My 300D met a deer tonight. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 11-18-2015, 08:39 PM

It was a rather short conversation. The deer was very rude. I don't think they will be friends.

It did leave a bit of an impression on my passenger front end. It didnt feel remarkably different that hitting a small pothole in the road or having someone quickly tap the brakes. I was doing between 40-50 at the time. It was dark and all I saw was the tail end of the deer as it smacked the car. I remember hitting the brakes a bit though. Wonder if that dipped the front bumper down and put the brunt of the impact on the hood/headlight.

I've never hit a deer before. After the hit, I checked the gauges, nothing as miss only the light bulb out indicator was on. Pulled over into the gas station, checked the damage, popped the hood. Engine was perfectly fine no problems there. So I drove home, took some pics, and phoned the insurance agency.

So, forum what are your thoughts?

Bulk of the damage:

More pics here.
2015-11-18 1991 300D Deer Hit - Album on Imgur

Looks like probably going to need a hood, a fender, un-bend the core support, euro head light, euro corner marker, and some paint....

mach4 · #2 11-18-2015, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

So, forum what are your thoughts?

Venison for Thanksgiving?

JamesDean · #3 11-18-2015, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

Venison for Thanksgiving?

LOL. I dont think I killed it. It think it ran off...might have died later on though. When I drive past the area tomorrow on my way to work I'll see. LOL

KarTek · #4 11-18-2015, 09:04 PM

I've fixed much worse myself. Probably mostly bolt on parts and a little straightening of the radiator support and maybe painting if you can't find the parts in your color.

cooljjay · #5 11-18-2015, 09:08 PM

Not sure how the insurance companies are there, but if Cali that would cause a salvage to be put on the car....Buying it back, going threw the inspection and re registration is a PITA....Ask how I know

Jeremy5848 · #6 11-18-2015, 09:34 PM

A deer hit our '96 E300 in 2010. The hit was in just about the same area as yours and killed the deer. Fortunately, the car had comprehensive coverage and I spent considerable time with the adjuster. Made sure he had access to the maintenance record going back to Day One (showing we were keeping the car in excellent condition), a copy of the appraisal I'd had done when we bought the car, etc. In the end, they approved the repair and did not total the car.

There was a lot of damage not obvious from first look. Many things I would have repaired or lived with were replaced with new. An upper radiator (plastic) mount had snapped; I would have glued it back together. No, the shop bought a brand-new radiator. Etc., etc. Total cost was almost $8,000 but our cost was zero as our comp coverage had no deductible. Best thing, as an animal strike it did not go on our record!

See the complete story as I posted it in this forum here.

Jeremy

vstech · #7 11-18-2015, 09:48 PM

I'd fix fender... it's minor and not easy to find the vented fender. Although I have one. ..

The hood is easy to replace and source... A swap isn't a big deal.

greazzer · #8 11-18-2015, 10:05 PM

That stinks ... hope no one got hurt--that is the ultimate issue.

JamesDean · #9 11-18-2015, 10:29 PM

Mhm, felt like a larger than normal bump in the road other.

Funny thing was that I'd just ordered a whole host of new parts for the car too:
-New front rotors and pads
-New rear MB multi-links for the rear end
-New snow tires and old 15-whole wheels

I was planning on doing all that then getting an alignment done. Its been driving lousy, felt very uncertain. Toe on the back left wheel is way out for starters.

I was going to put snows on it this weekend in anticipation of the weather thats supposed to hit on Sunday.

Gonna have to re-think that.

Insurance aught to cover all the repairs. Might even get a new paint job out of it (probably not but let's be hopeful!) It was painted by someone in the past and they did a rather low quality job of it. No part of any other MB would ever match it.

I just hope the adjuster has his/her wits about them. Last time they checked out my 190E for a minor fender bender they wanted to total it. They failed to check the policy which stated insured value to $5K. Once they saw that they quickly changed their tune and paid for all the repairs, done with genuine MB parts too.

jt20 · #10 11-18-2015, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

I've fixed much worse myself. Probably mostly bolt on parts and a little straightening of the radiator support and maybe painting if you can't find the parts in your color.

ditto, hood and fender replace. the rest is done by hammer and pulling.

Hardest part is matching the color.

hope the dear isnt feeding coyotes,

Mxfrank · #11 11-19-2015, 08:05 AM

I had a close encounter with a deer in a Toyota Supra. The car was so low it passed under the belly and swept the leg. Fortunately, the deer had enough momentum to carry it past the car, otherwise it would have ended up in the front seat. I called a cop and we tracked the deer and he dispatched it. Deer may be vermin, but they don't deserve to suffer.

Stretch · #12 11-19-2015, 09:15 AM

Bummer

JamesDean · #13 11-19-2015, 12:56 PM

Updated the photo album with some day-time pictures.

The car is currently up at a body shop getting quoted. We'll see. Insurance says I can get a rental. Right now I'm in the W201

2015-11-18 1991 300D Deer Hit - Album on Imgur

BillGrissom · #14 11-19-2015, 02:41 PM

My 1985 300D has tangled w/ 2 deers. One was a simple kick of a headlamp door as it slowly sauntered out of the way, as I laid on the brakes and horn. The other one jumped off a hill, following a group, slipped on the asphalt and its head lined up with the bumper. Clean head shot spun it around 360 deg. It was gone in the morning, but guts were left on the road, so one of the many mountain lions that live on the site probably feasted.

Sorry, can't see your photos at work, but pretty much any front-end damage that only affects things forward of the wheel is more cosmetic and also easily repairable. The front "radiator support" is really for that purpose (also a hood latch, ...). Fenders upbolt easily and plenty of junkyard cars (haven't done a 300D fender). The hard part is finding one the same color, if you don't want to repaint.

97 SL320 · #15 11-21-2015, 01:58 PM

The parts will be somewhat $ retail but the actual damage is likely minimal. It also depends on how good a fit and paint finish you want. You can sometimes spend 95 % more for it to look 5 % better.

I didn't look at the other pics, the fender front edge can likely be salvaged since there are not any creases. If the edge can't be fixed, I'd be real tempted to use structural adhesive and a donor edge to fix. ( Adhesive is an approved method of body repair, work great for long seams like van side panels were welding distortion can be a problem. )