Testiment to the quality and strength of a 123 in a crash - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TurboRedkneck · #31 12-08-2016, 11:35 PM

Rollguy- what are you planning to do with it? You said you have opportunity to purchase. If the transmission is a manual and you don't need it I might be willing to buy that to offset cost. (Assuming transmission isn't your reason to buy.) I want a manual for my '83 300turbo, but the parts car I bought, ended up being saveable at least for now. What part of the country are you in? I'm about to do a cross country road trip, San Diego to Virginia.

mark82 · #32 12-08-2016, 11:40 PM

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t walgamuth · #33 12-08-2016, 11:50 PM

I put all my kids in 123 diesels back when they were driving my cars. about 15 years ago now. two were rear ended heavily. Both times the cars were totalled by the ins co. I bought them and fixed them and they looked so good I sold them.

My kids were either uninjured or only lightly injured. My son was rear ended by a woman who fell asleep, being a sufferer of Narcolepsy. The daughter was rear ended on glare ice by another young woman.

I still feel very safe driving a 123 (though I sold my last one to Strelnik).

ROLLGUY · #34 12-09-2016, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboRedkneck

Rollguy- what are you planning to do with it? You said you have opportunity to purchase. If the transmission is a manual and you don't need it I might be willing to buy that to offset cost. (Assuming transmission isn't your reason to buy.) I want a manual for my '83 300turbo, but the parts car I bought, ended up being saveable at least for now. What part of the country are you in? I'm about to do a cross country road trip, San Diego to Virginia.

I have no guarantee that the trans is good. Being parked and then hit from behind at 40 MPH can't be good for the transmission. The sudden impact would surely cause something to break, and the transmission might have suffered damage that won't be revealed until the car is either made drivable, or the trans removed and inspected. If I do end up getting the car and the trans turns out to be good, I will give you first dibs on it......Rich

JimFreeh · #35 12-09-2016, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I have no guarantee that the trans is good. Being parked and then hit from behind at 40 MPH can't be good for the transmission. The sudden impact would surely cause something to break, and the transmission might have suffered damage that won't be revealed until the car is either made drivable, or the trans removed and inspected. If I do end up getting the car and the trans turns out to be good, I will give you first dibs on it......Rich

Watch the video of the 240D posted earlier when the camera is underneath the car. The driveline does move about a bit........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgegEGQAsIk

Jim

tjts1 · #36 12-09-2016, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Watch the video of the 240D posted earlier when the camera is underneath the car. The driveline does move about a bit........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgegEGQAsIk

Jim

The head impact against the steering column which is moving toward the driver looks brutal. Didn't the w123 get a collapsible steering column? I know the w124 did. Also 25mph with the full width of the car impacting a wall is pretty mild compared to the modern offset crash test the IIHS and Euro NCAP conduct today where the energy of the impact is concentrated in 40% or 20% of the front of the car at 40mph.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/ratings-info/frontal-crash-tests

Mercedes did some of the earliest offset crash tests on the w123 and they weren't pretty.

Lessons learned were applied to the w126 w201 and w124 which were the first cars designed to deal with the offset frontal crash.

97 SL320 · #37 12-09-2016, 09:10 PM

One of the car safety groups is now testing at 5 or 10% offset and complaining that cars are not passing this test. At this low an offset, main structure like the front frame rail doesn't come into play and we end up peeling the side of the car off.

kerry · #38 12-11-2016, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboRedkneck

Rollguy- what are you planning to do with it? You said you have opportunity to purchase. If the transmission is a manual and you don't need it I might be willing to buy that to offset cost. (Assuming transmission isn't your reason to buy.) I want a manual for my '83 300turbo, but the parts car I bought, ended up being saveable at least for now. What part of the country are you in? I'm about to do a cross country road trip, San Diego to Virginia.

I sent you a pm. I have a complete set of manual swap parts available in Denver that I'm willing to sell. 4spd, clutch, flywheel, driveshaft, pedals, master cylinder.

ROLLGUY · #39 06-03-2017, 08:22 PM

I had forgotten about this thread. The guy originally called me, seeing an ad for parts on CL. He promised he would get back to me, but never did. I called several times after, with no answer. Oh well, someone got a good parts car.

crazy4diesel · #40 06-04-2017, 10:37 AM

Our cars were discussed in this thread too: Just how safe is the W123?

There's no way I'd rather be in a crash in my 1983 W123 than in a 2017 Subaru. Chances are the Subaru might even avoid the crash all together, if it doesn't it has all the same crash energy management technology and safety cage technology as any Mercedes. In fact, new cars the playing field is so level, brands like Mercedes and even Volvo don't play up safety much in their own marketing anymore.

Adriel · #41 06-04-2017, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy4diesel

There's no way I'd rather be in a crash in my 1983 W123 than in a 2017 Subaru. Chances are the Subaru might even avoid the crash all together, if it doesn't it has all the same crash energy management technology and safety cage technology as any Mercedes. In fact, new cars the playing field is so level, brands like Mercedes and even Volvo don't play up safety much in their own marketing anymore.

What was thinking, except that not all modern manufactures are the same, but many are similar. For example, when Ford bought Volvo, they put in Volvo's technology into their vehicals. If the metal is foil thin, not going to hold up like a plate steel vehical.

Good point about avoiding an accident. Because have had training on how to handle the W123, have pushed it more than once and avoided an accident, even from the rear (last one was too strait on and fast to see).

Few weeks ago was driving a borrowed out of state minivan, twice got cut off. No way was going to swerve. Knew had A.B.S., so put two feet on the brake, keeping knees bent, and relaxed best could for the accident. Second time was a loaded flatbed, the closest, as his bed was over the bumper of the van. Point is, if going to go in, go strait in and try and relax.

When do get to drive again, will put in the dash camera I bought afterwards, as even if you get cut off, your fault. Driving has only gotten worse, so we must protect ourselves.

Robert W. Roe · #42 07-04-2018, 07:53 PM

Funny how Subaru does.
I'm thinking of the latest TV ads "they lived."

JHZR2 · #43 07-04-2018, 10:20 PM

My 83 was rear ended on the interstate when all cars made an emergency stop except the one behind me. Pushed me forward and out of the way, and they proceeded to hit the car in front of me.

My back looked about 75% of that. Glass was intact, but the rear was bent up like that on one side, bumper was toast, etc. Mine buckled on opposite sides of the sunroof.

It stayed weathertight (except the trunk), but nobody was really willing to touch it to repair it. The parts went to a good home. Glad this one is going to someone who will use it.

barry12345 · #44 07-05-2018, 11:40 AM

Depending on the actual type of accident. A new car will do better in a lot of them. In others the 123 will do better. All contingencies of accident types cannot be covered.

I examined many cars that were towed in from serious accidents at one time. I was able to establish what cars did not do well. Some GM mid size cars had really serious issues.

JHZR2 · #45 07-05-2018, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Depending on the actual type of accident. A new car will do better in a lot of them. In others the 123 will do better. All contingencies of accident types cannot be covered.

I examined many cars that were towed in from serious accidents at one time. I was able to establish what cars did not do well. Some GM mid size cars had really serious issues.

Fair enough. I was the first car that came upon a 55-ish mph offset head on collision involving three cars and a pickup truck. It was amazing how
A little Chevy aveo protected the family of four inside. It took the brunt of the damage.

While massive numbers of airbags make repairing cars $$$, it's good to have them in certain situations. The mass plus a well designed crumple zone in the w123/126/etc is in its favor. CAD and FEA have brought improvements across the board, but improvements are diminishing.

We're talking about the pinnacle of automotive engineering of the era.