SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       

                          Washington, D.C.  20549

                               Schedule 13G

                  Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                            (Amendment No. 16)

                        MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
                             (Name of Issuer)

                        COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
                      (Title of Class of Securities)

                                589400100
                              (CUSIP Number)

                            December 31, 2002
          (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).

                         Introductory Note

          This Schedule 13G is being filed by Nicholas Company, Inc., an
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
One or more of Nicholas Company, Inc.'s advisory clients is the legal owner
of the securities covered by this statement.  Pursuant to investment advisory
agreements with its advisory clients, Nicholas Company, Inc. has the
authority to direct the investments of its advisory clients, and consequently
to authorize the disposition of the Issuer's shares.

          This Schedule 13G is also being filed by Nicholas Fund, Inc., an
open-end management investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.  Nicholas Company, Inc. acts as the investment adviser
to Nicholas Fund, Inc., and as such retains dispositive control of the shares
in which Nicholas Fund, Inc. invests.  Nicholas Fund, Inc. retains the
beneficial ownership right to vote shares purchased by Nicholas Company, Inc.
for its account.

          This Schedule 13G is also being filed by Albert O. Nicholas.
Mr. Nicholas is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Director and majority
shareholder of Nicholas Company, Inc., in which capacity he exercises
dispositive power over the securities reported herein by the Nicholas
Company, Inc. and Nicholas Fund, Inc.  Mr. Nicholas, therefore, may be deemed
to have indirect beneficial ownership over such securities.  Unless otherwise
indicated herein, Mr. Nicholas has no interest in dividends or proceeds from
the sale of such securities, owns no such securities for his own account and
disclaims beneficial ownership of all the securities reported herein by the
Nicholas Company, Inc.

          The aggregate number and percentage of the Issuer's securities to
which this Schedule 13G relates is 2,241,090 representing 4.12% of the
Issuer's outstanding shares.  The beneficial ownership reported by
Albert O. Nicholas, Nicholas Company, Inc., and Nicholas Fund, Inc. relates
to the same shares of the Issuer in which each such reporting person has a
separate beneficial interest.

          As of December 31, 2002, Mr. Nicholas owned 400,000 shares of the
Issuer for his own account.  He may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
2,241,090 shares of the Issuer as disclosed in Item 4(c) of the Schedule G.

CUSIP NO. 589400100
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON:

     Albert O. Nicholas, S.S. ###-##-####
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
     (a)    [ ]
     (b)    [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC USE ONLY:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:

     Albert O. Nicholas is a United States Citizen
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      5.   SOLE VOTING POWER:  400,000
SHARES         ------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY   6.   SHARED VOTING POWER:  0
OWNED BY EACH  ------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING      7.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:  400,000
PERSON WITH    ------------------------------------------------------
               8.   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:  0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:

     400,000   Refer to explanation of potential beneficial ownership
               in the introductory Note and Item 4(c) hereof.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES:  [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):   0.74%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:   IN
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO
     WHICH THIS SCHEDULE IS FILED:
               [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
               [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
               [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

CUSIP NO. 589400100
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON:

     Nicholas Company, Inc., I.D. No. 39-1091673
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
     (a)    [ ]
     (b)    [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC USE ONLY:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:

     Nicholas Company, Inc. is a Wisconsin Corporation
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      5.   SOLE VOTING POWER:  0
SHARES         -------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY   6.   SHARED VOTING POWER:  0
OWNED BY EACH  -------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING      7.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:  2,241,090
PERSON WITH    -------------------------------------------------------
               8.   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:  0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:

     2,241,090
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES:   [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):   4.12%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:  IA
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO
     WHICH THIS SCHEDULE IS FILED:
               [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
               [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
               [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

CUSIP NO. 589400100
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON:

     Nicholas Fund, Inc., I.D. No. 39-1099162
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
     (a)    [ ]
     (b)    [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC USE ONLY:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:

     Nicholas Fund, Inc. is a Maryland Corporation
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      5.   SOLE VOTING POWER:  2,187,500
SHARES         -------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY   6.   SHARED VOTING POWER:  0
OWNED BY EACH  -------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING      7.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:  0
PERSON WITH    -------------------------------------------------------
               8.   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:  0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:

     2,187,500
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES:   [ ]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):   4.03%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:   IC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO
     WHICH THIS SCHEDULE IS FILED:
               [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
               [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
               [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

