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

[Andrew Sporner]

I actually have an '82 and I had considered this, but having invested (too much)
money into the the car in the last 4 years that I have owned it, makes me want
to squeeze it for everything I can get.

The expected value I can get here for it (considering rust and the fact that TUV
will expire next year and won't be easy to get it again) is about EUR 1000 which
is not nearly enough to buy another one -- even if I add in the EUR 900 shipping
costs.

I figured that I would need a rental car for about 5-6 weeks of the year and the
costs of this over the next 3 years makes this a good proposition--especially
since I know all the problems that this car has.  Mechanically this car is quite
OK except that the right cam shaft will need to be replace.  I had the
transmission
overhauled already and the braking system is completely new.

I think the hassle you mention is minimal compared to selling, buying and
wondering what I would have ended up with.

On 6/10/08, shinzbox at aol.com <shinzbox at aol.com> wrote:

> Hi Andy,

> Importing your '84 500SEC is just not worth the cost/time/hassle involved.

> Unless you have a sentimental romantic relation with this car, don't do it.

> Consider that you will be paying for shipping unless you own your own boat.

> Then there's filling out pages of documents on both sides of the pond and

> waiting for clearance. Even if both EPA and DOT rules don't apply you still

> need their appproval and inspections and acceptance by your insurance

> company takes a long time.  The insurance companies aren't dumb. Your VIN

> number will tell them the car is a gray market import which they deem are of

> less value than USA cars if they decide to insure it.

>

> Why don't you sell your car, move here and just buy a USA model and save

> yourself the hassle.

> The money and time you spend on just getting it here will be far more than

> your car will be worth.

>

> Shin Takei

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Andrew Sporner <asporner at googlemail.com>

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Sent: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:47 am

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

>

>

> Hi

>

>

I am considering bring my 500 SEC home with me in a year (as TUV is going

>

to run out the expenses will be too much to do something about it--cheaper

> to

>

replace).

>

>

I have inquired about insurance and got three answers. Geico says they will

>

insure it--no problem. Allstate says not at all unless it is at

>

least a 1984 and

>

State Farm says Only if it meets all safety and emissions standards.

>

>

I regard that last one as being odd because the 84's belong to the same

> series

>

and would not meet them either (??).

>

>

The other problem is that the car must be imported in "original

>

condition". Does

>

that mean that I have to remove the CAT that was added by Mercedes here?

>

I have EURO-3 emissions (the CAT was added in 1998 (Peter Wurms) installed

>

by Mercedes in Nuremberg)--which is cleaner than most american cars of that

>

period.

>

>

Is there anybody there that has a pre-1984 500? What can you recommend

> about

>

importing and insurance?

>

>

Thanks!

>

>

>

>

Andrew Sporner

>

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