My First AMG - ridiculously excited !!
Discussion
Gutted to see this.
The valuations are a tricky one when there aren't many examples about. Hopefully they'll look properly at the guides and give you a decent value.
Either way I'd be buying it back and having it repaired if it's written off, especially having had a 3 grand bill on it!
The valuations are a tricky one when there aren't many examples about. Hopefully they'll look properly at the guides and give you a decent value.
Either way I'd be buying it back and having it repaired if it's written off, especially having had a 3 grand bill on it!
I just spoke to Steve at Avantgarde after sending over the estimate from IRG and the photos, he definitely didn't think it would be a write off based on what he's seen...He's sending over an estimate, which I'm hoping is going to be less than IRG.
I'll bundle all this up (along with the evidence + my last 3K bill) and send it to the insurers. I'm hoping they will relent based on the value and authorize the repair...that's all I really want.
I'll bundle all this up (along with the evidence + my last 3K bill) and send it to the insurers. I'm hoping they will relent based on the value and authorize the repair...that's all I really want.
Gutted for you and I feel your pain with being a victim from the insurance valuations, been there before.
A friend has literally just had this last month with his SL350, he was also with the naval themed insurer. He was tagged on the rear quarter and spun into the hard shoulder barrier on the motorway by a complete muppet. Damage was estimated at over 11K, valued the car from Glass at 17.2K minus some for 'condition' - for what I don't know as it was immaculate, and therefore an economic write off.
He pushed back on the valuation, using Autotrader to demonstrate that the car was valued far less than you could actually buy one for. His was lower miles than all but one, and yet higher specced than anything non-AMG, cheapest AT example was 21K! Not to mention the 12000 pounds worth of Mercedes approved used warranty work executed in the preceding 12 months (some of which was caused by the main dealer putting diesel in it!!!).
Result? They offered another 1000, basically the Glass guide value...Still meant they wouldn't repair it and just wanted to pay out.
Since he knew all the work Mercedes had just carried out meant it was mechanically in very fine fettle, he bought the car back and will fix it himself. In his eyes he's well out of pocket to buy an inferior example, plus when he's done with it he will make more than the buy back and repair cost selling it even at half the price of other examples as the values are so strong.
If this is an option to you, it may be worth exploring. Think about how much you want it, how much other examples are (which are of course mechanically unknown) and take it from there. The key to it is finding a sensible bodyshop estimate. Also, bear in mind that part of the driver for economic write off is potential for scope growth/contraction, since the person with a clipboard looking at your car is doing an estimate.
HTH, and good luck.
A friend has literally just had this last month with his SL350, he was also with the naval themed insurer. He was tagged on the rear quarter and spun into the hard shoulder barrier on the motorway by a complete muppet. Damage was estimated at over 11K, valued the car from Glass at 17.2K minus some for 'condition' - for what I don't know as it was immaculate, and therefore an economic write off.
He pushed back on the valuation, using Autotrader to demonstrate that the car was valued far less than you could actually buy one for. His was lower miles than all but one, and yet higher specced than anything non-AMG, cheapest AT example was 21K! Not to mention the 12000 pounds worth of Mercedes approved used warranty work executed in the preceding 12 months (some of which was caused by the main dealer putting diesel in it!!!).
Result? They offered another 1000, basically the Glass guide value...Still meant they wouldn't repair it and just wanted to pay out.
Since he knew all the work Mercedes had just carried out meant it was mechanically in very fine fettle, he bought the car back and will fix it himself. In his eyes he's well out of pocket to buy an inferior example, plus when he's done with it he will make more than the buy back and repair cost selling it even at half the price of other examples as the values are so strong.
If this is an option to you, it may be worth exploring. Think about how much you want it, how much other examples are (which are of course mechanically unknown) and take it from there. The key to it is finding a sensible bodyshop estimate. Also, bear in mind that part of the driver for economic write off is potential for scope growth/contraction, since the person with a clipboard looking at your car is doing an estimate.
HTH, and good luck.
Well I just got back from the dentist after 5 injections and I now have an (albeit lopsided) smile on my face.
I got the quote through from Avantgarde....Steve recommended not faffing about and just replacing the whole axle, plus all suspension parts (control rods, shocks, track arms etc) plus the bodywork is way cheaper.
His estimate comes out at 4.6K (3.8K minus the VAT) so I'm hoping that, even at Admiral's ludicrously low valuation this meets the criteria for now becoming an economic repair...fingers crossed gents !!
