help, i had a car crash..

[Hogger]

What you destroyed is the dark colored piece that's shaped like a rectangle. Basically it holds your front end together. Glad your OK, but your negligence could have easily killed someone. So, how fast were you REALLY going......... Guess you lost the race.

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[C230 Sport Coup]

When I was 17, my father informed me my car needed brakes.
He helped me pull it apart, determine what parts needed replacing, and then,
when I didn't have the money to fix it, forbade me to take it off the jackstands
until I came up with the needed money for the parts.
And while the car had belonged to them previously, they sold it to me, not gave it,
though at a good price, and I made money on it when it sold.

Times are different. My folks were cut from the cloth of nothing comes for free,
and expected me to earn the money, which I did, cutting lawns and flipping burgers.
It took a couple weeks for me to come up with it, and then he helped me put it back together.
I was kind of pissed at the time being a stupid kid.
Left to my own devices, I could've been him. Reckless.
So hopefully, a lesson will be learned here.


Someone quoted 'unhelpful rant'. That depends on who you are helping.
A reckless teenager or his possible future victim(s)?
The possibility of an unintended victim is high without an attitude change.
I'm almost always the 1st to be doling out free and mostly pretty accurate advise, but
in a situation like this, I think 1st and foremost, if no one is guiding him, I don't think my
rant is unhelpful.
I'm just hoping he won't make the same mistake again and forgoe something as important as brakes.
Ha, that being said, 9 out of 10 times when mechanics told me I needed brakes there was anywhere from 10K-70K left on the pads. But when you hear that sound, metal on metal, and your braking is gone,
you know. And likely a warning has come up on the dash of any newer vehicle.

OK, rant off. I think he gets it, and it was nice to see he didn't lash out and
understand that he screwed up by letting it go so long.
Life doesn't always give you second chances.
You got lucky....this time.

[Norwichdelta06]

you need a new engine cradle

Part # 2036280557

You can probably find a used one

[hcoronado]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/04-05-Merced...-/250998625511

I would hate to get a quote on how much this will cost to install

[samaritrey]

Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup

When I was 17, my father informed me my car needed brakes.
He helped me pull it apart, determine what parts needed replacing, and then,
when I didn't have the money to fix it, forbade me to take it off the jackstands
until I came up with the needed money for the parts.
And while the car had belonged to them previously, they sold it to me, not gave it,
though at a good price, and I made money on it when it sold.

Times are different. My folks were cut from the cloth of nothing comes for free,
and expected me to earn the money, which I did, cutting lawns and flipping burgers.
It took a couple weeks for me to come up with it, and then he helped me put it back together.
I was kind of pissed at the time being a stupid kid.
Left to my own devices, I could've been him. Reckless.
So hopefully, a lesson will be learned here.


Someone quoted 'unhelpful rant'. That depends on who you are helping.
A reckless teenager or his possible future victim(s)?
The possibility of an unintended victim is high without an attitude change.
I'm almost always the 1st to be doling out free and mostly pretty accurate advise, but
in a situation like this, I think 1st and foremost, if no one is guiding him, I don't think my
rant is unhelpful.
I'm just hoping he won't make the same mistake again and forgoe something as important as brakes.
Ha, that being said, 9 out of 10 times when mechanics told me I needed brakes there was anywhere from 10K-70K left on the pads. But when you hear that sound, metal on metal, and your braking is gone,
you know. And likely a warning has come up on the dash of any newer vehicle.

OK, rant off. I think he gets it, and it was nice to see he didn't lash out and
understand that he screwed up by letting it go so long.
Life doesn't always give you second chances.
You got lucky....this time.

That is how I was raised for the most part. I had something similar happen with a expensive part needed and had to ride the school bus/ have a friend pick me up for a month till I had the money to fix something. I was so angry at the time but now looking back am glad I was not handed everything because I am now a very hard working person and feel proud of the work I do. I have a friend who thinks he will get out of College and be given a 100k job and be living by himself even when he has so much school debt last I heard $80,000. Every job he has had so far in life has been given to him by either his mom or friends of hers and have spoiled him with $20+ an hour and very little actual work. I worry about him he is crazy

Originally Posted by hcoronado

http://www.ebay.com/itm/04-05-Merced...-/250998625511

I would hate to get a quote on how much this will cost to install

Well I figure the motor will either have to come out or lifted up some since the engine mounts are attached as well as every thing attached to the suspension will also have to come off. Even doing this yourself will be expensive with a huge list of parts and time will be ridiculous.

