Last night I was driving back from the Buffalo, NY to Toronto on the QEW (major 6 lane highway between Niagara Falls and Toronto) and was just at Oakville when some kind of animal decided to try and run across highway. I was traveling at about 100-110 kph and it was quite dark. All I saw before the impact was a grayish dog like animal that could have been a small dog/fox/coyote and then there was a loud "thump" which was followed by a series of additional thumps as the animal was dragged under the car, etc. Funny enough, the car didn't really react to the impact other than the bumps that were cause when I finally ran over whatever I hit. The car kept going like nothing had happened and I was almost home when the computer on the dash warned me to "Top up" the engine coolant soon (not a good sign). When I pulled up onto the driveway and had a look, I was quite surprised by the damage. I've attached some photos some that you can all see what happened.
By this morning, there was a puddle of coolant on the driveway so I had the car towed by MB Roadside assistance to my dealer's body shop. The body shop guy called me back an hour ago with some preliminary estimates. He says the entire front bumper will have to be replaced along with the radiator which is bent inwards and leaking. He also thinks the air conditioning compressor might have take some impact, etc. Total estimate at this point is about $4500. Ouch. Putting this one through on the insurance for sure. Insurance company says that an impact with an animal is considered "No Fault" and my record won't be affected. I'm just amazed at the amount of damage from hitting a small animal.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt and the car will be fixed in 7-10 days. Thoughts?
Jordan.
Wow, that is quite an impact. I am not surprised by the damage estimate though. If there were one thing I would critique about the "B" (not that other cars are better) is that it seems a little fragile looking with lots of expensive bits exposed. For example, last winter (brutal snow and cold) the first winter with my "B" coped fine, but even though the car has great build quality and fit/finish, I do still wonder how it will look and hold-up in a few more winters whereas my X3 seems impervious to blistering heat, frigid cold, and any kind of snowstorm, sleet or rain as if it were all a 21C sunny day in the shade.
Sorry for your accident, but we all have to pay a lot of insurance and this is exactly why you have it. I never feel sorry for insurance companies.
That is one area where our X3 seems more tank-like. Perhaps because it is simply a much heavier vehicle, but it does seem much more robust build. I wonder what would have happened if that happened in an X3 with the extra ground clearance and tank like under body.
PS: Sorry to go off on a tangent, but I can't help myself drawing comparisons as I really enjoy both vehicles and their traits
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2008 Mercedes B200, premium, CVT
2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2.0t, tip, quattro
Formerly
2007 X3 Premium, steptronic
2005 X3 Premium, 6 speed man
2004 BMW 320i, steptronic
2003 Mini Cooper, 5 speed man
2000 323i, 5 speed man
We know that the smart have strong capsules and that pic seems to support it.
Though it sure doesn't make the ML look stable. A lot of cars in odd positions in that pic.
More members for the upside down club.
Last night while traveling home from the (Suby) dealer we almost hit a very large deer close to our turn-in.
The east has a deer problem in many areas and we'll have to rethink our night time driving speeds.
Last year there were 3 moose strikes within 8 k of our house and usually you don't survive.
Our friend had just dropped 7 children off for a party and on his way back the moose jumped out on the highway.
He was driving a Chevy Suburban(read very large vehicle) and just had time to lay down across the front seat.
The V 8 block was driven back 1.5 ft and he was fine and the vehicle was scrap. Even our B(and us) can't survive that impact. Derek
Derek, you can relax - the B suspension was redesigned and with electronic stability control, the B is officially 'Moose proof'.
Sweden has a road safety test called the 'Elch' ( moose) test -which tests the cars ability to AVOID a moose. The original A Class had to be recalled for suspension mods to pass the test. At the time, this was a big black eye for Mercedes PR. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_test
The B Class is now referred to as an 'Elch" and our German counterparts refer to themselves as Elchfans. Elchfans.de - für alle Fans der Mercedes Benz A-Klasse
It's nice to know that the B is moose-proof but what about bison-proof?
Were you in one of our wonderful National Parks when you had your bison close encounter?
The moose test was implemented by SAAB not to avoid the stupid animals but to make sure that they would do no harm to the occupants of the vehicle. The moose will actually charge head on at a freight train and taking on a small car, during a chance encounter, will not slow them down. The blowing of the train whistle has no effect and the moose charges head on. The moose can cause thousands of dollars damage to a locomotive weighing more than 100 tons.
With a Bison's lower center of gravity the B would end up being recycled, probably into a Subaru
It's nice to know that the B is moose-proof but what about bison-proof?
Were you in one of our wonderful National Parks when you had your bison close encounter?
Derek
Yes. We were in the Canadian part of Waterton-Glacier park.
That has to be the most beautifull spot on earth. Even better than Zion.
We saw Black bears, foxes, Bisons, deer, etc.
We hiked a full day and hardly say other people (only fresh Grizzly tracks...)
On the way to the USA we encountered the Bison But we drove an American SUV (Toyota Something..) not a B-Class...
A smart is about the size of a dog, isn't it? 
(Suby) dealer 
Derek
But we drove an American SUV (Toyota Something..) not a B-Class...
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