I got the quote through from Avantgarde....Steve recommended not faffing about and just replacing the whole axle, plus all suspension parts (control rods, shocks, track arms etc) plus the bodywork is way cheaper.
His estimate comes out at 4.6K (3.8K minus the VAT) so I'm hoping that, even at Admiral's ludicrously low valuation this meets the criteria for now becoming an economic repair...fingers crossed gents !!
595Heaven said:
Any news?
I spoke to them yesterday, they've had the preliminary report in from the independent assessor. They said they found water in the boot (there was none when I checked the day after the accident ?) so they want to take the drive shaft off to see if there's any hidden damage...but, subject to that all being OK then they will transport the car to Avantgarde and will pay for the repairs and also remove the current cat 'N' marker on the car.Fingers crossed, I should know something next week.
Well, great news ! I got the assessors report through and he's inspected the car and provided a valuation on it. They state that it's underpriced compared to the trade guides, placing a value of 17K on the car and provided the opinion that repairs should proceed 
Also - I got a call out of the blue from Covea insurance (the 3rd parties insurers) and she's admitted fault so they will cover all costs which is great as I now don't have to stump up 350 excess.
I've sent them the report which their engineers will look at but, fingers crossed by next week it should hopefully be at Avantgarde getting repaired.
Talk about a rollercoaster !
Also - I got a call out of the blue from Covea insurance (the 3rd parties insurers) and she's admitted fault so they will cover all costs which is great as I now don't have to stump up 350 excess.
I've sent them the report which their engineers will look at but, fingers crossed by next week it should hopefully be at Avantgarde getting repaired.
Talk about a rollercoaster !
595Heaven said:
Yessss! Great result - very pleased for you!
Drove mine for the first time in over a month today. About 100 yards.
Our village garage is just over the road, and it was booked in for MoT. It passed
Thanks all ! I'm cautiously happy - In the shirt and on the pitch and all that..Drove mine for the first time in over a month today. About 100 yards.
Our village garage is just over the road, and it was booked in for MoT. It passed
So you got the CPS sorted then, how much of a ball-ache was it ?
juice said:
Thanks all ! I'm cautiously happy - In the shirt and on the pitch and all that..
So you got the CPS sorted then, how much of a ball-ache was it ?
It took a couple of hours, but I’d be able to do it much quicker next time. My right hand and forearm are covered in gouges and scrapes, but I’ll pull through!So you got the CPS sorted then, how much of a ball-ache was it ?
A couple of pictures on my Reader’s Cars thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Got a call today that repairs have finally been authorised ! 
Admiral are having a phone melt down and I can't get through to them in order to get the car to Avantgarde, so I've had to let IRG proceed with repairing the car.
The water in the boot was the roof seal (another known issue) so they are replacing the seals too which I'm well happy with.
They found a small area of previous damage where some filler had cracked on the rear quarter, so they're replacing the whole rear panel
With that and all the replacement rear sub-frame/suspension I may have to rename this car Steve Austin as it had that many new parts !
Admiral are having a phone melt down and I can't get through to them in order to get the car to Avantgarde, so I've had to let IRG proceed with repairing the car.
The water in the boot was the roof seal (another known issue) so they are replacing the seals too which I'm well happy with.
They found a small area of previous damage where some filler had cracked on the rear quarter, so they're replacing the whole rear panel
With that and all the replacement rear sub-frame/suspension I may have to rename this car Steve Austin as it had that many new parts !
Well lockdown has meant the parts were delayed being shipped from Germany, plus IRG Closed down for a while...but, I checked today and the repairs have started !
There's a couple of sticking points.
The AMG V-Spoke wheels are NLA...
Not sure what will happen in regards to this. It may be a good point in time to get some different alloys ? (There's some OZ Ultraleggeras I have my eye on)
The boot seal is on back-order. Not sure on the ETA
But...after having the accident in Feb, hopefully I may get it back before too long...
There's a couple of sticking points.
The AMG V-Spoke wheels are NLA...
Not sure what will happen in regards to this. It may be a good point in time to get some different alloys ? (There's some OZ Ultraleggeras I have my eye on)The boot seal is on back-order. Not sure on the ETA
But...after having the accident in Feb, hopefully I may get it back before too long...
Edited by juice on Friday 5th June 16:28
h to clean due to the amount of brake dust and number of spokes but are pretty iconic for the car..Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff