Got rearended in traffic this morning by a 93 BMW 325I. Took out his grille, radiator, header panel, and don't know what else. No damage to the 300D, thanks to the bumper shocks and being solidly built. I can see the dirt wiped away by the plastic trim, but no dents or scrapes to speak of. Good thing I wasn't driving the aluminum foil Honda today.

Hope everyone came out uninjured.

A testament to the build quality of MB.

But I might add that if the reverse occurred, the W124 may have suffered the same fate. After all, with hard braking, the majority of the Bimmer's front end met the business end of your rear bumper.

Years ago an Olds Cutlass rear ended my Mazda MX-6. Only knocked the corners of my bumper cover loose from impact. The Cutlass grill was destroyed, and my exhaust tip was imbedded into the Cutlass radiator!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Hope you are OK, and the Mercedes was too. That always is a pain and and a waste of time.

But this is when the Mercedes *really* is worth its money!! The Asian made cars you'd reallynot want to be in just then!!

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I would repalce those bumper shocks, as I think that they are menat to only obsorve inpacts of mph. They may not be as helpful next time.

Should have said in the first post, no injuries, and he hit at probably about 5mph. I barely felt it. I think his nose was diving down, and that contributed to some of the damage. But, all is well for me anyway. Good old 123.

What does the impact have to do with "build quality?"

The BMW did exactly what it was supposed to do . . . crumple, and thereby absorb all the energy/work generated to protect the most important equipment in the car, the passenger. Did the BMW's airbags deploy?

Most cars on the road today are no longer like the "rolling bricks" of our fathers. They use a higher precentage of light weight materials, including the steel. As a visual concept, would you rather smack an empty glass beer bottle against your head, or an empty aluminum can?

Looks like you answered your own question. Lighter isn't better in terms of strength. You saying build quality doesnt have anything to do with lightly touching japanese car sheetmetal and creating an indentation? I'll take a more solid object personally..

Amen.

My step-son t-boned a late model Ford F-150 pickup a few years ago in a 2004 Honda Civic. - 70 mph impact. The front of the Civic was a mess, but none of it made it's way into the interior of the car. Air bag deployed as expected.

So much for the flimsy Asian car myth.

MTIs glass/aluminum analogy says it all.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I'm assuming your chosen career path isn't in engineering.

Uhh... 2 lbs of steel is stronger than 20?

The airbags did not deploy. If it would have been an older car with a metal bumper, chances are there would have been no damage to either. But, his front end did just as was intended, not a freaking thing for a 5mph impact except cost him some $$$. Try this for a visual. Instead of smacking something against my head, as you want me to do, how bout dropping an adjustable wrench on my 123's hood. Nothing. Drop the same on my Honda, dented. Nuff said.
Oh, and as far as crumple zones go, that's why I got the new 04 F150, I saw the pics and videos of the 03 F150 severely intruding on the driver compartment during just a 35mph impact.
I'm puttng on the third nose for the Honda, this last time because someone backed into me in a parking lot.

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79 MB 280 SEL Euro 133k
77 MB 450SL 154k
05 Mustang GT Vert (3) 104k
12 TSX Wagon Tech (66k) (192k)
06 Subaru Outback base (135k) 164k
16 Acura MDX (109k) 111k
18 Silverado 2500 LTZ Midnight (212) 56k
97 Ford Ranger 163k
11 RAV4 154k
01 Escape 173k
04 Honda Pilot 292k
1967 Mustang (Resto Project)
1968 Mustang (Parts Bin)
00 Ford Ranger 124k

Depends on the application. If you're building a car to avoid damage to itself, 20 pounds of steel may seem reasonable. If you're building a car that will deform to absorb the energy generated by the same impact so that you don't scramble your cranium, there's probably a design that can use only 2 pounds of steel.

Now, given a choice, would you rather have your parents ride into a stationary barrier in car that does, or doesn't, utilize crumple zones?

That's good, since it's evidence that the impact was below 10 mph.

No, not 'nuff said . . . what was the adjusted price differential between the Honda and Merceds when both cars were new? I bet you could stockpile a lot of Honda hoods for the difference in showroom prices.

I'll let them decide for themselves. I myself want the strongest vehicle. I don't care about crumple zones or any of that jazz, if the structure is intact, how bad can it get inside? Maybe I'm wrong but from observation, if an accident is real bad, its the bigger, heavier car that fares best. And there has to be something can be done to prevent cars from needing to be totalled from light wrecks. My Audi got hit, built well, real sturdy, dented the fender, some scratches, popped it out, done deal. The insight that hit me, however, needed a new bumper, new fender, new lights. i think we're almost arguing different points.

I would much rather replace a bumper, fender, lower apron assembly, wheel well or suspension parts . . . than replacing my ability to feed myself, take care of personal hygiene, or be left to using a stick to type letters on a screen. But hey, that's just me.

How bad can it be? Perhaps the lack of imagination in this particular matter is a good thing.