Should I drive this car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DoctorSmoothie · #1 05-02-2008, 04:11 AM

So i wrecked my benz... Got hit by a semi truck on the interstate. Some of you may have been following the story on the thread about starting it without a key. Anyway, heres a picture of the car. Its kinda hard to see, but the wheel is angled at slightly less than a 10 degree angle. I have already driven this car in its current condition about 40 miles. It begins to wobble heavily at about 50 mph. Also, it makes some pretty weird noises when you make a right turn.

My current thoughts on this situation are that I need to get this car to Nashville where I will be transplanting its engine into another chasis with a bad engine.

The problem is that Im not quite sure how to get it there. I have called a few places, and I have gotten an estimate on a truck rental with a car transport carrier thing for about 300 bucks. But, I'm entertaining the idea of trying to drive the car the 350 miles to get to Nashville. Mostly Im concerned about the tire popping, or something catastraphic happening and the wheel completely falling off. I'm less detered by the 45 mph top speed of the vehicle on the interstate. Although Im sure it will piss some people off, my plan is to leave late at night when traffic is lowest.

Another thing of interest is that I will have to bypass the fuel lines. Somehow they got clogged. After the wreck, I drove it home by running a 4 foot rubber line from a red gas tank (which i just sat in the engine compartment) directly to the fuel filter. It was pretty funny because I had no spare diesel, so i just pored some Rotella I had in the trunk in and drove it home 40 miles on motoroil. To drive it long distance, I will be running a rubber tube from the fuel filter along the outside of the vehicle directly into the fuel tank.

So any thoughts on this? I'm only thinking about doing this because the cost of the tow rig doesnt sound appealing, and for some reason I truely believe in this car. If it made it, it would really stand as testiment to how well these cars are made.

Cervan · #2 05-02-2008, 05:05 AM

lol i would drive it at 85mph just to see if something didnt fly off of it XD

mechmagcn · #3 05-02-2008, 09:28 AM

If you've already driven it 40 miles without it falling apart, I don't see why it wouldn't male the trip. My first 300SD looked worse than that when I bought it and the PO had been driving it for several months. It was hit in the same area and pushed in so far that the rear seat was 4" less in width that it should be.
Worst case, you'll have to have it towed if it breaks down

JimmyL · #4 05-02-2008, 09:35 AM

At night it will be more difficult for approaching traffic to judge just how slow you are going on the interstate. It will put you at risk, and it will put the other parties at risk. I would {and do} find that totally unacceptable!
You should be responsible and find another solution.

kerry · #5 05-02-2008, 10:12 AM

Hmmmm? 45mph at night on the interstate with a jug of fuel sitting beside you as your real wheel makes strange sounds. Rent a trailer.

Bio300TDTdriver · #6 05-02-2008, 10:13 AM

The body damage wouldn't bother me, but you obviously have something wrong with the rear suspension. Can you rent a trailer and tow it to Nashville? Yes I know that would cost more than driving it. Like Jimmy I'm thinking about your safety as well as the others you will encounter on the trip.

I guess some of us were wrong about it not being your car. You sure had an interesting story though.

Bio300TDTdriver · #7 05-02-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervan

lol i would drive it at 85mph just to see if something didnt fly off of it XD

Don't you mean you'd gas it up and then drive it 85?

Dee8go · #8 05-02-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Hmmmm? 45mph at night on the interstate with a jug of fuel sitting beside you as your real wheel makes strange sounds. Rent a trailer.

Oh, come on, Kerry! Where's your sense of adventure?

TX76513 · #9 05-02-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Oh, come on, Kerry! Where's your sense of adventure?

YUP Think of the thread you could start on Monday! "You won't the belive the wreck I was in this weekend"

Dee8go · #10 05-02-2008, 10:36 AM

"I was driving down the Interstate when I noticed my rear passenger tire go flying past me . . . "

Bio300TDTdriver · #11 05-02-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

"I was driving down the Interstate when I noticed my rear passenger tire go flying past me . . . "

..I thought to my self, self this is going to end well....

Peter Kraft · #12 05-02-2008, 10:57 AM

Modern day Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies.....

The topic of the next thread might be:

"Stupic cops gave me a ticket for driving a dangerously unsafe car"

That car isn't safe to drive at any speed, and it amazes me that someone would endanger other drivers in this fashion just to avoid paying for a trailer. I'm sure the car still doesn't have a key, so the lights don't work.

pawoSD · #13 05-02-2008, 12:11 PM

With the rear suspension/wheel bent like that, I would guess the CV axle is on highly borrowed time if you drive that way, I bet it would fail after not too many miles.....

t walgamuth · #14 05-02-2008, 01:16 PM

Its not clear to me that the rear suspension is bent. If nothing is loose or making funny noises I would probably drive it but take the back roads if you're going to drive slowly. If you have any broken lights you might be ticketed.

Tom W

DoctorSmoothie · #15 05-02-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

YUP Think of the thread you could start on Monday! "You won't the belive the wreck I was in this weekend"

LOL this is funny! lets hope it doesn't come to that. I like the comment about wheres your sence of adventure. THats kind of what I was thinking in the first place.

Chris