Windshield!

[Sulaco]

Yesterday, on my way back to college for the fall, I had my car all loaded up with my belongings and was merely 2 miles from home. I was considering how to get a new wiring harness in, some new tires, maybe get a new MAS. Then SNAP. A huge rock flies from an oncoming gravel truck pulling a big muddy bulldozer and puts a gaping smash RIGHT in the center of my vision.

I need new brake rotors like you wouldn't believe. I think my wiring harness is finally on its way to the grave (LOTS of misfiring lately, with new spark plugs), new shocks, new tires, control arm bushings, ball joints, O2 sensors, countless other parts to fix my rolling shitbox.

Now I have to shell out all the cash for the damn windshield. While starting my senior year at college! I'm broke! I was saving what little money I have for tires that I cannot do without. Now I can't use this windshield for very long. It's already started to crack across and spider.

"Call the insurance company! Road hazard!" Even the guy who broke it told me that. Wrong. Even with my full coverage insurance, state farm is making me pay a $500 deductible. Also, they REFUSE to use the OEM MB windshield (the only one I'd really trust) because they never use "premium parts" in their claims. All this is news to me, because when I hit a deer a few years back, they let me use a guy who charges an insane hourly rate and ONLY uses new-in-box original OEM MB parts (to replace virtually my whole front cap, radiator, and half my lights!)

But now they won't replace my windshield with the same one?

/rant

Deer attack! circa 2001
http://www.mtsu.edu/~kbc2b/HURTBENZ.JPG

[stox]

You should be going after the insurance of the gravel truck if possible. That was not a road hazard, but the negligence of the operator to clean and remove debris from his truck properly. Did you report this to the police?

[crsh2]

Originally posted by stox
You should be going after the insurance of the gravel truck if possible. That was not a road hazard, but the negligence of the operator to clean and remove debris from his truck properly. Did you report this to the police?

I 2nd stox. you should go after the trucks insurance, i hope you got his info.
Thats the problem with HIgh $500 deductible.i dont think our windshield would cost that much anymore.

Damn those construction Trucks all this a$$hole should have cover on top of them!!:mad:

If i had this much stuff that need to change,
I would hope someone steals my car and burn it, so the insurance pay me for the whole car *hint*
then get myself another C class with no problem

go after and insist on the other parties insurance or atleast get half of the cost from them

goodluck Sulaco

[!!!!!NJ Drive]

Originally posted by stox
You should be going after the insurance of the gravel truck if possible. That was not a road hazard, but the negligence of the operator to clean and remove debris from his truck properly. Did you report this to the police? my thoughts exactly...if it was loaded it was a case of not properly securing their load, file a police report

their insurance will give you a hard time (most cases), be persistant

[Under Pressure]

As a side note, with the high milage of your C280, a rotting wiring harness means its about time to sell your car. I did w/ my 1994 C220 when the wiring harness rotted because cost of replacement and labor, though I cant remember the exact figure, was over $2,000. Plus my car needed a few other things which I am sure your does too now that added up to well over the car's value. I ended up selling it for $4,500, I suggest you do the same. Just get rid of it, its at a real expensive point to repair.

As far as your insurance co. being cheap asses, I cant help you w/ the deductable but as far as replacing w/ non-OEM part, read your policy. If it doesnt state that specificaly in policy, argue that the presumption is that whatever breaks is replaced with same (not like) goods. Be a prick about it. The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

[Sulaco]

But selling my car for $4,500 leaves me with the only option of buying an even lesser car. I can get the harness for $539 from mercedesshop.com and install it myself. All the other problems are mere annoyances (except the brake rotors) that can be fixed anytime.

I have other friends who have told me that I made a horrible choice for a car and they always tell me "sell it and get a Jeep/Honda/Nissan." I don't even know where to begin. If I don't have the money to replace my windshield and tires, what gives me the possibility of getting rid of the entire car (which is paid for) and picking up another one and paying the thousands of dollars I'd need for it? I can't even GET a job right now that gives me enough income to pay tuition, rent, phone, AND car payment.

I'd rather just scrounge around, get the $500, fix the harness, and drive it at least another couple years. I can slowly fix everything on it as time progresses over these two years, and then sell it for MORE than $4,500 whenever I get a steady enough income to get a new one (which I would prefer to be an 06 C280 :) )

Plus, this whole windshield shenanigan happened back home on the long country roads. There's millions of trucks running those roads, and the guy just slammed his door and left before I could even mention getting his info.

[Under Pressure]

If you can fix it yourself, then thats different. I didnt know how to replace the rotten wiring harness so I just sold mine (plus my O2 sensor was shot, exhaust had leak, etc.) BUt if you can repair it yourself for only $500, than I guess its worth keeping.

[Sulaco]

Yeah, I can totally understand your sentiment. If it WERE going to cost me $2000 for my wiring harness, I would drive it until it catches fire and claim insurance. But I LOVE my car. I can't drive other cars. Even my sibling's new 05 C240 feels bad to me (although much quieter and smoother... like mine USED to be). The thought of getting rid of the only car I've ever had (for 7 years now) that was paid for the day I got it really bugs me. She's always been good to me, and the only things wrong with her aren't her fault.

