I got in a crash with my 350SDL today - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mölyapina · #31 02-28-2015, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Rich, Your car was hit on it's right-front. No need for the driver's air-bag. The seat-belt tensioning feature deploys when necessary too - it'll kick-in, in endless cycles - not just once. H#ll, mine deploys a lot in the traffic I drive in with some of the idiots there are on the streets and highways!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that air bag deployment is based on the side of the car that the hit is taken on. All passengers experience a major loss of momentum, no matter which side of the car is impacted.

Mölyapina · #32 02-28-2015, 03:15 PM

Also, to clarify between locking seat belts and pre-tensioner:

The locking retractor just prevents the seat belt from unreeling during severe deceleration. The pre-tensioner, on the other hand, actually reels the seat belt in when it senses a collision, usually by firing a piston or something to reel in the belt (below is a diagram from Wikipedia showing this).

The latter is definitely single-use. As an interesting aside, pre-tensioners debuted in 1981 in the W126.

compu_85 · #33 02-28-2015, 04:02 PM

This should answer some questions about the SRS system:

http://eva2.homeip.net/w126-1/Program/Chassis/91-600.pdf

-J

Mölyapina · #34 02-28-2015, 05:16 PM

I wonder if buckling the passenger's-side belt could help prevent unnecessary airbag deployment?

compu_85 · #35 02-28-2015, 05:54 PM

Yes, it would have fired the seatbelt tensioner instead.

-J

Skid Row Joe · #36 02-28-2015, 06:01 PM

As sixto and I related; when the tensioner holds taut, it makes you think that you may be trapped there.

At least the ones in my last two MBs seem to give you that indication!

Mölyapina · #37 02-28-2015, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

As sixto and I related; when the tensioner holds taut, it makes you think that you may be trapped there.

At least the ones in my last two MBs seem to give you that indication!

That's the locking mechanism, not the tensioner. If Rich's locking mechanism wasn't working, then his head would've met the steering wheel, or something.

Mölyapina · #38 02-28-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

Yes, it would have fired the seatbelt tensioner instead.

-J

Ohh... right. Which would be better to fire? I guess the tensioner wouldn't destroy any other part of the car with it, whereas the airbag takes out part of the dash and blows air bag dust all over the place.

strelnik · #39 02-28-2015, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

A person in a Ford pulled out in front of me today. I applied the brakes with both feet preparing to stop, but I felt as if the brakes didn't work. I assume the ABS was working, but it seems that I probably would have been able to stop if the ABS did not hinder my application of the brakes. There was no skid marks whatsoever. Other than a little sore throat from the passenger air bag dust, I am fine.

Just the other day I was thinking I should put full coverage on the car, but I have five cars on the insurance now, and was going to wait until I sold one (listed on CL now). Maybe that would not make a difference anyway, as this accident was not at all my fault. We shall see how it goes, as I am going to talk with my insurance today and show the agent the photos. I will get the police report next week....Rich

Cars are replaceable, people are not. Glad you are ok.

pwogaman · #40 02-28-2015, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Rich, Your car was hit on it's right-front. No need for the driver's air-bag. The seat-belt tensioning feature deploys when necessary too - it'll kick-in, in endless cycles - not just once. H#ll, mine deploys a lot in the traffic I drive in with some of the idiots there are on the streets and highways!

The idea that only one airbag deploys based on the angle of impact is erroneous. The only distinction the control module makes on the nature of a triggering impact is its strength: too slight, so no reaction; intermediate, seatbelts only, but if not used then the corresponding airbag; and severe, deploys both seatbelts and airbags. Once a control module triggers an intermediate or severe response it must be replaced. They are not cheap, but you can get a used one from a dual-bagged W124 as well as a W126.

Skid Row Joe · #41 02-28-2015, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwogaman

The idea that only one airbag deploys based on the angle of impact is erroneous. The only distinction the control module makes on the nature of a triggering impact is its strength: too slight, so no reaction; intermediate, seatbelts only, but if not used then the corresponding airbag; and severe, deploys both seatbelts and airbags. Once a control module triggers an intermediate or severe response it must be replaced. They are not cheap, but you can get a used one from a dual-bagged W124 as well as a W126.

