Bonnet keyed #$(**&!!!
 

I have to vent--my college age daughter drove our 96 SL500 to the local university for her class...came back with a 12 inch "gash" on the bonnet..I am in the process of bringing this baby back to original condition (as I am with three other pre96 MB's) and I cannot understand the mentality of willful destruction by some people...may their gums rot...thanks I feel better now...

I know how you feel. In England, those are called "envy lines drawn by wee heavies"

If the gash was not to the bare metal, can the paint be restored? There are
some real experts out there. Only repaint the hood as a last resort

If the entire hood needs to be repainted, make sure the paint is MATCHED.
That is an art, and best performed by the experts who spray the Ferraris, Maseratis and high line cars.

The guy I found for collision damage had in a BRAND NEW, still no plates on it, AMG S class sedan, scratched by a key on EVERY body panel by a furious wife. Imagine that

Wife or EX-wife?
 

Jim, was she the wife or the ex-wife? It would have been the later if it had been me it was done to.

I look at my cars as symbols of my own hard work and time. I take damage, malicious and careless, pretty personally. That really sucks!

My security blanket is one of my new best friends--the local MB master tech--he restored my 87e , allowed me to help with valve job and head gasket on 94 e320, we're "tinkering" at my house on Sat. when he is off and have a plan for the SL and the latest addition a 95 e320 coupe. He tells me what to do and watches me do it and offers "positive encouragement" at times. He will be sick when he sees this scratch(which is not to bare metal) but will know how to guide me..I'll see if he is OK with pics on various stuff with running commentary and see where it might end up....God help me, but I do love my cars....
Mike

[QUOTE=gumdoc123]I have to vent--my college age daughter drove our 96 SL500 to the local university for her class...came back with a 12 inch "gash" on the bonnet..I am in the process of bringing this baby back to original condition (as I am with three other pre96 MB's) and I cannot understand the mentality of willful destruction by some people...may their gums rot...thanks I feel better now...

GUMDOC- I feel your pain. I had that done many years ago on my Honda right across the hood. They dug in so deep it dented the hood. Ex-girlfriend of bartender I was dating. I am sorry. "May the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits." (perpetrators (sp)arm pits)

Sid--haven't heard that since Johnny Carson days and it still brings a chuckle...
Thanks!
Mike

Every now and then I let my age out of the bag.... I have a few tucked away for emergencies.

I don't remember exactly, but probably it was ex wife or soon to be ex wife!!!