Survived an accident in your MB? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Pooka · #1 01-24-2009, 05:03 PM

I was talking to someone about Mercedes in accidents and they had a tough time understanding me. I then began to wonder if maybe I was just lucky.

A few years ago I was parked at a light in my 124 and a large SUV hit the back of me. It had been hit in the back by a sports car at about 30 mph (the SUV was also waiting on the light) and was picked up by the slopeing hood of the sports car and thrown into my car right about taillight height.

The trunk of the 124 crumpled up right to the back glass, and my car was thrown about ten feet forward. No one was coming the other way, so I was lucky in that respect.

A lot of airbags went off (mine did not) and there were a lot of injuries. I just backed out of the intersection and started to see what I could do to help.

When the Cops showed up one of them asked me what I was doing just hanging around and I told him I was the driver of the Mercedes. I thought perhaps they might want to talk to me. They thought the Mercedes driver had been taken away in an ambulance and had a hard time thinking it was me since I did not have a scrach anywhere. I was wearing my seatbelt.

They offered to call a tow truck, but I declined and drove home. The trunk lid was smashed up and the taillights were crushed, but since the SUV had hit me high the bumper was still OK and the high mounted brake light still worked.

What I thought was nice about this was the fuel tank was not ruptured, the doors still opened and shut and not one window was broken. Damage was estimated at $8,000, so it was totaled out.

So I think Mercedes are pretty safe cars. Anyone else been through a similar situation?

t walgamuth · #2 01-25-2009, 10:36 PM

Two of my kids have been hit hard in the rear in old 123s. My daughter walked away with no injuries at all. My son was hit by a person with narcoplexy (sp?) who fell asleep and hit him going about 40. Our 240d was pushed into the car in front and they both were pushed into another car so four in all were accordianed. My son (who is pretty sturdy) had a stiff neck for a few days and the young lady with him a bit worse.

I took the insurance money and fixed both cars.

TMAllison · #3 01-25-2009, 10:48 PM

I rode a 99 BMW 528i 800' offroad with 300' of elevation drop and got out and hiked up to the road once it finally stopped. Took about 60 secs. Three side to side roll overs and 3 more rolls nose to tail once it got really steep. Got some bruises, couple scrapes, and my very first helicopter ride.

Bought a more sedate 01 E320 after that, then the 99 E300 I currently drive.

Gotta love those German engineers.

C280 Sport · #4 01-25-2009, 10:49 PM

Thanks be to God I have only had 1 accident in a car. I had my old 300SD Turbo and I had the right of way at the light so I pulled out and out of nowhere someone in huge Dodge Ram truck rear ended me and the whole family in the car. The whole back end was pushed in with $8,000 in damage but no one as hurt and no one had a scratch on them except the guy in the truck. I dont know how he got hurt worse then us? Law suit I think he was looking for.

Johnhef · #5 01-25-2009, 11:30 PM

I've posted this one before but this was one of the cars I parted out. I knew the owner who was drunk, passed out, hit a pole and rolled it 3 times. She survived with only cuts and bruises.

johnathan1 · #6 01-25-2009, 11:54 PM

My stepmother was rear ended in her 2002 C240, and walked away with a stiff neck, that's about it. The car still drove fine, and all the doors opened easily.

davidmash · #7 01-26-2009, 12:03 AM

Waiting at a red light. Tagged by a 17 yr old with his girlfriend. My back is still sore (happened 4 years ago) and the ins co wanted to total it but I convinced them not too. I had to pay a bit to fix it up but it was worth it I think.

iwrock · #8 01-26-2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

I had to pay a bit to fix it up but it was worth it I think.

Yeah it was. Your 16 valve is really clean.

BoomInTheTrunk · #9 01-26-2009, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

I had to pay a bit to fix it up but it was worth it I think.

Yah, I love those thing and yours looks great in that picture, minus the big dent. My next MB is going to be a 16 Valve, I just love those things.

iwrock · #10 01-26-2009, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomInTheTrunk

Yah, I love those thing and yours looks great in that picture, minus the big dent. My next MB is going to be a 16 Valve, I just love those things.

I have seen it in person, and yes it looks really, really good...

E150GT · #11 01-26-2009, 08:02 AM

I got into a minor fender bender in my '82 300SD. A Nissan Titan pulled out in front of me and I couldnt stop doing about 30mph. I was unhurt. My little sister got a scrape from the seatbelt. They totalled the car stating 5000 dollars in body damage not counting anything in the engine bay. Wasnt too bad a deal as I got 5 grand cash for a car I paid 2k for about 3 months earlier.

Zeus · #12 01-26-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

So I think Mercedes are pretty safe cars. Anyone else been through a similar situation?

Yep! My W124 300E was a tank, and it was hit a few times. Once really badly, and similar to your story only probably not as severe - I was stopped at a red and a woman in a Pontiac sedan rear-ended me doing about 60 km/h. She didn't really even brake. Her Pontiac was completely totalled. The Benz had a smashed trunk lid but the rear quarter panels survived (did need to be bent a bit back into shape) and it was repaired and lasted three more years before I sold it for the E430.

I also got hit at an intersection - a driver in a Honda hit me turning left. Fully his fault. I love these pics...shows the tin can metal of the Honda and the steel of the Benz. This was after my 300E was repaired from the first accident. This second guy hit me solidly and the Benz was barely dented. the Honda? Well...here you go...