[Peydidy]

I was and am being the raised the same as sport coupe and trey said they were. I paid 100% of my first car (2005 C230 sedan) and also paid 100% of my other car (2002 C230 coupe), Plus I pay for full coverage insurance on both (don't forget im still a teen so my insurance doesn't come cheep). I pay for all my mods, repairs, gas, and any other costs these cars cost me. I can honestly say it does suck to see some of my friends whos parents buy them ridiculous cars that they just trash and don't appreciate, I am not saying anyone here is like that at all. I live in a more wealthy community not be sound cocky or anything, and my friends all drive BMWs, 50k+ trucks, and one of my friends just got a brand new porscha and he doesn't even have his license yet. In the end I think it is better to not have everything handed to you because in the long run that is how you learn to appreciate things. OP, I am glad no one was hurt which is what matters most, cars can be replaced but lives cant. Just be safe and don't drive recklessly. Also don't compromise on safety things like brakes, tires, or things of that nature. Good luck and I hope you can get your car replaced soon, from the looks of it I am not to sure if it would be worth repairing, then again I don't know much about car frames and all

[The Godfather]

That car was green, so it was not only ugly as hell, but likely had the resale value of a salvaged, rebuilt, stolen recovery combo titled C-Class.

So in short, hopefully it's deemed totaled by your insurance company, collect the cash, and don't buy another ugliness.

[C230 Sport Coup]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

That car was green, so it was not only ugly as hell, but likely had the resale value of a salvaged, rebuilt, stolen recovery combo titled C-Class.

So in short, hopefully it's deemed totaled by your insurance company, collect the cash, and don't buy another ugliness.

Yeah.....green. I thought the same thing, but didn't want to say anything. But, apparently MB still makes green cars.
There's a AMG CLS around here where I live.
I did a double take when I Saw it

And you gotta figure it's gonna need deferred maint. on top of everything else based on this conversation.

[Boom vang]

Originally Posted by Norwichdelta06

you need a new engine cradle

Part # 2036280557

You can probably find a used one

The part lists for $875,

http://www.oediscountparts.com sells it for $656.25

The labour to put it in...priceless

[harrison1277]

I feel for you benzos, Dont take the criticism too harshly.

You Learned from this, In a matter of weeks everything will be fine and things will be back to normal

Its just a car, worth paper that human society has given a "value"

Kick back listen to your favorite tunes and relax

The world will continue to rotate and you will get some quality rest again

[Benzos4theteam]

Originally Posted by Hogger

What you destroyed is the dark colored piece that's shaped like a rectangle. Basically it holds your front end together.
Glad your OK, but your negligence could have easily killed someone.

So, how fast were you REALLY going.........
Guess you lost the race.

i broke the left side (drivers side ) of the subframe, unluckily i have to replace the whole subframe as you mentioned above, but luckily i have a lot of good news you guys so just keep reading.

and ha i just wanted to say , an e46 325i gots nothing on me ... not that it has anything to do with my accident, foreal tho. so nobody make assumptions .

Originally Posted by samaritrey

That is how I was raised for the most part. I had something similar happen with a expensive part needed and had to ride the school bus/ have a friend pick me up for a month till I had the money to fix something. I was so angry at the time but now looking back am glad I was not handed everything because I am now a very hard working person and feel proud of the work I do. I have a friend who thinks he will get out of College and be given a 100k job and be living by himself even when he has so much school debt last I heard $80,000. Every job he has had so far in life has been given to him by either his mom or friends of hers and have spoiled him with $20+ an hour and very little actual work. I worry about him he is crazy



Well I figure the motor will either have to come out or lifted up some since the engine mounts are attached as well as every thing attached to the suspension will also have to come off. Even doing this yourself will be expensive with a huge list of parts and time will be ridiculous.

this isn't directed at you but i might as well put it here.

