I had a little accident in which my bumper went beneath that of car head, or vice versa. Hood, headlights, electric fans, radiator, radiator cross-support brace, and engine fan with fan-clutch are all destroyed. Collision did not involve bumper, and there was no air bag deployment. It does not appear that front of engine, was impacted as power steering fluid pot was not affected.

They haven't pulled fan off yet, and I'm not sure if water pump is just behind it, and impacted. Left fender is OK, and right has bending but not creasing of the tab that extends around front below headlight, so looks fixable.

Car is in a body shop being torn down right now.

I told the shop that I want to preserve the original radiator cross-support brace with original stickers, in case there is any problem with what they come up with to replace them.

The shop has a good reputation, and works on good quality cars. I want to be sure it is put back correctly, with correct parts, and am worried about possibility of hidden mechanical damage.

If anyone has any advice, I'm anxious to hear it.

Give this 500E forum a shot:

http://www.500ecstasy.com/forums//index.php

Keep in mind, almost all parts are still available from MB.

What ever happened with you 500E ?.
Alan

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92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

Thanks for asking. I ended up letting the insurance company declare it a total. Very unhappy decision. I will buy another one at some point down the road. Meanwhile, somebody in Marin County, CA, picked it up and is having it repaired.

I hope it worked out for you. It would have made an awesome track Car / Sleeper.

Alan

__________________
92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

A very close friend of mine, who owns and runs an MB repair shop in San Rafael, purchased this car at insurance auction.

I saw this car about a week and a half ago in the body shop in San Rafael, in the final few days of being repaired. It will be as good as or better than new, and I believe it is being sold to an MB collector/enthusiast acquaintence of mine here in the Portland, OR area. It will be in good hands once it gets up here.

The damage wasn't too big of a deal and was rather easily fixed -- no frame damage whatsoever from what I could tell, and they had it torn down in front to the ends of the front crossmembers.

Cheers,
Gerry

Good to hear

Gerry:

I'm glad it is being fixed. Had my insurance company acted more reasonably at the outset, it would have been fixed on my behalf. Unfortunately, the ones I have looked at to replace it either have serious problems with the history or were modified too much to suit my tastes. I assume it was your friend who called me about the history. I did not keep his name.

Chris