Item 1(a).    NAME OF ISSUER:

              Mercury General Corporation
                                                                     

Item 1(b).    ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

              4484 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA  90010
                                                                     

Item 2(a).    NAME OF PERSONS FILING:

              Albert O. Nicholas, Nicholas Company, Inc., Nicholas Fund, Inc.
                                                                     

Item 2(b).    ADDRESS OR PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE OF
              ALL PERSONS FILING:

              700 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202
                                                                     

Item 2(c).    CITIZENSHIP:  Albert O. Nicholas - United States Citizen
                            Nicholas Company, Inc. - Wisconsin Corporation
                            Nicholas Fund, Inc. - Maryland Corporation
                                                                     

Item 2(d).    TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:  Common Stock, No Par Value.
                                                                     

Item 2(e).    CUSIP No.:  589400100
                                                                     

Item 3.       If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or
              13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

     (a) [ ]  Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act
     (b) [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act
     (c) [ ]  Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act
     (d) [x]  Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
              Investment Company Act of 1940
     (e) [x]  An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)
     (f) [ ]  An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)
     (g) [ ]  A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G)
     (h) [ ]  A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the
              Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813)
     (i) [ ]  A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
              investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
              Company Act of 1940
     (j) [ ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J)

Item 4.  OWNERSHIP

         The percent of the class owned, as of December 31 of the year covered
by this statement (2002) no longer exceeds five percent for Nicholas Company, Inc. and Nicholas Fund, Inc., and the following information is provided as of that date including an identification of those shares, if any, which there is a right to acquire:

         (a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:

              NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC. – 2,241,090 shares
              NICHOLAS FUND, INC. – 2,187,500 shares
              ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 400,000 shares

         (b)  Percent of Class:

              NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC. – 4.12%
              NICHOLAS FUND, INC. – 4.03%
              ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 0.74%

         (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

              (i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:  

                     NICHOLAS FUND, INC. – 2,187,500,
                     ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 400,000

              (ii)   Shared power to vote or direct the vote:  0

              (iii)  Sole power to dispose or to direct the
                     disposition of:

                     NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC. – 2,241,090
                     ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 400,000

              (iv)   Shared power to dispose or to direct the
                     disposition of:  0

Item 5.  OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.

         If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the
date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of
more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following     [x].

Item 6.   OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.

          N/A

Item 7.   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
          Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent
          Holding Company or Control Person.

          N/A

Item 8.   IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICAITON OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

          N/A

Item 9.   NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.

          N/A

Item 10.  CERTIFICATIONS.

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of
the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or
effect.

SIGNATURE.

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.

DATE:  February 12, 2003

                                  /s/ALBERT O. NICHOLAS
                                  Albert O. Nicholas, in his Individual
                                  capacity and as Chief Executive Officer
                                  and Chairman of  Nicholas Company, Inc.

                      AGREEMENT RELATIVE TO THE
                       FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G

         THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 12th day of February, 2003, by
and between NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (an
investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940)(the "Adviser"), and ALBERT O. NICHOLAS, Chief
Executive Officer, Chairman, Director and majority shareholder of the
Adviser (the "Affiliated Person");

                             WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser are both
persons required, pursuant to 17 C.F.R.240.13d-1, to file a statement
containing the information required by Schedule G with respect to the
following Issuer:

                     MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
                      CUSIP No. 589400100; and

         WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser are each
individually eligible to use Schedule G; and

         WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser are each
responsible for the timely filing of said Schedule G and any
amendments thereto, and for the completion and accuracy of the
information concerning each, but not on behalf of any other, unless
any knows or has reason to know that the information concerning any
other is inaccurate; and

         WHEREAS, the Schedule G attached hereto identifies all the
persons and contains the required information with regard to the
Affiliated Person and the Adviser so that it may be filed with the
appropriate persons, agencies and exchanges on behalf of each of
them; and

         WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser desire to
file the Schedule 13G attached hereto on behalf of each of them.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements
and covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree that the
Schedule 13G attached hereto shall be executed by the Affiliated
Person, in his individual capacity and as Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Adviser, and filed with the appropriate persons,
agencies and exchanges, on behalf of both of them.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
Agreement Relative to the Filing of Schedule 13G as of the day, month
and year first above written.

                                  /s/ALBERT O. NICHOLAS
                                  Albert O. Nicholas, in his individual
                                  capacity and as Chief Executive Officer
                                  and Chairman of Nicholas Company, Inc.