MB SUV breaks in half - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jay_bob · #16 12-10-2021, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimFreeh

It's not an ML, if you watch the video there is a close-up of the rear hatch.

It's a GLK X204 chassis.

Very highly rated in crash test results. It could certainly be a grafted repair situation.

I was looking at it on my phone, and only the thumbnail would load, so from the side it looked more like a 166 to me. But that GLK is from the same era so the ‘design language’ was similar between the X204 and W166.

In any case they build them all the same way, start with the floor pan, add the sides, finally a solid top. No matter if it’s a sedan or a SUV.

No way there’s a transverse seam at that point from the factory on anything MB builds.

jay_bob · #17 12-10-2021, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

Curiously enough,
I have heard a lot of bad things about the ML350. Any comments from drivers/owners? It's an older car but my wife likes the style and wants me to find one, even though I thinks a turbo 300 CD might actually be more to her liking.

We have had our 2014 model ML350 Bluetec since 2017 and it’s been pretty good. Nothing major has broken on it. Had a NOx sensor replaced under CPO warranty and then earlier this year had the emissions recall mods done on it. Got about 83k on it and had to do the usual, tires, brakes, regular maintenance.

We also have a 2008 ML320 CDI (W164) and it is surviving pretty well, just had to replace the a/c compressor, had to do the oil cooler seals, but otherwise been good. We’ve owned that one since 2013. I originally bought this one for my wife and we gave it to our son when his other car got rear-ended and we bought the 2104 for her to drive.

The build quality on the interior is night and day between the 164 and 166. Can’t tell the 2014 is 7 years old on the interior. But the 2008 the plastics are starting to fail.

Drove it to Oklahoma and back this past summer to visit the wife’s family and it did great, got nearly 30 mpg @ 70 mph 2 days each way.

Kuan · #18 12-10-2021, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay_bob

That is a W166 chassis. Early to mid 201x ML350.

You are looking at a clip job (salvage rebuild where 2 bodies butt welded together) and patched and repainted.

Butt welds are notoriously weak.

There is no transverse factory seam at that location in a 166 chassis.

The roof panel is one piece front to back and so is the floor pan. You can see it on EPC.

It wouldn’t split clean like that if it was one piece of steel, it would be completely deformed at the break.

I guarantee the embedded VINs don’t match front and back on this thing.

Dang! Wow! Good to know. I didn't even know these things were possible, or at least legal.

t walgamuth · #19 12-10-2021, 11:38 PM

I heard of people cutting two cars in half and making one straight one. They still do that?

jay_bob · #20 12-12-2021, 09:33 AM

Clip jobs have been done for ages, not sure about the legality but surely unethical to sell it without disclosure.

I can see cases where you have a collectible car you're trying to save and show, but that's a whole different thing than flipping it.

The ability to get away with it is inversely proportional to the strength of the laws of various states regarding salvage/rebuilt titles.

Some places require a full inspection, others just a visit to the DMV for paperwork, to get a salvage/rebuilt vehicle back on the road.

merc lover · #21 12-12-2021, 01:43 PM

this thread has certainly influenced me to carefully look over my next used car purchase.