I'm going to be straight up with everyone

i live on the westside of san antonio, the north side is the prettiest. so yes i dont live on the nicest side of town per say. i am not a pampered spoiled kid.

i can tell you that at the age of 17 i probably have one of the nicest cars in the westside.

i bought my first car a e34 50/50$ with my father, (it was cheap as hell) blown head gasket that i fixed, (my gf's dad fixed this for free.)

i sold it for 3500$ and was able to accumulate more money over time so when i sold it i got my w203 at the auction, i am really smart I'm not gonna lie, i use my resources as best as i can. my w203 i bought at the auction with a blown head gasket , my gf dad fixed it , new head gasket all around and re-machining the heads did the trick. the car is worth it, regardless to what anyone said and i got in on my own.and have paid much less than what it costs .

now what happened here? was an accident on my part and i will take the blame and strive to be a more responsible , sorry and i definitely won't put my life at risk.

that being said , although i live on the west side let me just say my dads business is good, he's a smart fellow . he just rather own a house or 2 or 3 (not bragging) than have a 30 year mortgage payment and be caught in debt, just like how i bought my car cash instead of having to pay monthly.

(and also he makes more money than my gf mom who has been a nurse for 25 years and has a matters and works for the biggest hospital in san antonio. and yes all filipinos are nurses)

and also i know a lot of people , once again I'm using my resources to the fullest,

so what do i need? a rim, a tire, and the most important part, a new sub frame and installing it to the car, (lifting up the motor, disconnecting all parts attached to sub-frame , putting in the new subframe and putting it all back togheter, in spanish we say (quita y pom) which means remove and put, the simplest of jobs it doesn't even require fixing anything. might need to buy a new lower control arms and then of course new brakes.

so what am i gonna do? here it is

after calling numerous places i found a place where they had a w203 c320 to part out and got the subframe w/ warranty for CHEAP . turns out the owner of some foreign auto parts place actually has a 2011 m3 we conversed about foreign cars for a bit , i invited him to my car meet and it turns out he goes to cars and coffee a big event here in san antonio. so subframe acquired for cheap.

but who will install it? who has a tool to lift up the engine? who will charge me second to nothing? who fixed my bmw for free? after getting a lecture from my gas dad about driving carefully he insisted i let him fix it , and on top of that any body shop would have raped me with the price.

so what do i need? possibly a lower control arm , new brakes, and a new rim?

anyways my car is in the processed of getting fixed, and i won't even waste 1k dollars , foreal. it'll be much less.

and just in time. one of the thing i do for money on top of working for my dad is i have 2 purebred labrador retrievers that have puppies every so often , here in texas a lot of people buy them for hunting, i sell them at around 300 to 400$ a puppies and my dog is about to give birth , i already have 3 reserved, last time i sold 3 for 350$ each and made just over 1k.

but i do have 1 serious question, guys i can't find a rim like mine? why is mine chrome? where can i buy a chrome one? should i buy a regular one and chrome it? does anyone else have a chrome? please teach me on this .

Originally Posted by Peydidy

I was and am being the raised the same as sport coupe and trey said they were. I paid 100% of my first car (2005 C230 sedan) and also paid 100% of my other car (2002 C230 coupe), Plus I pay for full coverage insurance on both (don't forget im still a teen so my insurance doesn't come cheep). I pay for all my mods, repairs, gas, and any other costs these cars cost me. I can honestly say it does suck to see some of my friends whos parents buy them ridiculous cars that they just trash and don't appreciate, I am not saying anyone here is like that at all. I live in a more wealthy community not be sound cocky or anything, and my friends all drive BMWs, 50k+ trucks, and one of my friends just got a brand new porscha and he doesn't even have his license yet. In the end I think it is better to not have everything handed to you because in the long run that is how you learn to appreciate things. OP, I am glad no one was hurt which is what matters most, cars can be replaced but lives cant. Just be safe and don't drive recklessly. Also don't compromise on safety things like brakes, tires, or things of that nature. Good luck and I hope you can get your car replaced soon, from the looks of it I am not to sure if it would be worth repairing, then again I don't know much about car frames and all

read above ^

Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup

Yeah.....green. I thought the same thing, but didn't want to say anything. But, apparently MB still makes green cars.
There's a AMG CLS around here where I live.
I did a double take when I Saw it

And you gotta figure it's gonna need deferred maint. on top of everything else based on this conversation.

yeah i know seems to be a lot of work. luckily i know a guy or well my gf's dad.

