[J Dubb]

Well, I dodged them as long as I could, but they finally caught up to me… You know, that young driver who stops at the stop sign, maybe or maybe doesn’t look both ways and then proceeds. I don’t know if she just didn’t see close to two tons of 040 Black, Blitz waxed steel coming toward her, or if she just thought I was farther away. Well, after she stopped, which is why I proceeded, she then proceeded. For all my effort, my “lap cat-like” reflexes and leg muscles just couldn’t shut it down quick enough. WHAM! Right into the driver’s side door. My fiancée was at my side along with my 6 month old daughter soundly asleep in her car seat in the back. Yeah, I do mean soundly… She slept through the whole damn thing. :shit not: I’d love to meet the people who designed this remarkable car.

At any rate, my damage was confined to the bumper, radiator and condenser, from what I could determine just looking at it. Poor little PT Cruiser’s door would no longer open.

Okay, I feel better now.

What I’d like to know is does anyone know of a reputable body shop in the Jacksonville, Florida area he or she would like to recommend for consideration toward fixing my car? I have yet to talk to my mechanic, but would like to widen the pool a bit. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Regards.

 

[aroundthescenes]

new teen drivers

sorry to hear about what happen to you. We had the same thing happen in Sept 08, a 16 year old girl driver with he DL only 3 months and 3 riders under 16 with her. We meaning me my wife and 10yr old heading east bound and she runs a stop sign hits us in the passanger rear door, we rolled over 1 1/2 times and while the car was rolling we did a 180. so we landed on the driver side down heading west bound. We all got out with just some minor scratchs, from glass and some bruseing, and bumps. Our 2002 ML 320 saved our lives, but it was totaled out.



SORRY TO JACK THE POST, but it just shows that sooner or later we all will meet the new 16yr old driver.

Hope you can get your car fixed and back on the road

 

[Seventh Shin]

Sorry to hear about the SEL, I can't give you any info on where to go, but you have my condolences. Pictures?

And ouch on that ML, how fast was she going through that stop sign? Looking for another ML? Hehe.

I've almost met one of those drivers face to face, or bumper to bumper if you will, in a parking lot just recently, but I lucked out when see finally turned her head (thanks to my horn) after turning the wheel and accelerating.

 

[aroundthescenes]

right now my wife is driving the 03 C320, and I am driving the 86 560SEC. Maybe a ML again, but we are leaning towards the new GLK.

 

[Firewater]

Fix it yourself

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/1428537-crunched-my-560-sel-front-end.html

 

[420 SE]

Glad to hear everyone is OK, but when you do find a good repair shop, please post it up in the new repair shops section...

 

[Dimmuburger]

There is an intersection VERY near my house where that would happen a lot when people were leaving work when we first moved in. After a few close encounters with my Aztek (I NEVER veered away AT ALL), and some face-to-face encounters, it's pretty well stopped.

That's great that your baby slept through it all! I'm happy to drive my family around in our 124 and 126.

 

[JFlyer]

I don't know personally of a shop up there, but my friend Attila I'm sure will probably know. He's restoring a 280SL and two SECs at the moment. PM me and I'll give you his number.

 

[500SEC_AMG]

glad to know these cars can take it

If you get a Euro bumper I can sell you a AMG spoiler :thumbsup:

 

[J Dubb]

Fix it yourself

You know what, Firewater, you just might have something here. I mean, after looking at your post and all you had to do, mine looks like a walk in the park. First thing is to have an expert look at it and determine if there is any frame damage. I don't believe there is though. I’ll have to replace the radiator so at least the car can be driven. Cascade mentioned Nissens as being a good replacement because of a reinforced neck... either that or the original Behr.

If you get a Euro bumper I can sell you a AMG spoiler :thumbsup:

I hear ya, 500SEC AMG! I think that will be a little too aggressive for me though. What I do think I will do though is upgrade to an SEC bumper as I love the fog lights. I'll just need to find out how to wire them up and keep a factory look for the car's interior.

Everybody, I've seen posts that say the SEC Bumper will fit the SEL once the chrome/aluminum is changed due to the difference in the SEC/SEL grill. Can anyone tell me how to wire up the lights? I'm thinking of somehow adding an SEL coin tray, removing a seat heater switch and adding a switch to control the fog lights. Will this work?