My pristine 1988 300E was recently hit in the rear driver's side quarter panel by an uninsured driver from New Hampshire! I'm going after the guy, but it doesn't look like I'm going to get my money any time soon. Instead of paying the estimated $7200 for repairs, I've elected to repair the car myself. It was hit on the driver's side at the very rear of the fender, right where the taillight wraps around. I can post pictures later if necessary.

Here's where I am now: I have the fender back in its original shape, I have a new taillight, and I'm on my way to getting a bumper. My problem is that the back of the car is not straight. The car drives straight, and the frame is straight all the way past the rear axle. Only the very rear portion towards the back of the trunk is out of line. Measuring from the garage floor to the bumper mounts, the left side is 1/2" higher then the right. As a result, the trunk will not close properly. How can I get the left side pushed down? Any ideas? Keep in mind that I'm a "shadetree mechanic" with limited tools available.

I'd appreciate any ideas -- I'm so close to getting it back on the road, but I need to get the back straight enough to close the trunk and get a good seal. The trunk actually does latch, but the gap is too big on the passenger side and it doesn't make a water-tight seal. Thanks for your help!

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John
1988 Mercedes-Benz 300E
2008 Honda Pilot