C63newdude

This happened at around 75-80mph. I was driving on the HWY and there were debris all over on the road from a 18 wheeler blown tire. Some of the chunks were 3-4 feet in length.

I didn't want to risk dodging because I didn't have time nor it was safe. By the time I realized it I saw a two and a half feet by 8" wide truck chunk of tire hitting the front of the car with a loud sound.

I looked behind the rear view mirror and couldn't see it so I guessed it was still stuck. Pulled over and saw this damage. Pictures tells the history.

On that note, I honestly think the front grill is a POS. Please look at the pictures that I attached from my wife's Jetta GLI. It has a similar design but the plastic is way thicker 3/4 inche to an inche, it is a "honeycomb" design but way stronger. It makes you think what were the engineer thinking when they built a 300km/h 2 ton Autobanh tank...

C63newdude

Here are some more pictures. Folks, just for the sake of it, please compare the thickness of the front grill of the C63 vs the one on the VW.. Wouldn't be a metal mesh way better? I might go with the DTM now.

GBlansten

Been there done that but another car. Sorry man. No good way to avoid that.

ZephyrAMG

There is a thickness cheapness I do agree. I am sorry you had so much severe damage. It happened to me before on my previous C63 but it was luckily a thin shread of tire than went under quickly. But at least you actually DRIVE your car and just dont stare at it in the garage all day. Hope you get it repaired and go back to admiring your C63 and enjoy driving.

drawde

Same thing happened to me. Broke about a foot long piece along the bottom of the bumper where it tucks under the car. Sorry to hear man.

C63newdude

I already arranged the visit to the dealer tomorrow for an apparaisal. I will let you guys know the cost of the parts. At this point I don't even know if the oil cooler/condeser/radiator has any other damage, it looks that it is more of a cosmethic issue(bent fins on the radiators/oil cooler.) I will keep you guys posted.

If the DTM is within oem bumper price I might pull the trigger on one. I believe the DTM has better cooling and also it comes with the metal mesh, the downside is that you lose the fog lights I believe.

EC C63

A perfect example and a good reason for outlawing truck retreads IMO. And of course, the truck driver just continues driving down the road; comparable to a hit and run. The insurance industry should push this issue.

Sorry to hear about your damage. GL with the repair.

drawde

IIRC new bumper was about 900+ not yet painted or installed at the dealership, but that's just off the top of my head, not sure.. But not sure about the other damage aside from the bumper.

C63 Guy

Man, that sucks. Sorry.

I caught a piece pf debris in my grille about a month after I got the car. Fortunately it only knocked out a couple inches of it. The part is pretty cheap, but you have to take off the bumper to replace it and that's where the dealer's going to bend you over on the labor. I sincerely hope you don't have to replace the radiators. Those are not cheap.

I hope they hook you up.

Josh

Dads C63

Thats a real bummer!! Fortunately its an easy part to fix.

Time to get the DTM!!

jvanbrecht

My friend reversed into my car a month after I got it, took it to my dealers bodyshop, cost me around $900 to repaint the bumper, and replace all of the plastic pieces that are crappy quality in the first place. But I did not need a new bumper, just some repair and repaint work.

So I took a closer look at your pics, I do not believe you will need a new bumper or radiator, so your probably looking are just replacing the plastic bits which are cheap (the honeycomb piece is $60, atleast thats what my dealer charged me), and alot of labour...

black-clk500

Who would do such a thing?



Sorry to the OP that sucks, I hate the big trucks on the roads, they kick up all sorts of stuff--no rail system means our roads are going to always be littered with these pigs
Get the grill fixed and it will be fine, I agree about the cheapness of our grills, my CLK had a metal mesh, but that got all dented up over e years from rocks, etc.

ZephyrAMG

We all love our babies...I'm right there with yeah when there is a blizzard outside...

GHAZAN

A new bumper is over 2k without any paint/labor last time i checked

khmergod

This happened to me with my C230 Komp. Some dumb **** had a tire in a metal pan in the back of their truck in the middle of the night, and it flew out onto the road. I was right behind him and I hit it going 50 mph. Had to replace my bottom front spoiler, radiator, supercharger stuff etc. Costed over 5k, glad I had insurance. I was so down for a good few months. Three years later and someone rear ends me, totalling my car. Upgrading to an AMG...finally. Just be glad you're ok. We'll pull you through this little roadblock in your life lol.

MB_Forever

Sorry to see that.... glad no one got hurt

Sincity

Gatorbacks on the road suck. Happened on another car for me. You are better off hitting the piece than trying to avoid it which may lead to other larger problems.

C63newdude

First of all thanks for the support guys... Well, I just got back from the collision center and I got two estimates:
- The first one involves replacing just the two plastic pieces(front grill and plastic oil cooler air difusser/diverter)
- The second one is all of the above plus the painting of the bumper.

Unfortunately either way it requires removing the bumper, even though the parts are actually cheap (approximately $64 and $78 or viceversa) the labor is what cost the most.

Just replacing broken parts is around $340 and replacing and painting bumper $640 or so. My deductible is $500 so I am caught in beween. I think I will go ahead and paint he whole thing. Adding the paint on my aftermarket front spoiler adds $120.

If this issue ever happens to you(I hope not) at least you have a ball park of how much the parts are and YES, you need to remove the bumper either way.

I attached a couple more pictures after removing the chunk of tire. Be aware that the front grill is garbage, it shattered into 1000 pieces like a glass dropping on the floor. Someone should make money on this industry if they decide to make a metal black mesh grill..just my thoughts..

propain

You get a measuring tape for Christmas or something?

Damn, sucks. I got some minor damage on my C63 also recently. 4K miles. Lame *** SUV that doesnt know to stay in her lane. Thats what insurance is for I guess. 1K in damage to me.

C63newdude

On this note, what is your deductible (this goes to everyone) ?, Mine is $500 and I think is adecuate.

propain

Mine is $500. 100% fault on the person who hit me hopefully so I should get it all back.