Originally Posted by harrison1277

I feel for you benzos, Dont take the criticism too harshly.

You Learned from this, In a matter of weeks everything will be fine and things will be back to normal

Its just a car, worth paper that human society has given a "value"

Kick back listen to your favorite tunes and relax

The world will continue to rotate and you will get some quality rest again

you are so right thats why i have been respectful to everyone.

and well if you want to know what I'm going to do with the car, read the long response up there ^

[Peydidy]

I didn't mean my post in anyway of offense, sorry if you took it in a way that I was saying that you didn't work for your car, thats not anything near to what I ment. If anything I was saying that we are in the same boat (high school students dealing with the costs of MBs on our own. Glad to hear your car will be up and running again. Also as for the wheels go why not just buy a hole set of some that aren't Crome? considering how you need to buy 2 new tires it might make more sense to just replace your hole set. I have a set of the same exact wheels as the ones on your car sitting in my garage (got them off the guy I sold my facelifted wheels too) They have brand new tires all around and aren't chrome (I think thats a positive thing not sure what your opinions on chrome wheels is). If you were closer to the bay I would sell them too you, but considering how these wheels aren't worth much I dont think it would be too worth it. Try searching around criags list maybe you will get lucky with someone selling a few spare wheels of the same as yours. Again sorry if any offense was taken buy my earlier post, I think I should have worded it differently, good luck buddy!

[Benzos4theteam]

Originally Posted by Peydidy

I didn't mean my post in anyway of offense, sorry if you took it in a way that I was saying that you didn't work for your car, thats not anything near to what I ment. If anything I was saying that we are in the same boat (high school students dealing with the costs of MBs on our own. Glad to hear your car will be up and running again. Also as for the wheels go why not just buy a hole set of some that aren't Crome? considering how you need to buy 2 new tires it might make more sense to just replace your hole set. I have a set of the same exact wheels as the ones on your car sitting in my garage (got them off the guy I sold my facelifted wheels too) They have brand new tires all around and aren't chrome (I think thats a positive thing not sure what your opinions on chrome wheels is). If you were closer to the bay I would sell them too you, but considering how these wheels aren't worth much I dont think it would be too worth it. Try searching around criags list maybe you will get lucky with someone selling a few spare wheels of the same as yours. Again sorry if any offense was taken buy my earlier post, I think I should have worded it differently, good luck buddy!

don't worry about it bro , its all gravy with me.

this is why i like mb world, different opinions its all good.

and to be honest , even if it is taboo, i prefer my chrome ones over the non chrome :O

there not the best and def not stylish but they will do for now, i found many junkyards and craiglist listing that have them , one of the junkyards had 8 . but none of them chrome. so will i need to chrome one?

idk , i just want my car to match, intul i gather some more money to upgrade.

and the tires? another thing about living where i live people always have stuff for cheap, (because its stolen, or they got it illegally) but i actually got a good deal on pirelli tire. yup i know i was in luck. 205/55/16. for cheap. now i just need one chrome rim, lol

[Peydidy]

Defiantly feel the whole wanting the car to match thing, I wouldn't want one wheel to be different from my others either. I am sure you can find a body shop that will chrome your rim, shouldn't be crazy expensive either. Just call around to some local body shops and ask them. If they say they don't chrome wheels ask them if they know of anywhere that does, usually they know a place for everything that has to do with a car

[LILBENZ230]

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

and ha i just wanted to say , an e46 325i gots nothing on me ... not that it has anything to do with my accident, foreal tho. so nobody make assumptions.

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

i am really smart I'm not gonna lie

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

i can tell you that at the age of 17 i probably have one of the nicest cars in the westside.

I'd be worried.

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

the car is worth it

No it isn't.

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

he just rather own a house or 2 or 3 (not bragging) than have a 30 year mortgage payment and be caught in debt.

Wouldn't everyone?

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

all filipinos are nurses

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

i am really smart I'm not gonna lie

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

in spanish we say (quita y pom).

