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  #1  
Old 12-04-2009, 07:30 PM
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Unhappy My son crashed the mercedes yesterday!!

Well, my son crashed the mercedes into a ditch yesterday. He's OK, didn't get hurt.
I don't know how bad it is right now. I'm in Virginia until Sunday evening. I asked my daughter to send me a picture. From what she says the whole front was caved in. Radiator and fan are gone. She says the side quarter panels are OK.
I'm wondering how bad it is to fix the front end? Assuming the frame is good?
There is no collision on the car.

He wasn't supposed to be driving it. If you remember a month or two ago he's the one who put gasoline in the tank.

My daughter's really upset, she really loved that car and she's the one who was supposed to be driving it to work and school.

I'll post a picture as soon as I can. What do you all think? Are the front ends easy to fix?

Danny

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  #2  
Old 12-04-2009, 08:24 PM
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lied to for years
 
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I would horse whip him in the public square.
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  #3  
Old 12-04-2009, 08:52 PM
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It is imposiible to determine the actual damage before seeing the car. So repairing it can be from moderate to extensive. It all depends on the extent of the actual damage.

For example perhaps the radiator is just punctured. Or the radiator support frame is wiped out as well. There are tangable differences in either senario. Another example. Was the front end as a whole pushed back into the engine? Or just the radiator for example.

Try to look on the bright side of any event that occured. He might have killed either himself or someone else. It does not take much for that to occur. Then it can be really serious in comparison.

It is hard to stay well balanced when one of our own transgress in some way. Been there myself on a couple of occasions over the years as have many parents. Much of your reaction will probably be based on your knowledge of you son and his performance otherwise in life.
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  #4  
Old 12-04-2009, 08:58 PM
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The car may have saved his life.

My advice is to replace it with another one for the daughter.

Require the son to fix this one or replace it before he drives again. Good lesson for him that he will eventually learn to appreciate.
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  #5  
Old 12-04-2009, 09:03 PM
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Location: Simi Valley, CA (SoCal)
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I am in the process of rebuilding my front clip, same year, same model. I rear ended an SUV at about 20mph. The grill/core support took the whole impact, barely touched the engine. I bought an 82 SD and I think I got screwed - decent front clip, but no condenser, radiator fan connector is missing, fan clutch is wobbly, and radiator is wrong. But it is what it is. It cost me $330. If the rear window defrost lines are good I'll come out ahead.

The collision didn't touch my frame though. My front bumper was unscathed. So there's no straightening to do there, and the only thing that broke in the engine bay is the U-tube for the turbo. I spun the turbo and it appears to be fine.

My damage is going to cost me another $2500, maybe less if my body guy credits me for some of the mechanical work he won't have to do. But there's some other minor work he's going to do at the same time.

About the only thing that didn't work on my car was the rear defrost - water got into the laminated glass and blew out the lower half of the lines. But everything else works - Cruise, Air, Heat, Seats, Windows, Locks, all the dash lights, speedo, tach, clock, etc. And I just did ball joints and guide rod mounts and all four shocks. I know this car's condition and that's worth something too. At 109KMiles, the car has alot of life left, and I doubt that I could get anything comparable for the money I'll put into it. Except for the obvious fact that it's been in an accident now, at least I know that it wasn't that major, and I can accept that. I love this car just like I'm sure your daughter loves yours.

In the end, though, if it costs more to bring it back to roadworthy than it would for a suitable replacement, then it's not quite justifiable. However, I'd say, if you think the car will be the same, and the money you put into it to bring it back is as much or less than you would pay for something comparable, then it's more of a judgement call. If there is little else wrong with the car it could be very worthwhile.

It's always sad to see one of these leave the roadways if it is salvageable. Especially with only 150Kmiles on it.
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  #6  
Old 12-04-2009, 09:39 PM
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Young son would be in sooo much trouble!!!!!
Hopefully this will be a lesson learned........the hard way........
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  #7  
Old 12-04-2009, 09:42 PM
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Glad your son's okay.
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  #8  
Old 12-04-2009, 09:46 PM
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for now

Glad your sons' OK...'till you get home

agree with previous...let your son have the opportunity to fix it...maybe he'll get addicted like us!
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  #9  
Old 12-04-2009, 09:48 PM
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If it's fixable, I like the idea of having your son repair it, or assist on the repairs. Would teach him that you don't just trash something, replace it and never stop to think about the consequences. If it's not repairable I'd make him save up to pay for a new (old) MB for your daughter.

I'm glad to hear he's OK, though. Kids do a lot of stupid things. It's good that he has the chance to learn from this without being hurt himself.
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  #10  
Old 12-04-2009, 10:35 PM
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Hopefully it is fixable....would be terrible to see one with such low miles be ruined.

What was he doing to send the car into a ditch in Florida, there's not even any snow down there! Might not have been his fault.....but....teen driver = guilty till proven innocent.

Someday if my kids trash their car....they will be fixing it....or they will become Serf's on my estate until their debts are repaid!
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  #11  
Old 12-04-2009, 11:29 PM
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Glad your son is ok. This is a teachable moment. Wasn't supposed to be driving??????? Depending on his reasons, grounding until he's old enough to have kids in college comes to mind.
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  #12  
Old 12-05-2009, 07:38 AM
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He's not a teen, he's 22 years old. My daughter is a teen. I like the idea of making him pay for it and fix it himself.
When I bought the Mercedes I gave him the taurus I had. Two weeks later that was in a ditch too. Don't know why he's so obsessed with ditches. And I don't know how he wound up in this one. I'm not sure I want to know either!

I'll know more when I get home.

Danny
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  #13  
Old 12-05-2009, 09:44 AM
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22 is a little old to have a ditch finding propensity with Dad's cars. Around his 18th birthday my son justified the dumping of his truck by laying fault on the road and snow. I explained that not everyone that passed that place went into the ditch, that maintaining control of the car was his responsibility & that HE WAS DRIVING TOO @%&* fast. Also, that I loved him & didn't want him wrapping his truck or head around a tree. Making your son fix the car sounds good. Help if he'll do more than play at it. Perhaps a defensive driving course is in the offing.
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  #14  
Old 12-05-2009, 09:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dannym View Post
He's not a teen, he's 22 years old. My daughter is a teen. ........... Two weeks later that was in a ditch too. And I don't know how he wound up in this one. I'm not sure I want to know either!

Danny
Sounds like a classic case of poor impulse control. Sounds like he needs a 240d with an auto tranny.
Kid next door was the same way. I told them of the benefits of a slow safe car. They bought him another V-8 dodge ram pickup after he totaled the first one! He's wrecked this one at least once and has over a $1000 bucks in outstanding tickets.
They just enabled him to let this happen.
I wonder how many crazy near-crashes your son has had. I think you should be very concerned!!
I always worry about my kids on the road.....
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Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Last edited by JimmyL; 12-05-2009 at 10:19 AM.
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  #15  
Old 12-05-2009, 09:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cr from Texas View Post
The car may have saved his life.

My advice is to replace it with another one for the daughter.

Require the son to fix this one or replace it before he drives again. Good lesson for him that he will eventually learn to appreciate.
+1 on this. Thank goodness he's ok. My son is primary driver on the Euro and he knows that his first moving violation or accident with it will be the end of his driving career while living under this roof. Consequences, the best medicine. Make him fix it even if it isn't fixable.

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