I very large raccoon ran in front of me when I was doing 55mph in my 2001 E320. I hit with the center of the car. The bumper cover is scrap as well as a lot of the other plastic parts. The steel bottom support for the condenser and radiator is pushed back 3 or 4 inches at the center. The condenser and radiator are both bowed at the bottom but there is no leakage from either one. I hope both of these can be straightened enough to be useable. Now my question, do I need a special anti-freeze in this car as was required in the cars made in the 1980's?

Sounds like you both had a bad day. Yes, just like any Mercedes-Benz, it is recommended you install Mercedes antifreeze. I'm sure it can be straightened, but pictures would help also of the damage.

I may die but I'll take you with me.

Glad you weren't hurt. I hate racoons - one had been getting into our chicken coop and killing my hens, one by one. I'm usre the one you took out was either running from something it had done that was bad, or it was running to go do something bad.

As for the radiator and condensors being bent - even though they are not leaking, the also may not be flowing freely anymore. You sure wouldn't want to risk overheating the block. Might check to be sure at least the radiator is flowing like it should - I'm not familiar with your car, but I'm sure there is someone here who can make a recommendation.

Are you going to paint one raccoon mask on the front fender of your car?

That was one fat raccoon !! I am surprised that the flesh did not give way before the metal bent.

But alas, physics !

Anyway, might be the time to just get a new radiator for safety sake.

I am sure you can get one at a reasonable price if you can install yourself.

Usually rads are fairly straight forward.

I also am not familiar with your model so I defer to others' opinions.

Yeah Mercedes coolant or a like Zerex product.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Do you have full coverage insurance?
I think that a wildlife strike is a claim that does not count against you.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

I thought of you and colincoon when I saw this thread .

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Our previous apartment manager always put on dark makeup around her eyes, we called her the raccoon. Hope it wasn't her!

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

My thoughts too

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Yes, they recommend special antifreeze:

MB 325.0 - Anticorrosion/antifreeze agents (Specification 325.0) - Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Operating Fluids

Sorry about your accident ! Best wishes getting your car back in shape.

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Marshall Welch
Seattle, WA
1982 300D-T

I do not carry insurance on my vehicles. Liability coverage only.

if you are on a very tight budget, then there is a place in cali that sells radiators and condensers for european cars really low cost - they are good quality too. No brand name on them though.

Changing a radiator on a W210 with V6 engine is really easy, takes about 1 hour if you are quick or 2 hours if leisurely. The engine coolant is zerex G05 (Ive heard its 3 year life) - cost 17 dollars at NAPA and Orielly and you will need a gallon of distilled H2O too.

The condenser is also bolted to the radiator and can be changed while the radiator is being swapped (if you have the system depressurized)

You can pull out the rad support if you are crafty enough (most body shops can do it easily as most W210 get this fault due to being banged on the parking stops in some parking lots.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Did the same over the holidays doing 80mph... Took the lower section of my '95 E300 bumper out. Come to find out, NONE of the bod shops in my area like working on these older brittle plastic bumpers...

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

http://www.urethanesupply.com/

I used this company's product to repair a W124 plastic bumper (the brittle as a cracker type) - I repaired the grille louvres and the most bottom piece as I had lost it on the highway when I struck a delaminated tire at approximately 90 mph.

btw - the bumper I repaired was from a donorbut had all the parts just were cracked at places. My original bumper was in a few hundred pieces on the highway

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

How big was it?

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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!