something like $1000. They would rather you take it than run it thru an auction. Keep in mind, I don't know what the car was like before the bad happened.

 

[grmichaelj]

That's likely a fair valuation. If the car was Very nice with documentable repairs and improvements an appraiser may get more but not enough to justify the cost. They use other recent sales. It's more likely you can agree to a buyback for something like $1000. They would rather you take it than run it thru an auction. Keep in mind, I don't know what the car was like before the bad happened.

I appreciate that. I had put a value for insurance on it for 10,000 but the comps always play a role...
I did find a 400e with 197k on it on fb mkt place but the tranny is slipping already and who knows what else...

 

[anderzen]

I'd buy it back if I were you, doesn't look too bad tbh as long as nothing structural was tweaked much... speaks to the beefiness of these things to take a tree like that and look relatively normal still haha..

 

[grmichaelj]

I'd buy it back if I were you, doesn't look too bad tbh as long as nothing structural was tweaked much... speaks to the beefiness of these things to take a tree like that and look relatively normal still haha..

It is tweaked, the drivers door hangs up now, the engine looks like it is tilted more to the rear and down.

 

[anderzen]

aahhh sorry to hear, I missed that detail reading through... glad you're alright most importantly. Another 034 will pop up but I know the feeling of having to start all over with one you know nothing about

 

[ArauzMotoring]

Have a lawyer friend write a stern but kind letter suggesting they pay you more money and let you buy it back for less money? I remember when fighting for my W126 value the worse thing that happened was having buying a car with the rebuilt Florida title- as that limited the value of the car…

Maybe put that 5.0 in your w124 convertible haha

 

[alabbasi]

The lawyer idea is a pretty good one. Since covid, they've become very difficult to deal with. Adjusters here don't even come out in Texas. They're trying to make estimates from pictures they want you to send them.

 

[emerydc8]

I would try this guy. He got me over $9000 for my S320 when my own insurance (USAA) was only offering $1400. Definitely worth his fee.

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTES

INDEPENDENT AUTO APPRAISAL SERVICE IN ALL 50 STATES - Valuation appraisals for financing, insurance, estates, charitable donations and total loss disputes.

www.totallossdispute.com

Frank Colletta
772-359-4300

 

[grmichaelj]

Just sent the insurance a note - letting them have the car. Accelerator feels like it has tension but no response from the engine. And the dashed seems to have moved - all buttons seem sunk in in the center console so something got moved...

 

[DLL]

Just sent the insurance a note - letting them have the car. Accelerator feels like it has tension but no response from the engine. And the dashed seems to have moved - all buttons seem sunk in in the center console so something got moved...

I'd have kept it for parts. Especially if you're thinking of getting another.