In Spanish, I say.. El remedio puede ser peor que la enfermedad

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

might need to buy a new lower control arms

No might about it.. you will definitely.

Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam

anyways my car is in the processed of getting fixed, and i won't even waste 1k dollars , foreal. it'll be much less.

I typically poke fun at my Spanish speaking friends for saying "waste" in place of the word "spend". We have a good laugh.. They also use "pass by" instead of "stop by", also a running joke for us. But in this case I think "waste" is appropriate. And it will likely be more than $1,000. Foreal.

Keep us posted.

[samaritrey]

Well I hope it all gets fixed correctly and you can have many more safe miles. That said I would bet money you have other control arms or suspension parts that will need to be replaced that type of impact will bend stuff and it probably won't be noticed till you align the car. You are lucky you have free labor because that is what is saving you big time. I doubt it can be fixed without removing the engine from the car but even if you can do it with the engine slightly lifted that is a lot of work and a good time to replace the engine mounts at the very least.

[Benzos4theteam]

Originally Posted by Peydidy

Defiantly feel the whole wanting the car to match thing, I wouldn't want one wheel to be different from my others either. I am sure you can find a body shop that will chrome your rim, shouldn't be crazy expensive either. Just call around to some local body shops and ask them. If they say they don't chrome wheels ask them if they know of anywhere that does, usually they know a place for everything that has to do with a car

yeah i know, i am gonna end up buying a regular wheel and having it chromed for the life of me i can't find one already chromed.

Originally Posted by LILBENZ230

Wouldn't everyone?







In Spanish, I say.. El remedio puede ser peor que la enfermedad



No might about it.. you will definitely.



I typically poke fun at my Spanish speaking friends for saying "waste" in place of the word "spend". We have a good laugh.. They also use "pass by" instead of "stop by", also a running joke for us. But in this case I think "waste" is appropriate. And it will likely be more than $1,000. Foreal.

Keep us posted.

if everyone tought like that , just like how you said "wouldn't everybody" then terms like broke and bankruptcy would exist. no everyone share the same logical idea.

just like what samaritrey said I'm getting labor for free. and when I'm done ill be sure to show you the receipts to show i really am not gonna spend more than 1,00$ FOREAL

Originally Posted by samaritrey

Well I hope it all gets fixed correctly and you can have many more safe miles. That said I would bet money you have other control arms or suspension parts that will need to be replaced that type of impact will bend stuff and it probably won't be noticed till you align the car. You are lucky you have free labor because that is what is saving you big time. I doubt it can be fixed without removing the engine from the car but even if you can do it with the engine slightly lifted that is a lot of work and a good time to replace the engine mounts at the very least.

yeah i know, whatever needs to be replaced will be replaced , and of course new brakes.

that being said do you know anything about why my rims are chromed? u have the same car i do , are yours chromed? was that a special option?

i bet my cars gonna be done before i find one (rim), and i don't wanna be riding around and getting it in a black donut on a mercedes

[samaritrey]

The chrome was done aftermarket.

[Benzos4theteam]

Originally Posted by LILBENZ230

in this case I think "waste" is appropriate. And it will likely be more than $1,000. Foreal.

Keep us posted.

its wasn't over $1,000 FOREAL
-_-

anyways here the tab:

lower control arm $125
sub frame $200
2 new rims $250
installation FREE
----------------------------
total $575

i also put in new ceramic breaks and rotors.
that was not part of the repairs but even with the cost of the rotors and pads in wasn't over $1,000


he told me it was easy, and i have my car already, exactly one week from my crash , i think , but my car is here

to be honest my car was ready like 1 1/2 days ago, but the hardest part was finding the rims :o

check out my baby , like new









ok so the bumper and body obtained no damage, the car is driving perfect! and i wasted less than $1,000 oh and i have new brakes and rotors. good day today.

car looks good, and no i didnt install my springs :/, but yeah i know i have 2 grey rims and 2 chrome ones :0, might have them matched by doing one or the other .

its easier to make the chrome rims silver than to make the silver rims chrome , correct? well i kinda know the answer to that, so i think i might make my chrome wheels silver cause its cheaper, and there a bunch of DIY available or if my dog has puppies soon then ill get a lot of money and its 18" amg rims time :0

oh and my baby is not a waste, i did the math (because i have all the receipts for my car in my room) and i have not spent over the NADA or KBB value for my car at all. even though i have so many new parts :0

so i actually saved money, and i have a good running SAFE mercedes for much less than what other would have paid and i paid for it myself.

so no lilbenz no waste here and not over $1,000 in repair either, foreal

[Hogger]

Foreal???

