Sadly, my white 1991 350 SDL is no longer free of body damage ... Saturday night smacked a buck at about 30mph with ABS kicking in during hard braking.

Rather limited damage, actually - driver side lights are history, metal frame underneath and the light wipers are smashed, and the hood has a crunched spot.

Anyone able to recommend a really good paint shop in Northern Virginia? I live in the Burke/Farifax Station area.

__________________
George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

Ouch that really sucks!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I almost got one a week ago with my e300.

Extreme braking, tires screaming to a stop.
All my sales material & briefcase slammed into the dash and the front seat-backs as I missed him. A young 2 point buck without much experience dodging cars @ dusk.

Good luck with yours.

__________________
Phil
Previously loved
variety, but I miss the 99 F350 PSD- 37k, traded, damn

Current stable
98 E-300 TurboDiesel, 253k
http://www.facebook.com/people/Philip-Underwood/762882374

You have my sympathies. I live across from a huge forest preserve and dodging deer has become all too commonplace.

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'64 230SL

Sorry to hear that, George. I saw blue lights flashing on 123 the other morning as I was driving to work just before I got to George Mason University. It was a car/deer collision. Somebody else I know personally hit a deer on 123 at Burke Center Parkway a few years ago. The deer are pretty thick around where we live.

Did you check the garages/mechanics section under VA. I seem to remember several body shops mentioned there.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

You get to keep the carcass?

__________________

1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

I can recomend a fantastic shop. Browning's in Manasass. I was rear ended in Tyson's a couple of months ago in my SL600 and they replaced my entire rear end and matched the paint and no one can tell the difference. Bobby Browning owns the shop and won't cut corners on his work. I'll post before and after pics tomorrow when the weather is better. He's also doing a repaint/restoration on my 560SEC and I'm confident it will look great! His number is (703)369-3020. Tell Bobby that the guy with the green SL600 had you call.

Edit:
Browning's Auto Body Inc
8421 Maplewood Dr
Manassas, VA 20111
(703) 369-3020

Also in N. VA there is Wagonwerks (not sure of spelling) and in Rockville, MD some employees from Wagonwerks opened up their own shop.
One reason I mention Wagonwerks, when I was their last (2002) a women was there with her burgundy SDL. that looked as if it just came off the Benz assembly line. It was one of the most beautiful luxury sedans I had seen.

I hit a deer in a Mercedes C-class rental car last Feb. those things are unpredictable, better the car took the damage then you or your passenger.

The work Wagonwerks has done on my car I've been very happy with, twice they did work on my black sedan and I don't regret a thing. I live in Baltimore so when I drop my car off at Wagonwerks it is a subway then train ride home so for me it's quality not convience.

Thanks for leads!

Got first estimate today - $3333! I had guessed about $2000 ... likely insurance company will come back with used parts thing ...

I'll probably try Brownings, as well - since they are relatively close - while car is white and easier to match than some, the paint work will be very noticeable!

Since the entire light assembly was smashed, seems like a good time to do the euro light conversion ... :-) (silver lining is small cloud)

__________________
George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

I never knew about Browning's until the insurance company of the person who hit me recommended them. I did some checking and they are good. The insurance company wanted to put used parts on and Browning's was able to put new parts on and keep within the insurance adjuster's esitmate. They do work for several major insurance companies, but they looked out for my best interest. Good luck and let me know how things turn out.

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99 ML320
94 SL600
92 SL500
95 E320 Cabriolet
87 560SEC
86 300SDL Grease Car
80 380SLC Euro

13 Fiat Abarth
02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
00 BMW Z3
90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
80 Ferrari 308 GTSI
88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition
99 Land Rover Discovery

powerpig,

Met and got estimate - it is a long way from my place - I think will stay with a local shop - decision driven by the amount of time involved ... Bobby seemed like a great guy, though.

Thank you very much for the recommendation - will let you know how turns out from current shop ....

George

__________________
George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

Hope it works out for you. Keep me updated.

__________________
99 ML320
94 SL600
92 SL500
95 E320 Cabriolet
87 560SEC
86 300SDL Grease Car
80 380SLC Euro

13 Fiat Abarth
02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
00 BMW Z3
90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
80 Ferrari 308 GTSI
88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition
99 Land Rover Discovery