ML320 - 55 MPH Frontal Collision - Benzworld.org

iamsuperchris · 08-30-2007, 05:55 PM

My girlfriend and I were driving my dad's 1999 ML320 down the freeway when somebody up ahead spun out and stopped dead in my lane. There was a guy next to me, and a wall on my other side, so I just had to slam on the brakes and hope for the best.

We were going about 70, and by the time we hit the other car, we were (according to the insurance companies) going approximately 55 MPH.

We slammed right into the the other car's engine compartment (they were facing our 4 O clock), and utterly destroyed their car (Ford Escort or similar). It threw their car about 10-15 feet, and our ML320 grinded to a halt.

To our surprise, at a 55 MPH frontal collision, the car was only smashed in to the block, but didn't touch the block. The glass didn't break, and the airbags didn't deploy, and we were perfectly OK; just a little sore around the seatbelt areas.

I found out afterwards that the ML320 was the safest SUV in its class, and had we been in another car, such as an expedition, we could have had the dash in our laps. Anyways, just thought I'd share, the ML320 is definetly a SAFE car (and pretty darn quick to!).

mlfun · 08-30-2007, 11:33 PM

ML vs Escort.. is no match at all.

mlfun · 08-30-2007, 11:34 PM

Glad that you are OK. Hope the Escort people did alrite as well.

karugs · 08-31-2007, 02:27 AM

^Likewise...

asianml · 08-31-2007, 08:40 AM

Wow! Glad you're okay. Get checked by a chiropractor or doctor ASAP.

kerryz · 08-31-2007, 11:59 AM

^^^ I agree about getting checked out by a doctor. My wife t-boned a RX330 last year (the other lady ran a red light). No air bags were deployed also but both cars were totaled and my wife is still feeling shoulder pain.

Glad to hear everyone survived.

Kerry

deheld · 09-01-2007, 01:02 AM

I hope there were no casualties in the escort.
No match for a ML (or for any Mercedes).....

karugs · 09-01-2007, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asianml

Wow! Glad you're okay. Get checked by a chiropractor or doctor ASAP.

Do not get a chiropractor, get a therapist instead.

**cmitch** · 09-03-2007, 06:15 AM

You fared well for many reasons, the main one being the ML outweighed the other car by a factor of 2. Then, that car was sitting still in your lane and when you struck it, the ML pushed it which absorbed most of the impact. I'm not minimizing what you say. The ML's are the safest SUV's on the road, but not the 99 you were driving. The ML had some front end mods that beefed up crash protection in 2000, mostly in the footwell area. It is those mods that brought the ML up to the best standards. My 2002 ML weighs several hundred pounds more than my 99 ML430 and I can attest the 2002 ML320 handles slightly better. BTW, it costs more for me to insure my 99 ML430 than the 2002 ML320. Both collision and liability/medical payments are substantially more on the 99.

I'm glad you're okay AND the fact you were driving the ML saved you some physical trauma. They are very safe vehicles and the post 2000 model years are even safer.

Pedsdmd · 09-05-2007, 04:10 PM

glad all are safe. glad you didnt flip over