[W126 Coupe] Insurance for a 1982 500 SEC (EURO)

[Bruce Mendel]

A 1982 should not need anything to be made "legal". It is beyond the statute for both DOT and EPA (over 25 years old).

You can bring it in and title/register it. For insurance, you might need a VIN# tracing done by local police to show to insurance company to prove it's not on the hot sheets. 

If insurance company can not process due to Euro VIN#, try www.hagerty.com and insure it as a collectible...much cheaper anyway.

Bruce
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Markus Meyer 
  To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 9:15 AM
  Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Insurance for a 1982 500 SEC (EURO)


  If you go this route, DO NOT let them take your headlights and taillights!  Even if they must "come out" to pass, ask to keep them and reinstall them when you get the car back, they are highly desirable items!  With the speedo it would be nice for consistency if they put a US speedo calibrated to the same 'mileage' as yours....

  Really depends on the insurer.  The real problem is, if you do drive the car daily and get in a wreck, there may be issues with coverage as they will try to find a way out.  But if you work from home, or commute "off hours", or have another car you can list, there are ways around this. Of course, if its your only car, no way.  However, I have no issues with my 86 euro SEL that I have insured as a regular car with my regular company.  Yes, the VIN didn't pop up in their system but no big deal, I just had to tell them what options it had, year, mileage etc and coverage no problemo.

  Good luck!

  Markus Meyer
  mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com
  www.meyerprobateproperties.com
  Meyer Probate & Properties, LLC
  484-919-9762





    -------- Original Message --------
    Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Insurance for a 1982 500 SEC (EURO)
    From: "Andrew Sporner" <asporner at googlemail.com>
    Date: Tue, June 10, 2008 8:12 am
    To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

    Hi,

    > Unfortunately many insurance companies are clueless about "grey market"
    > cars. Its much easier not to even tell them it is, just tell them
    > year/make/model, etc. To get into the US, it will have to be imported and
    > most likely go through a registered importer who will do the necessary
    > conversions - not sure how much is needed for a 25+ year old car at this
    > point

    The headlights and the speedometer and taillights to my knowledge. Like
    I said the big question is whether or not I have to remove the
    Catalytic Converter
    that was added (not bad really considering the PS I would gain) or is
    this really
    meaning all those hot-rod mods that are frequently done. My car is in original
    condition outside of the catalytic converters.

    > Once its "US legal",
    > no insurance company can reject covering you, unless they have some stupid
    > rules about only insuring cars newer than a certain year.

    I asked for a deeper explaination from the State Farm and they said that the
    state police (in Indiana) has to check to see if the car is safe.
    Seem like a lot
    of gray area there as I remember during drivers-ed in 1983 them putting two
    huge books on the desk (a trooper made a visit) and told us not to argue with
    a ruling about the vehicle or they would go through the complete two books until
    they found *something* that was wrong on the car.

    > If you don't plan
    > on driving it regularly, there are insurers who will give you a break on
    > classic insurance.

    Hmm. Regularly. Well I am buying a historic home where I grew up but will only
    spend a few months a year there so when I am there It will be driven
    daily, but when
    I am not--not at all. I wonder if this qualifies (my guess is not).
    My Allstate insurer
    (who will do the house) did find in Warsaw, IN somebody that was specialized in
    this kind of insurance--but refused as it will not be driven
    exclusively to shows and
    parades.

    Thanks again


    Andy
    The MB Coupes Website!
    W126 SEC Mailing List
    Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.



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