Hit a Deer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mcamara · #1 12-02-2002, 11:26 PM

Hiya friends,

A deer had the misfortune of running in front of my '83 300SD.

The deer did not fare as well as the car.

Having said that, I am looking for a grill, driver's side front lights and mounting assemblies. Basically everything between the hood and bumper. The hood is bent as is the left front quarter panel. Also need a radiator. Please let me know what you have. I'm sure the list will grow. I'm in the Atlanta area. Where we destroy natural habitats in the name of progress.

If I would've been in the Celica, I'd be almost as bad off as the deer.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

#2 12-03-2002, 07:29 AM

Did you hit the deer at night? Every one of them I've ever hit was at night, and I've hit a number of them over the years.

If you drive a lot at night, you should consider Euro headlights, they will not eliminate this misfortune, but they will offer a drastic reduction in such incidents.

Good luck,

mcamara · #3 12-03-2002, 12:26 PM

Hi Larry,

Good to hear from you. Yes, it was at night. It does seem to be the way of these things. I'll look into the Euros at some point. I think they look better anyway. Where do you get yours?

It really is a testament to these cars that there was not more damage.

#4 12-03-2002, 04:40 PM

Keep your eyes on this forum, and you will probably see some for sale. Or, you can put a wanted to buy ad on this forum.

Yes, the cars are built well, but in the case of a serious lick, the front end crumples and basically sacrifices itself to absorb the impact energy instead of the occupant doing the same.

Have a great day,

mgerdes · #5 12-08-2002, 04:32 PM

i have all the parts except maybe headlight on one side, problem would be shipping. i would love to sell the rest of the car, check out parting 85 300 sd, a few pages down. my car is light blue.

mcamara · #6 12-08-2002, 11:54 PM

I'd be interested to know what you have. I'll check out the post. I have gotten the parts that I needed to make it driveable from a local salvage place. She's on the road again but a little worse for wear.

Q. How many hose clamps are there on a 300SD radiator?
A. One more than I thought (Why is this thing leaking??)

Thanks for your help.

Matt

BoostnBenz · #7 12-17-2002, 07:06 PM

For ~$13 ea one can buy some 7" replacements which are including H4 bulbs, not E-code nor DOT though. I installed them in the 84 300D and haven't had any problem with blinding people, yet at the same time they were a GREAT improvement over the halogens that were in there. As a matter of fact driving at night I had my high beams on and I noticed some deer in the distance quick enough to stop way back. I find it rather funny all the stories I hear about people stopping in time for them to not hit the deer, but the deer end up running into the side of their car.... Surely it isn't funny to whom ever it happens to but....

~jm

mcamara · #8 12-17-2002, 11:21 PM

Thanks for the info.

I've taken to firing a pistol out the window while I drive down that stretch of road. No problems so far. I may sell all of the lights on the car to defray the cost of ammo.

I can't believe that nobody has made a "when's the barbeque?" joke yet. You guys are too nice.

I'll say it again, if I would have been in just about any other car, I'd be looking at alot more money for repairs. I might as well have been driving a locomotive. Can't wait to hit a Z3!!

Take care,

Matt

piccolovic · #9 12-22-2002, 09:00 PM

I live in SW Montana and during my 40 mile drive to work, i see 3 - 4 "roadkills" per day. My 190D was hit while parked, so until I decide what to do with her, I'm driving crapola Buick, but would rather take bambi on with the 190!!!! In SW Montana my rates are higher than Northern Virginia, simply because the ins. co. figures I'll hit a deer per year, plus one windshield!!! I have noticed that we are breeding smarter deer these days, as there are a lot of them that actually look both ways before running cross the road!!!! I personally am keeping rifle in trunk to finish the job if I do hit one!!! I do love venison stew, especially since the meat is sweet here.

Am I invited to the next BBQ?

dave1shere · #10 12-23-2002, 10:00 AM

Hello,

I have the plastic insert for a W126 grill. The metal part around the outside of the grill was corroided badly so I just took the plastic piece and the chrome strips. Got them from a local junk yard, thought it would fit my W123, only to find out that the W126's are bigger.

Do not need it, paid 20.00 for it. You are welcome to it for the same price plus shipping.

Dave
elyd@bellsouth.net

mcamara · #11 12-23-2002, 10:37 PM

Emailed you for instructions. There's a fine line between W123 and W126. Under the hood, they seem to be arranged the same. Kinda like people but with more grime and knuckle cuts.

Thanks for the tip,

Matt

mcamara · #12 12-23-2002, 10:59 PM

Piccolovic!!

Thanks for making the first BBQ joke. Montana sounds a place where I could make a "killing". I've got the deerslayer on the road but she ain't her normal elegant self. Oh, who am I kiddin'? It's just a marginal, smoky SD. But, damn, I've never had so little damage from a velocity transfer. Hitting a deer in this car is like hitting a dog in a Toyota. Bring on your wildlife America!! I am ready!

iwannabenz · #13 03-28-2003, 09:16 PM

Matt, at just about any local Wal-Mart you can buy a little high-frequency whistle type device for about five bucks that mounts on the front bumper and is proven to alert and frighten deer out of your way. They're even kinda cool looking, you'll get people asking you if they're headlight dimmers , rain sensors, all sorts of things.

mcamara · #14 03-29-2003, 10:46 PM

Thanks. I've seen those whistle gadgets before and they seem to work. How's the SL treating you? They're SO cool.

iwannabenz · #15 03-30-2003, 03:07 PM

For anyone that lives in what they think is a deer-free urban area, think twice. I live in a fairly large (for Canada!) city, population 350,000 at last count, and I am 5 minutes from downtown. Last spring as I turned out my driveway on the way to work one morning a big doe ran right across the road in front of me. It turns out there is a "herd" of around 30-35 that live in a local park, eating all the neighbour's (cdn spelling) nice bushes. They have no natural predators within 50 miles, and of course hunting within city limits is SEVERELY frowned on. Moral of the story, maybe more people need "deer whistles" on their cars.
Matt, the SL is just itching to go topless, can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit to do it.
Lucky you in Atlanta.
To paraphrase Mark Twain: " The nicest winter I ever spent was a summer in Canada."