Besides, I'm sure I could get a totally decent 96 Accord with broken A/C and manual seats/windows that rides/drives no better than my 94 for the $4,500 my car is worth now. Or maybe even a salvaged 97-98!

I'm sorry, it's just so hard to let go of the old 202--even for another 202 (unless it's a -50kmile C43!).

Isn't that why we're all here?

[stox]

Originally posted by Sulaco
Plus, this whole windshield shenanigan happened back home on the long country roads. There's millions of trucks running those roads, and the guy just slammed his door and left before I could even mention getting his info.

Did you get his license plate? I would report this as a hit and run. The truck driver had a legal responsibility to give you the pertinent information, by not doing so he fled the scene of an accident.

[Sulaco]

Nope. No license plate. I followed him for a bit until he pulled over. He was pulling a large low-boy trailer which had it's own tag. And from experiences of other people I know, the tag on the trailer will get you absolutely nothing. I couldn't even see his tag on the truck itself.

Well Benz of Nashville tells me their OEM glass is manufactured by PPG and is $342. I found a local shop that uses only PPG glass, but it won't have the tri-star logo on it. They want $283 for glass and labor. They'll use the same molding that's already in the car, they say.

[FreeStyler]

I have to replace mine because a truck kicked up rocks and now my shield is cracking, however I am getting the shield replaced for $179 bucks but its only a replica mercedes shield.....

[davis449]

This is a MAJOR problem where I live because of all the rock quarries around here. Our news teams around here constantly do specials on the negligence of the trucking companies that haul these rocks and gravel and crap around. I lost a headlight to one of them and now I don't EVEN play with them. I don't care if I get a ticket for 90 mph, I WILL get around them and or back off siginifiacantly, I don't care how many drivers behind me get pissed off. The windsheild replacement people make a fortune here. I am sorry for your mishap. You should report it as a hit and run. If not, hound the crap out of your insurance company and then tell them that settled or not, you are changing insurance companies. If you have a good payment record with them (i.e. you always pay your premiums in full and on time) they will most likely bend. Also, go over that policy like the other forum member said and make sure to read the fine print. You tell them that you want it fixed with OEM parts or nothing.

[Sulaco]

My father and I have already discussed this (I'm still under his policy, being only 22). Our first notion was to threaten leaving them or just hounding them non stop until we get our way, but he decided it's best to let sleeping dogs lie in this case. And I agreed, once I understood his logic.

When I was 17 I flipped and totalled his Range Rover (he had it about a week, and had nothing but liability on it. He had the full coverage upgrade on the way, but hadn't finished the paper work). My premium never went up. I've had 4 speeding tickets (88 in a 55, 72 in a 45, 52 in a 30, and 45 in a 35) and my premium has never gone up. I hit a deer--premium never went up. My mother's 1992 300e hydroplaned, flipped, and killed her. The day after her funeral they were knocking on our door wanting to know how much they owed us (they paid for the car, damage to property of the yard it flipped in, ambulance, wrecker/tow, hospital bill, funeral service, burial, and even the casket). Throughout all this, they have never charged for more than $380 every 3 months for full coverage on me and my Mercedes Benz luxury sedan.

He figures giving them a reason will come back to bite us BIG TIME in the long run. All they'd have to do is look at my record and decide it's time for a premium hike.

[Under Pressure]

Originally posted by Sulaco
If it WERE going to cost me $2000 for my wiring harness, I would drive it until it catches fire and claim insurance.

:D

[!!!!!NJ Drive]

Originally posted by Sulaco
My father and I have already discussed this (I'm still under his policy, being only 22). Our first notion was to threaten leaving them or just hounding them non stop until we get our way, but he decided it's best to let sleeping dogs lie in this case. And I agreed, once I understood his logic.

When I was 17 I flipped and totalled his Range Rover (he had it about a week, and had nothing but liability on it. He had the full coverage upgrade on the way, but hadn't finished the paper work). My premium never went up. I've had 4 speeding tickets (88 in a 55, 72 in a 45, 52 in a 30, and 45 in a 35) and my premium has never gone up. I hit a deer--premium never went up. My mother's 1992 300e hydroplaned, flipped, and killed her. The day after her funeral they were knocking on our door wanting to know how much they owed us (they paid for the car, damage to property of the yard it flipped in, ambulance, wrecker/tow, hospital bill, funeral service, burial, and even the casket). Throughout all this, they have never charged for more than $380 every 3 months for full coverage on me and my Mercedes Benz luxury sedan.

