Mercedes E -Class 59 plate

[AW8]

Sorry to hear re potnetial rehoming sadness Turks.....Dobermans great dogs & far more trustworthy than many guard breeds.

Ironic as I was going to suggest to Sanj his FIL may wish reduce risk of repeat crime by getting a Doberman & a tidy W124 estate, (min depreciation, well built, comparatively little to go wrong).

[Sanj]

Guys and lovely lady,

Thanks for all your comments - wife doesn't think I'm so sad anymore when I showed her this thread last night. She was very touched. I've given the in-laws a little breathing space today and will be visiting them in the morning. See how they are. All suggestions are being logged - gonna see what they say. See what the insurance company said too!

Knowing FIL he'll not want a repeat of this and settle for a more moderate runabout - no prestige makes, me thinks. Shame if it is that way, thieves would have won psychologically too then.

Many thanks once again, all of you.

[Sanj]

Just an update to this thread...

FIL got an excellent settlement (more than the vehicle value, we paid for - we did fight for it though) and reflective of current value, minus a few quid...
BUT, he has surprised me and in a good way and said he'd like to get another! Considering all security aspects for future ownership.

So the hunt is on for something above the SE spec, Avantgarde is ideal and 60 plate onwards (newest had the iPod full integration, unless you get an earlier one with Nav). Has to be grey and not crazy mileage for such a young car. Monies around the £26k (lucky man, but he's worked all his life for it ).

Soooo, just in case we miss one, someone might know somebody that might be, etc, etc - keep an eye out for me please. Would love to see a happy ending to this one for him...

[AW8]

Glad he got acceptable settlement.....

Please be mindful of my prior expressed genuine concerns if there is an abscence of target hardening &/or concealment measures.

[Sanj]

Always at the back of my mind buddy - plus FIL is aware of these thoughts. I quoted you!

We're going for 'fort knox' attitude! Seriously, he intends to be much 'wiser' this time, taking into account every bit of advice he has received from all angles. Some of which he has already acted upon.

I look forward to posting up pics of the next E-Class, albeit a little way away...

[Turks]

Glad to hear he is getting back on the horse after a fall. Good to hear he got a good settlement too!

Something I have installed on the drive at the Chippy is a lockable drop bollard. It can be a PITA when you have to be out in the rain to drop it out of the way before you can move your car but it is another thing for theives to overcome...

If you are lazy though and have the cash you could go for a hydraulic one which is off a remote!

Something like from here... a few hundred quid will get you a nice looking Stainless Steel one.

Bollards...


I will be fitting Auto Rising Bollards when I start delivery service.


Turks.

[CondorX5]

I can only echo your sentiments re the bollards Turks......I've got 20 of the things fitted to my private parking areas at home - couldn't afford the hydraulic versions my orrible neighbours would otherwise be all over my private parking. Plus I've got my motorhome locked up behind the bollards - they'll take a good bit of angle grinding to destroy if anyone has intentions of stealing anything

Sanj, they're well worth the £120 or so - they need a 2ft hole in the ground and some quickset cement, job done. Obviously safety of persons in house also of great importance, so those aspects should be considered as well as wannabe car thieves of hi-spec motors will go to great lengths sometimes if its not easy......not meaning to scare anyone just considering all aspects...

[pvr]

Good result though.

I can thoroughly recommend the CCTV route though - even my latest camera has already recorded an incident from a builder that he denied (damage).

[Sanj]

Thanks guys/ladies, this is an ongoing saga now...

FIL has had eye op to remove cataract in one eye, the other is to be assessed and op'd on in the next few month (all going well). I've/we've/THE boss have talked him round into waiting until all is sorted on that front before going for another E-Class. In the meantime, safety and residual values will get him into an AvantGuarde with more options (plus newer perhaps).

Plus he has no option but to go for all the suggestions below FIRST - the barrier, CCTV, floodlights, alarm to house and tracker now a MUST! Otherwise he doesn't get it!

Many thanks and I reckon I'll be updating close to Christmas again - all going well!

[Imy]

Sanj was there any outcome to this? Did your FIL get the Merc he wanted?