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| spots350sl Veteran Date registered: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, Illinois Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL Posts: 225  | Looking for a G500 Appraiser Recommendation – Chicago/Illinois TDLR - please let me know if you have an appraiser you could recommend to help me deal with my insurance company. Long story/background - Unfortunately, my 2003 G500 was rear-ended at high speed while I was stopped. I was not at fault, and the other driver's insurer has accepted liability. The G was in very good condition before the accident, with 104,384 miles, a clean Carfax, no known material mechanical issues, and a number of OEM/aftermarket upgrades (off-road wheels/tires, later-style grille, upgraded headlights/taillights, factory brush guard, auxiliary lights, etc.). The visible damage initially appeared relatively concentrated around the rear of the vehicle—primarily the rear bumper, fuel tank/fuel system components, and related areas. I have since had an opportunity to inspect the vehicle myself, including underneath it. I did not see anything that obviously suggested catastrophic structural damage, although I will defer to the experts once inspected. The insurer immediately treated the G as a total loss without an inspection based largely on its age/model year and the initial information. After pushing back, they have now agreed to have the vehicle inspected to determine the actual extent of the damage. The other issue is the valuation. The initial valuation I received appears to be at the extreme low end of the range of values I am seeing for comparable 2003 G500s, particularly when looking at actual completed Bring a Trailer sales. In fact, the valuation seems more consistent with what I would expect for a much higher-mileage example (e.g., those with 200,000 miles or more and pure stock). I'm therefore looking for a qualified independent appraiser who understands G-Wagens and can provide an objective pre-loss valuation, and potentially help assess the vehicle/damage if appropriate (though my shop is supposed to do that). If possible, someone in the Chicago area or elsewhere in Illinois who has experience dealing with insurance total-loss/ACV disputes. If anyone has used an appraiser they would personally recommend, particularly someone who knows W463s and understands the difference between valuing a generic 2003 SUV and valuing a properly maintained G500, I'd really appreciate a name/contact. Thanks in advance! | ||
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| WEBIII Extreme Veteran Date registered: Oct 2010 Location: Inlet Beach, FL Vehicle(s): 461.318, 463.241 Posts: 318  | Re: Looking for a G500 Appraiser Recommendation – Chicago/Illinois Sorry about your G. I think Mike Serpe has done this from time to time. You can message him at clubgwagen.com he is "Gelande" | ||
| #246254 - in reply to #246253 |
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| spots350sl Veteran Date registered: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, Illinois Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL Posts: 225 | Re: Looking for a G500 Appraiser Recommendation – Chicago/Illinois Yes...I'm still processing this, especially since I've owned and loved this thing for more than half my life. I learned yesterday that there is some frame damage, but it appears to be limited to the passenger-side rear section. Primarily, the brace that the bumper was bolted to sheared, and the steel cross tube itself, while still straight, is ovalized. So, at least the bumper attachment part of it would need to be welded. From what I understand, this is localized rather than damage extending through the main frame structure, although I'm very aware that there could be hidden issues that haven't been identified yet. So I'm curious what the G-Wagen people think: would you repair it? The estimate to repair "everything" with new parts, including a new, roughly $12k frame (if one is even available), was nearly the price of a replacement older G. But not everything necessarily needs to be replaced. The front bumper is a little crooked, but not horrible, for example, and I could ditch the brush guard. I could also do some of the work myself, but I'd outsource the fuel system (the gas tank was destroyed), the frame repair, and whatever bodywork ultimately needs to be done. Let's assume, for the sake of the question, that I could essentially break even — or spend "some" cash to bring it back — by buying the truck back at the salvage value and then repairing it. It would have a salvage/rebuilt title and would be harder to insure, but let's set those issues aside for the moment. Ignoring the title/insurance complications, is it stupid for me to want to fix this thing when I could instead put that money toward a newer replacement G-Wagen with a clean title and no frame history (e.g., i would pay to upgrade two a newer W463 as I prefer that body)? This one was mechanically fine before the accident. But I recognize that it's also 23 years old, so I don't want nostalgia to blind me to the obvious. I'm trying to figure out whether I'm being irrationally sentimental about a truck I've owned for 20+ years, or whether there's a legitimate enthusiast argument for repairing and keeping a G500 that I already know and love. Would especially appreciate thoughts from anyone who has actually repaired frame damage on a W463 — particularly if you've gone through the "fix it vs. move on" decision yourself. | ||
| #246256 - in reply to #246254 |
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| spots350sl Veteran Date registered: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, Illinois Vehicle(s): 2003 G500, 1972 350SL Posts: 225 | Re: Looking for a G500 Appraiser Recommendation – Chicago/Illinois Photos: | ||
| #246257 - in reply to #246256 |
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