MBZ says "style is more important than the repair cost of a bumper" @ $3,000!!!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Washington D.C.
2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
MBZ says "style is more important than the repair cost of a bumper" @ $3,000!!!
Except from NBC Dateline Sept 8 2003 (Crash Test) about repair cost to 5 MPH bumper test by 'Insurance Institute For Highway Safety':
2003 MERCEDES E-CLASS
Now the $60,000 Mercedes E-Class. Most people would expect it to have great bumpers. Yet in the pole test there were nearly $3,000 in repair costs.
“Extensive damage to the trunk lid here, damage to the bumper cover which has got to be replaced, damage underneath,” says O’Neill.
The Mercedes E-Class gets a poor, which seems to show bumper quality has nothing to do with the price of the car.
MANUFACTURER’S RESPONSE
Mercedes and Nissan, the maker of the Infiniti G35, say their bumpers are as good as their competitors and Mercedes says in this case style is more important than the repair cost of a bumper.”
Mercedes is Crazy. We expect Style and low repair cost. What a ridiculous statement.
full article:
www.msnbc.com/news/961420.asp
2003 MERCEDES E-CLASS
Now the $60,000 Mercedes E-Class. Most people would expect it to have great bumpers. Yet in the pole test there were nearly $3,000 in repair costs.
“Extensive damage to the trunk lid here, damage to the bumper cover which has got to be replaced, damage underneath,” says O’Neill.
The Mercedes E-Class gets a poor, which seems to show bumper quality has nothing to do with the price of the car.
MANUFACTURER’S RESPONSE
Mercedes and Nissan, the maker of the Infiniti G35, say their bumpers are as good as their competitors and Mercedes says in this case style is more important than the repair cost of a bumper.”
Mercedes is Crazy. We expect Style and low repair cost. What a ridiculous statement.
full article:
www.msnbc.com/news/961420.asp
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Washington D.C.
2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
5 MPH is a brisk walking speed
crumple zone has nothing to do with a 5MPH bump. This is a speed from normal backing and parking. Airbags do not go off from a 5 MPH bump. The damage is mostly cosmetic and too costly. $3k worth of damage during a parking accident is crazy. I would hate to replace my hood or truck lid due to a parking bump.
Super Member
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From: New Jersey, USA
W211 & Q7
same as bmw -- a minor bumper repair may cost you 3000+ bucks but it does not mean your car is NOT safe.
both mb and mbw allow car body to absorb the collison impact in order to protect passengers. this comparison focuses on repair cost ONLY which is not important for most of mb owners.
both mb and mbw allow car body to absorb the collison impact in order to protect passengers. this comparison focuses on repair cost ONLY which is not important for most of mb owners.
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996 Turbo
Of course they dont mention if the Parktronic system got damaged....
Its very expensive to replace especially in high end cars. The advantage the E class has over all these cars is the chances of you backing into something are slim to none thanks to parktronic so your costs should be zero.
However is some moron hits you from behind sucks for him.
Its very expensive to replace especially in high end cars. The advantage the E class has over all these cars is the chances of you backing into something are slim to none thanks to parktronic so your costs should be zero.
However is some moron hits you from behind sucks for him.
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Well if you have a $500 deductible what difference does it make if it costs $600 or $3000 for the repair? If the insurance industry uses this as an excuse for upping premiums then they should give a credit back for adding Parktronic as in actual use I would bet there are fewer Mercedes E Classes backing into poles because of the availability of Parktronic.
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From: New Jersey, USA
W211 & Q7
If the insurance industry uses this as an excuse for upping premiums then they should give a credit back for adding Parktronic as in actual use I would bet there are fewer Mercedes E Classes backing into poles because of the availability of Parktronic.
Last edited by Otto; Sep 8, 2003 at 03:56 PM.
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Member
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From: Southern California
2007 E350 Sport Package
Originally posted by Mercedesfan
Well if you have a $500 deductible what difference does it make if it costs $600 or $3000 for the repair? If the insurance industry uses this as an excuse for upping premiums then they should give a credit back for adding Parktronic as in actual use I would bet there are fewer Mercedes E Classes backing into poles because of the availability of Parktronic.