With an automobile as aged as Rich's SDL, I could hardly blame the car, if there were malfunction of machinery, and if it hadn't been checked out thoroughly and recently. I don't know that it was though. He was fortunate to be in a MB, regardless.

BillGrissom · #42 03-01-2015, 12:21 AM

Sounds most likely that the vacuum booster wasn't doing its full part. I wonder if the brake rod could have been mis-adjusted so that the booster hit a stop and stopped contributing. Otherwise, you should have seen skid marks, using both feet. It the ABS was working, the skids should have had a broken pattern. Without the booster, it is hard to press hard enough to skid with disk brakes.

Studies have shown that ABS doesn't help much in the real world since many drivers are confused by the pulsing and lift up on the brake pedal. It does feel like something is mechanically broken when it does work. Best to try it in a wet parking lot or on a sandy road. I don't think the ABS could stop the brakes from working, since I think it is plumbed in parallel and just pulses the fluid.

You shouldn't have to lose ownership of the car. My 1965 Newport was "totaled" twice in California. That just means the insurance decided that the repair cost exceeds the value, so they will pay the value if they take the car. To keep the car, simply negotiate a cost to deduct to keep it. In my case, it was ~$600 off, which was a good deal for them since the junkyard would have paid them $100. The title never changed. I think it only becomes a "salvage title" if sold to a junkyard and someone buys it from them, but your results may vary.

ROLLGUY · #43 03-01-2015, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

You shouldn't have to lose ownership of the car. My 1965 Newport was "totaled" twice in California. That just means the insurance decided that the repair cost exceeds the value, so they will pay the value if they take the car. To keep the car, simply negotiate a cost to deduct to keep it. In my case, it was ~$600 off, which was a good deal for them since the junkyard would have paid them $100. The title never changed. I think it only becomes a "salvage title" if sold to a junkyard and someone buys it from them, but your results may vary.

That was exactly like my experience on my last 'Benz crash. Value was $5,800, repair cost was $6,500, I paid $400 to keep the car, I got a check for $4,900 (salvage and my deductible subtracted). Since salvage values are down now, I would not doubt if I only had to pay around $300 to keep the car.

Skid Row Joe · #44 03-01-2015, 01:27 AM

Rich, I'd do whatever is the most expedient for you. I'd not let a 25 year old car get caught up in your time and life. Take the biggest and easiest pay out and get on with your life. That is what I would do, but I'm 100% pragmatic in my decisions the last 40 or so years. I don't worry about little bumps in the road after this long! It's not even a 1, on a 1 to 10 scale. That said - Rich, I realize the value ehre in your damaged SDL, so, yes, I would do everything I felt necessary to either get it fixed correctly, or reasonably reimbursed for it. -Just so there's no mistaking my post here.

Skippy · #45 03-01-2015, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

You shouldn't have to lose ownership of the car. My 1965 Newport was "totaled" twice in California. That just means the insurance decided that the repair cost exceeds the value, so they will pay the value if they take the car. To keep the car, simply negotiate a cost to deduct to keep it. In my case, it was ~$600 off, which was a good deal for them since the junkyard would have paid them $100. The title never changed. I think it only becomes a "salvage title" if sold to a junkyard and someone buys it from them, but your results may vary.

State laws vary. I've totalled out two vehicles in Nevada due to them being hit through no fault of my own. The first was a Kawasaki Ninja 250 that got run over in a parking lot while I was inside Trader Joe's doing some shopping. I let them have the bike and was able to get a better one with the insurance money. The second was my 300D. I got rearended whiled stopped in traffic. I decided to keep the car, and got a payout, but I had to turn in the "clean" title and was then issued a branded one that has "Rebuilt Salvage" on it. When plate renewal time came around, I had to have the car inspected by a licensed shop to verify that it was safe to operate, which of course it was since 1. It hadn't been damaged very badly in the first place, and 2. I had it professionally repaired. The shop I used had done quite a bit of work for me in the past and did the inspection and paperwork for free.