Good job, now go back to school.

[ABlatzheim]

I am glad you got your car back on the road.. But seriously, you shouldn't be needling anyone because you spent less then a grand with no labor cost.. The truth of the matter is, that you may have got the car back on the road for less then a thousand bucks, but in the long run you will have to replace several more parts bushings, struts, endlinks, etc... You should keep track of the total parts bill over the course of the next year and then see where we are at. If you took it a real body shop they would have replaced almost every component in the front end that was on the side of the impact.. That cost would have far exceeded the value of your car.. You are simply prolonging the inevitable..

[Benzos4theteam]

Originally Posted by Hogger

Foreal???

Good job, now go back to school.

yes sir

Originally Posted by ABlatzheim

I am glad you got your car back on the road.. But seriously, you shouldn't be needling anyone because you spent less then a grand with no labor cost.. The truth of the matter is, that you may have got the car back on the road for less then a thousand bucks, but in the long run you will have to replace several more parts bushings, struts, endlinks, etc... You should keep track of the total parts bill over the course of the next year and then see where we are at. If you took it a real body shop they would have replaced almost every component in the front end that was on the side of the impact.. That cost would have far exceeded the value of your car.. You are simply prolonging the inevitable..

im not but he stated that it was going to be more and it wasn't , that is all.

and i don't understand u either, bushings and struts require regular maint. just like many other parts of the car so of course they will be replaced eventually and when needed. next thing i know ur gonna be telling me to replace parts that weren't even associated with the accident because they were "damaged" well ill tell you right now not everything has to be damaged dude.

now the real question is, does my car handle awful or shake or NEED any of does parts? NO it doesn't i didn't skip thru anything, because i learned my lesson from the brakes problem, and nothing else besides the lower control arm and subframe got damage, and the rims popped on impact. (which is enough by itself) the rim actually got the worst it had many cracks and chips on the inside an out. the tire popped too so i assume that the above mentioned took all the impact.

i am tired of people saying i need this and i need that . fine i needed brakes and yes i needed the parts that i bought, if i need struts or bushing or whatever i will handle that when needed.... my mechanic , my father and i , compared both sides and checked for cracks, or bends or damage in any of those components and there were none.

can't you just accept that not everything broke? that maybe the tires, rim, lower bushing, and the whole subframe took all the impact. and thats all i needed... u don't have overexagerate i wasn't at light speed when i hit the curb

stop clouding me with ur negativity go somewhere else with all of that, that goes for anyone. fact of the matter is if i needed it i would have bought it and if any of you wanna come to san antonio and check my car again and tell me otherwise then come do so. but intul then my mechanic, my dad and i all test drove my car as well and it handled the same if not better than before.

and now its safer than ever with new brakes...

[Peydidy]

Originally Posted by Hogger

Foreal???

Good job, now go back to school.

[jsbaker]

I am going to assume you got an alignment after all the work was done but I don't see it mentioned. If not you need to get one asap and if you don't you'll be in for new tires alot quicker than you think. One is required after changing control arms not to mention after taking an impact like your car did.

[Boom vang]

I am a bit amazed that other suspension components don't need replacing, after taking an impact that ripped the control arm right out of the frame, you have to believe that other parts will be needing replacing sooner than later.

the W203 weak spot is front suspension components and I have had nothing but issues with noise, clunking and a loose feeling all before 80,000km, luckily everything got replaced under warranty and I did not hit the curb or major pothole etc The components have all been subsequently replaced by A204 xxx xx xx numbers as the A203 numbered parts do not stand the test of time let alone a major impact.

If that is all you got away with, you are very lucky. Also the fact that labour was free you were very lucky as that component easily outweighs the cost of parts big time