Well if you have a $500 deductible what difference does it make if it costs $600 or $3000 for the repair? If the insurance industry uses this as an excuse for upping premiums then they should give a credit back for adding Parktronic as in actual use I would bet there are fewer Mercedes E Classes backing into poles because of the availability of Parktronic.
(and that's with the good driver discount
)
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
I saw the test and I don't remember seeing the parktronic holes in the bumper (could have missed them though). Mercedes excuse is sooo lame. I guess parts are a huge money maker for them at our expense. If Saturn can manufacture door panels at a very reasonavble cost that can take a beating, why can't MB make a decent bumper that stands up to the speed of a fast walk crash especially for $3,000.00!?!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Washington D.C.
2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
Originally posted by LA320OWNER
Not to be cynical but that's why I pay $2k a year to insure the car
(and that's with the good driver discount )
Not to be cynical but that's why I pay $2k a year to insure the car
(and that's with the good driver discount
)
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: NC
'03 Mercedes E320
If I'm not mistaken, didn't the government change the bumper standard to 2.5 mph, and they test for that? The Insurance Institute tests at 5. Similarly, the govt standard for front impact is at 35, I believe, and the Institute tests at 40. The old chrome bumper bars with the big rubber boots on each end were the MB solution at the time to 5 mph. I'll take a little style and a 2.5 bumper, personally. If the bumper standard were changed to 10 mph, the Institute would test at 20, so they'd have something to write about.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Southern California
2007 E350 Sport Package
Originally posted by E55 KEV
That is the point of the crash test - if the bumpers were better your/our premiums would be less. The Insurance companies charge you more money in yearly premiums "because" the bumpers are so lousy and they are expensive to repair. You may only be paying a $500 deductible but if the bumpers were better quality that yearly $2k insurance bill would be lower.
That is the point of the crash test - if the bumpers were better your/our premiums would be less. The Insurance companies charge you more money in yearly premiums "because" the bumpers are so lousy and they are expensive to repair. You may only be paying a $500 deductible but if the bumpers were better quality that yearly $2k insurance bill would be lower.
It's crazy but the marketing psychology ultimately works, becuase at the end of the day we think we are paying less for the car.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Buffalo NY
3 Porsche rotation
Originally posted by jim256
If I'm not mistaken, didn't the government change the bumper standard to 2.5 mph, and they test for that? The Insurance Institute tests at 5. Similarly, the govt standard for front impact is at 35, I believe, and the Institute tests at 40. The old chrome bumper bars with the big rubber boots on each end were the MB solution at the time to 5 mph. I'll take a little style and a 2.5 bumper, personally. If the bumper standard were changed to 10 mph, the Institute would test at 20, so they'd have something to write about.
If I'm not mistaken, didn't the government change the bumper standard to 2.5 mph, and they test for that? The Insurance Institute tests at 5. Similarly, the govt standard for front impact is at 35, I believe, and the Institute tests at 40. The old chrome bumper bars with the big rubber boots on each end were the MB solution at the time to 5 mph. I'll take a little style and a 2.5 bumper, personally. If the bumper standard were changed to 10 mph, the Institute would test at 20, so they'd have something to write about.
I may have to reconsider trading in for the new E55 in the future.John
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From: chicago
2003 E500
Real life experience:
When test driving the E500, the salesman had to drive it out of a warehouse. He didn't realize that there was a large concrete pillar behind the car. He put it in reverse and seriously whacked the pillar at an angle. Don't know the speed but it was enough force to automatically tighten the seatbelts. The only damage appeared to be some chipped paint on the bumper. It impressed us enough that we made that a consideration in our purchase decision.
PS - Wonder which of you bought that car?
When test driving the E500, the salesman had to drive it out of a warehouse. He didn't realize that there was a large concrete pillar behind the car. He put it in reverse and seriously whacked the pillar at an angle. Don't know the speed but it was enough force to automatically tighten the seatbelts. The only damage appeared to be some chipped paint on the bumper. It impressed us enough that we made that a consideration in our purchase decision.
PS - Wonder which of you bought that car?
