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

ROLLGUY · #1 12-06-2016, 10:39 AM

I have the opportunity to purchase this damaged 240. It was hit in the rear by a drunk driver. The car was parked along the curb. Yes it ended up in the neighbors yard, but the damage is mostly to the trunk area, and not the passenger compartment. Every time I see one of these cars that was in a collision, I am glad I don't drive a Japanese econo-box!

Demothen · #2 12-06-2016, 10:42 AM

The title of this thread plus your forum name made me concerned before opening this..
That is pretty crazy. Any idea what the impact speed was?

ROLLGUY · #3 12-06-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demothen

The title of this thread plus your forum name made me concerned before opening this..
That is pretty crazy. Any idea what the impact speed was?

I heard it was 40 mph

888 · #4 12-06-2016, 11:31 AM

I heard years ago that MB and Volvo were the only manufacturers who send technical teams to fatal crashes on the autobahn to see what happened and how to avoid it in the future.

No idea if that's still the case but your photos are really impressive.

Below is what happened to a friend's Volvo 240 when he fell asleep at the wheel on a country road. He sheared off a telephone pole and a small tree before hitting the big tree and stopping. He could open the door and get out. I believe he jammed his ankles and was a little sore, otherwise okay.

tjts1 · #5 12-06-2016, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

Every time I see one of these cars that was in a collision, I am glad I don't drive a Japanese econo-box!

A modern Japanese econobox would crush that w123 like a ball of paper. New cars are far safer than any w123.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 888

I heard years ago that MB and Volvo were the only manufacturers who send technical teams to fatal crashes on the autobahn to see what happened and how to avoid it in the future.

No idea if that's still the case but your photos are really impressive.

Below is what happened to a friend's Volvo 240 when he fell asleep at the wheel on a country road. He sheared off a telephone pole and a small tree before hitting the big tree and stopping. He could open the door and get out. I believe he jammed his ankles and was a little sore, otherwise okay.

Volvos and MBs from the 80s were far safer than their contemporaries but don't have any illusions about comparing them to modern cars, even econoboxes.
http://youtu.be/qBDyeWofcLY

DeliveryValve · #6 12-06-2016, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

A little Bondo and some paint would make that a nice little car again.

ah-kay · #7 12-06-2016, 01:38 PM

Every impact is different because of angle, velocity, mass etc. I would hesitate to say W123 is any safer than modem cars. It is better to drive carefully and do not get into an accident in the first place. However, there are some accidents that you cannot avoid no matter how careful you are. It was fate or you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just enjoy the car and life, you only live once so make the most out of it.

Demothen · #8 12-06-2016, 02:02 PM

Keep in mind that modern cars are designed to absorb impact around the engine and trunk while retaining integrity around the cabin and preventing objects from being pushed in. It looks like MB had this same methodology in the W123. There's two things that will hurt you in a crash, objects or structure impacting you, and high acceleration loads. A small modern car that got wadded up in a wreck may have absorbed more of the impact force, and actually done a better job protecting the occupants than an old body-on-frame 60's land-barge that looks like it held up great, but in fact transferred all that energy to the passengers.

Either way, this looks like the car did it's job admirably.

$.02

Ceristimo · #9 12-06-2016, 02:07 PM

For it's time the W123 was without a doubt an extremely safe vehicle, and even today it stands up in a crash.

However, it does miss a lot of safety equipment (pre-tensioners, airbags, etc) and I would be really curious to see how an econobox would stand up to a W123.

I think Myrla the Mazda would probably not survive when pitted against Ol' Betsie (mostly since there is quite a difference in curb weight), but I think The Turd will most likely win against Betsie.

It's a total shame of that W123 though. Looks like it was a nice one before the crash.

Rogviler · #10 12-06-2016, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceristimo

For it's time the W123 was without a doubt an extremely safe vehicle, and even today it stands up in a crash.

However, it does miss a lot of safety equipment (pre-tensioners, airbags, etc)

Actually, some 123s had one or both of those (my '85 has the pre-tensioners but no airbag). Shows how forward-thinking they were I guess. I hate new cars, so it's nice to know there are options for pretty darn safe old cars.

-Rog

compu_85 · #11 12-06-2016, 02:55 PM

It's interesting to note that whatever hit that W123 was taller and over-rode the bumper. Looks like what happened to our lowered 91 Jetta when the neighbor girl ran into it at 40 mph with mom's minivan.

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

-J

Junkman · #12 12-06-2016, 06:54 PM

I saw a 126 in the yard that was hit hard. The front was pushed into the fan. The rear bumper was pushed up under the rear glass. The glass had popped out and was laying on the trunk lid. The lid was undamaged and I wish I'd grabbed the glass because it wasn't delaminating and had a supple gasket. I needed the bumper that trips the door latch. All four doors opened and closed perfectly with the comforting Mercedes solid thud.

My 15 yr old gets his Grand Dad's 85SD as his 1st car next year.....if he learns to take care of it.

DeliveryValve · #13 12-06-2016, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

It's interesting to note that whatever hit that W123 was taller and over-rode the bumper. Looks like what happened to our lowered 91 Jetta when the neighbor girl ran into it at 40 mph with mom's minivan.

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

-J

I remember when that happened. Poor little ECOdiesel. Good German crash engineering though, the w123 helped made that possible 15 years earlier. I recall you pulled that "dent" out with your truck and drove away.
Here is your thread with pics.
Goodbye ECOdiesel - totaled while parked @ 429,466 miles - TDIClub Forums

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dkveuro · #14 12-06-2016, 08:20 PM

To add to the crash worthiness of a W123...

I sold my 1983 W123 to my good buddy Wray. He survived tee boning a Blazer at a two way stop running just under 60 mph. .

Wray was told by the trooper he would have died in his 1985 Corvette his usual ride.

Blazer driver said 'Brakes failed !' She was spun 3 times and ended up in the field by the intersection some 25 feet from the road. 123 engine still started up later . Obviously not a runner any more as fan was kissing the timing cover and atf was puking on the ground.

Although Wray survived, he was later put on disability because the wreck furthered his earlier injuries. ( Work and health related.)

I'm so glad he bought my Merc'.

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Skid Row Joe · #15 12-06-2016, 08:43 PM

Mercedes-Benz' saves lives.