A little too fast in the rain turning into my neighborhood, into the median curb, BAM.

details of the carnage

https://picasaweb.google.com/102106351327485959886/CarVsCurbCurbWon?authkey=Gv1sRgCK_W9cjS7JO_GQ

Notice the left side guide rod, it is supposed to be straight but now it most definitely is not.

Drivers side front tire pushed back to wheel well cover.

Luckily the oil pan did not rupture.

VStech and I are going to be fixing it, any advice??

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
----------
gone but living on
1983 240D (body to greazzer, engine to t walgamuth)

Slow down on wet curves?

(Sorry could not resist).

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You just need a little alignment job right?

__________________
Pete Williams, President emeritus - MBCA-International Stars (Eastern Mich.) Now Wi. & Az.
1985 300D Manual 4 speed Green Hen's tooth
1979 MGB triple black Az car nice
1969 back 1/2 of MGB (Az home built trailer)
1991 Volvo 245 Wagon Nice AZ Restored Gold Brick
1983 Jeep CJ7 37,600 Miles Summer use only

The bow shaped guide rod tube is stunning.


The wheel rim is impressive.


.

X2
Takes a bit of force to bend a guide rod tube.
What is the mounting area for the guide rod end like? Hopefully it has not been moved back at all.
Once the rod tube is replaced it will be interesting to see how the adjustment of the castor goes.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

That damage looks eerily similar to how my car looked after a particular fun St. Patrick's Day in 2009. That car was an '83 rust bucket that I bought for 1100, drove for a year and sold for 600, damage done. Drove it for a year on WVO so I think I made my money back on it...

Hope you get it straightened out 100%! Your car looks much nicer than mine did.

__________________
1984 300TD Turbodiesel - 272k
- Daily Duty
1985 300D Turbodiesel - 315k
- "Recommended for competition events only"

The guide rod mount may be ever so slightly tweaked.

yikes thats impressive

__________________
1977 MB 240D 4 speed 145K - Nearly Perfect
1995 MB E420 197K - Weekend Toy
2020 Subaru Ascent 19k - Wife's DD
2020 Ford F150 3.5 EcoBoost 5K - My DD

1979 MB 280E 90K - Sold
1983 MB 240D 238K - Scrapped
1984 MB 300D 347K? - Sold
1984 MB 300TD Wagon - 188k - Sold
1987 MB 300E 5 speed 258K - Scrapped
1991 MB 300TE 5 speed 276K - Sold
1993 MB 400E 218K - Sold
1993 MB 400E 130K - Sold
1995 MB E320 Wagon 190k - Sold

notice how close the left adjustment bolt is to the eccentric brace... and the clean area around it... also look at the LCA bushing angles...

this is gonna be FUN to take apart!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

what is bothering me about this car is this pic...
I have the car jacked up and supported on stands, and the guide rod contacted the brace on the left, it's bent. there's a dent in the metal, and the brace behind it is bent.
a little hard to tell from this angle, but I'll get some better pics up tomorrow...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

This is the second incident of this in a month, although under slightly different circumstances.......I have tested the traction turning in the rain, you'd have to be going pretty darn quick to drift and hit a curb....

I see the tires were "RAINFORCE".....oh the irony....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 93k - mine - (OC-97,400)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 19k - wifes (OC-25k)
'01 E320 Wagon - 161k - mine (OC-165,000)
'07 E350 Wagon - 137k - dad's (OC-139,500)
'01 SL500 - 84k(km) - dad's (OC-94,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 91k - Brothers (OC-98,500)

My 17 yo son was driving and our 14 yo son was in the passenger seat. They were coming home from band practice about 7:30 pm last Monday night. It had just lightly rained for a couple minutes and stopped. The asphalt road was very slick due to the oil rising to the top with the slight rain and no more behind it to wash it off.

He was coming off the main road (limit 45, he says he was doing somewhat less due to the rain) and began to make the right turn coming into our development. He understeered, he says he turned the wheel but the car kept going straight. He hit the 4" concrete median curb at a 45 degree angle. The median had a flower bed in it so the only casualty besides the car was a half dozen pansies.

Car does not have ABS, I suspect he may have locked the front wheels when applying the brakes to make his turn. I think the slick asphalt caught him by surprise.

He did the Richard Petty teen skid pad course at CMS last fall, he remembered what to do, let off the brakes, but just ran out of road to get it straightened out again before hitting the curb.

What is important is that no one is hurt, the car can hopefully be fixed, and my kids are safe.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
----------
gone but living on
1983 240D (body to greazzer, engine to t walgamuth)

I would cut the tube (sawzall) to relieve tension - pressure, before further diagnosis.

.

Hey accidents happen! As they go this is one that could have happened to a lot of us.

I don't see clear evidence of bending on the base structure from the photos but it is also not clear there is not. Even if it is tweaked a bit it still may align fine as long as the adjustment limits have not been exceeded.

You're in good hands there.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Now is the time to replace every worn front end part. Shocks, bushings, etc.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000).

2013 Fiat 500E. 20,000 miles, 80 miles at a time.
2012 Passat TDI. 95,000 miles. More space, power, and fuel economy than the Benz
2004 Touareg V10 TDI. 150,000 miles. One of 450.
1999 Jetta TDI. 310,000 miles.
1992 Jetta ECOdiesel. 156,000 miles. 1 of 48. Sold.
1991 Jetta ECOdiesel. 430,000 miles. 1 of 700. Sold to VeeDubTDI, totaled in front of our house