My car got whacked/pushed/hit/dragged in the Home Depot parking lot by an 18 wheeler with an idiot for a driver.
(PS - don't go get your dream 280SE or get it fixed up without
preparing yourself for this moment !!!)

I came out and found the car had been hit/pushed at corner of the right rear bumper (pass side), and the rear tires moved about 2-3 feet. Back end sticking WAY up like the hydro compensator was stuck - rear wheels looked like a V. Kids skateboarding near by thought the axle was broken.....

Looking as bad as it did, and having excellent insurance,
I chose to have it towed to a body shop on my agent's list.
Lucky for me it's the same guy that resto'd my dearly departed friends' 300SE !, so I've got some real talent w/ MB experience
on the case.

Anyway looks like the damage is thus:

* Long Rubber Surround on Rear Bumper -
Can you get it without buying the whole bumper ?

* Some bondo/body work needed where bumper hit back of car
(heard most all the 280s/300 have SOME bondo back there)

* New Hydro Compensator ?
Looks like compensator sprang back into place once
we got her on the truck. Should it be replaced ?

Anything I should have the repair shop look at - like rear end/axle/differential ?

Thanks ya'll

Joey:

The only thing I would be worried about is the rear frame being twisted.

The "jacking" on the rear end was simply the tires being dragged sideways -- that swing axle rear end will cause the rear to rise rather dramatically when the outside tire goes under too far..... the 280 won't flip like a Corvair, but it will jack enough to scare the you-know-what out of you.

If the bumper wasn't folded into the body, you are probably only looking at sheet metal repair.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Well, the estimate came back from the shop -

I get new bumper surrounds, new bottom chrome, and bumper
mounts - all from Germany !

Bonus is I get a reduced deductible - the reputuable shop
can't match my crappy paint from Maaco/Peach, so they'll sand
and spot fix the small scratched areas.

One of these days, I'll be able to afford a REAL paint job,
but so far all my $$ have been tied up in other things.

Man, these cars are TOUGH !

Joey:

That's why people used to pay the money for a Benz -- you got a virtually indestructable car. Not as true as it used to be, alas.

Glad you didn't have any worse damage!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!