He figures giving them a reason will come back to bite us BIG TIME in the long run. All they'd have to do is look at my record and decide it's time for a premium hike. first off sorry to hear about your mother

now can i ask where your from & what insurance company you have?...that is utterly amazing insurance company customer service

i have had 2 accidents (1 due to snow), & 2 speeding tickets (43 in a 35 :rolleyes: & 70 in a speed trap 55)...in the past 6yrs and my insurance wants 6k a year :eek: ...i hate NJ

[kameraguy]

Similar thing happened to me not mor ethan three months after buying my car. Was driving on the freeway when a big-arse debris truck merges on. With my luck he is right next to me, about 2 CL ahead. I'm already scanning my possibilities to get out of my lane when I see this big chunk of concrete fly out the top and start bouncing right in my lane.

The bad combination of being boxed in by other cars, plus 70mph and a big slab of concrete heading my way within three seconds didn't leave me much choice but to hope the projectile would go through the windshield, as well as other parts of my car.

As "luck" would have it, the cement slab, about the size of a brick, bounces just in time to clear my front end, hits me in the middle of my windshield, crackles (but does not penetrate) the entire windshield, and bounces over the rest of my car. I don't even know what happened to the cars behind me.

The part that really sucked was the driver of the truck must have seen what happened and he exited right away. As i was still boxed in, I couldn't exit in time to catch up to him. Plus It was almost impossible to see through the windshield after that.

Luckily my dealership had a mobile windshield contact who had w202 glass in stock. Since my deductable for my insurance was $500 as well, and the cost of an OEM windshield was also $500, I decided to eat the cost.

Granted, there was a PPG version for $100 less, but I decided i wanted the little star on the corner for the extra bill :p

But damn, it sucked I couldn't get the plat of that driver. I swear, I HATE those damn trucks.

[stox]

Originally posted by !!!!!NJ Drive
i have had 2 accidents (1 due to snow), & 2 speeding tickets (43 in a 35 :rolleyes: & 70 in a speed trap 55)...in the past 6yrs and my insurance wants 6k a year :eek: ...i hate NJ

And people ask why I left NJ 25 years ago. On the first car I ever bought, the insurance was 5 times as much as the car cost.

[sig425]

Some states have a clause that states stuff falling off of vehicles is not the drivers fault unless you can prove negligence in court.... which is extremely tough and expensive. this is due to all the new home construction currently going on. Could you imagin what would happen if people could sue dump trucks for rocks falling off? A. there would be 20 zillion law suits and B. construction would stop! Indiana and Ky for example have this law.

Some states have a no fault clause on windshields stating they must be replaced with no deductible since it is such a safety hazard.. Ky for example.

In some states where there is a deductible in effect... it is such common practice for the windshield companies to jack up the price and give you the deductible back in cash... They advertise it. Indiana for example.

If you go to a good place, more than likely they will be installing an oem windshield or better because cheap nock off companies dont take the time to copy windshield that arent mass products i.e. Mercedes anything vs Ford Taurus. This has been the case with my land rovers... the cheap replacement glass they give me actually says Landrover on it with the oem part # made in england! I would ask the glass company to tell you if they will be using the oem glass or better.

[Sulaco]

The lady I spoke to on the phone said that they only use LOF or PPG glass in their shop, and that my car was probably one of the 2 originally. And sure enough, right underneath the tri-star logo it says PPG. It's about $150 cheaper than the OEM MB. I'll probably go for the PPG.

I've been saving to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Exalta A/S for $330. Being a senior in college I'm broke as a joke.

I despise the entire insurance industry. Sometimes I hate the entire legal system in this country.

[Under Pressure]

Originally posted by Sulaco
I've been saving to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Exalta A/S for $330. Being a senior in college I'm broke as a joke.

College kids buy Kumho Ecstas, not Michelin Pilots!!! I speak from experience. ;)


Originally posted by Sulaco
Sometimes I hate the entire legal system in this country.

Me too, thats why I went to law school. :bandit:

[Sulaco]

I normally get the old MXV4 Plus set but I'm tired of paying $600 for a set of tires that almost never lasts the advertised 50k miles. My last set's been a $400 set of Michelin symmetry that get better wet traction, but are as loud and bumpy as possible--but they have lasted FOREVER.

Next I'd like something a little more friendly to my...anxious driving style. Cheapo pilots will do.

[jnenad16]

didn't mike(dr. ///amg) get hit by a truck last year and ended up in a hospital?

sorry to hear about your car and especially sorry about your mother. the trucker's insurance should cover the repairs, hopefully you got the trucker's LP or the company name.

I hate those mothertruckers, especially here in hawaii, they are the worst, they have no knowledge of proper truck driving, they all drive in the left lane, never let anyone pass them, are totally disrespectful to others on the road, but what can you espect from lazy ass lowlife "hawaiian" highschool dropouts that have 4 or more childred and collect welfare most of their lives.

nenad

[Sulaco]

Originally posted by jnenad16
but what can you espect from lazy ass lowlife ... highschool dropouts that have 4 or more childred and collect welfare most of their lives.

nenad

Sounds VERY familiar. That's how they are where I'm from (Redneckville, TN).

Back in high school, I was seriously thought to be gay because I chose a 4 door european sedan over an American made full-size pickup. Now those people are all already married with a kid or 2.