My understanding is that reason that no post-factory body/paintwork is ever same quality as factory-spec is lack of comparable high-temp processes/infrastruc to similarly apply paints/clearcoat once post-factory....

Similar to why a replacement windshield (even if original factory-spec windshield) is never same b/c of inability to robotically install/seal, as is done at factory....

Prob makes little/no business sense for any post-factory shop to even attempt to invest signif capex to buy factory-caliber automation/infrastruc....no insurance co. will reimburse sufficiently; most cars are $0-down, 2-3yr leased and have lease-gap insurance....and truly OCD owners will simply trade-in and get a new copy post-any damage needing repair/replacement anyway....

 

Agreed. If you ever get a chance to visit the factory in Germany, you'll see why this paint process is almost impossible to completely duplicate. Any car manufacturing plant can be visited to see this. I happen to live within 40 miles of the Vance, Alabama plant where the M class is built and it is amazing to see the process in action.

 

Wow.

I know nothing about how cars are repaired after they are in an accident.

Replacing a Hood and bumper / fender - I guess they use an existing "W221 trunk" and then paint it? Or - do they have a stock of SILVER W221 Hoods, and BLACK W221 hoods, etc.

 

Wow, thats quite alot of damage to the car for that speed. Glad your ok.

 

Despite all of that, many paint shops can put a mean looking paint job on a car. Our local certified body shop for the MB dealership here in Birmingham does unbelievable work. Didn't want you to feel like you were not going to get a nice looking car back. It's just that the factory paint work is the standard.

 

I suspect there's a lot of "sausage factory"-like stuff that goes on w/any post-crash repair....most custs don't know/care; insurance cos. want to (logically) pay as little as poss, etc etc....

Common sense would argue any collision introduces various micro/macro-stresses (some easily visible; others not) in various body components....(part of advcd safety engineering is designing car's body structure to spread crash forces around body structure and away from passenger cell).....

IMO, would refuse to drive (or be a passenger) in any car (even a new-gen S/CL) post-crash repair; risk/reward is simply absurd for any guy who can afford to commute via a $100K+ car.....I doubt stresses are ever fully solved, restoring structural integrity of a new, factory-spec car....and have serious doubts re: how any post-crash repair structure (and systems) will perform in any future collision....

Over the past some 10yrs, I have bought many new AMGs from exemplary MB dealers (in both NYC and SF Peninsula), but have lim confidence in any, even well-regarded, MB dealer doing much more than prepping a new car (w/correct tire P's...which is often a challenge, indicating how lim is the competence lvl); the 1-3K mi chk...and adding oil.....needless to say, have far less confidence w/any more complex post-factory svc/repair...and aftermkt stuff is downright laughable......

 

do you post from a blackberry? my head spins reading your posts...!

 

Thanks! I am good - no side effects whatsoever... Safe and Solid car.

 

I am fairly sure that MB Manhattan will be compentant enough to repair my car as best as possible. I know the damage looks severe - but if you walk up to the car, it really is just a matter of replacing panels. The speed was not that fast - at least not fast enough to warrant the entire car to absorb impact. Otherwise, every 20 mph crash would render the car "unsafe"?

 

I wish you the best reapir possible. I have tried a few body shops in south florida and I have not found one that is able to repair silver or white cars to their original look. The color never seems to be 100% correct. The more they try to fix it, the worse it gets. The last shop i used to repair my silver car, used PPG paint. The match was perfect when Ipicked the car up, but the problems started about 6 months later when you started to notice the differences in the color. The clear seemed to turn yellow.

The shop that is working on my car now, had a new ML in for some work and you could tell that parts of the car had very little color on it from the factory. Especially on the tops of the doors. The color seemed to be very transparent. You could see the primer underneath. It was the blueish silver, not sure what it is actually called.

 

You know what they say Chucky, Assumption Is the Mother of All F - - K Ups.

 

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

 

What's the status..

 

It sure took them a while repairing your car.. did they update you of what are they doing with your car (ie. awaiting for parts, etc)?

When I had a small fender bender a while ago, the bumper cracked, and the insurance company wanted to get them fixed instead of replacing it with the new bumper. The dealer stated if it gets repaired, it will eventually crack again due to the driving vibration, etc. Took them one full week just to get an OK from the insurance company and issue the work order. Took the dealer only 2 days repainting the new bumper and install it.

I hope you get your car back soon Chucky

 

I said two weeks initially at the beginning of the thread but it looks like I was way over-optimistic in my pessimistic forecast

 

lol

 

Doubt even MB's smartest safety engineers can accurately predict how a post-crash repaired car will perform in any future crash....

Would need to crash-test numerous cars at varying speeds/varying impact patterns; have them repaired at a typical authorized, supposedly competent, body shop....and then crash-test again in varying collisions....obviously impossible to develop useable hard data to predict real-world risks....

Need to place own bets based upon common-sense judgments.....IMO, wouldn't drive any repaired car post-any collision at any speed....life's simply too short to try to guess at which point (speed/character of collision damage) risks dramatically elevate....reminds me of the amusing, pseudo-scientific ?5-sec rule some kids or frugal adults use re: when it's OK/safe to eat stuff that was dropped on some floor somewhere; the floor wasn't that dirty; it wasn't a public bathroom floor, etc etc....

 

I understand but it comes down to $$ and it doesn't make economic sense for all but the super-wealthy to sell their car just because of an accident just one rung up from a fender bender. A post-minor crash W221 is still safer than 99.8 percent of cars on the road vs 99.9 percent before.

 

Judging from how you explained and just felt a little bump means that MB is really trying to put back its reputation. With the amount we pay for the car is far way cheaper compared to the safety advancements that MB is giving us just the case thing like this happens.

 

I get the car back on Monday. The bill is $16,500+
Insurance obviously will pay for it minus my deduct.

 

I agree. It has taken a while...but I'd rather it be perfect and I can put this behind me and start again.
I hope to get it back Monday morning.

 

Will this Friday be the 4th week? I guess I could go look at the police report downstairs, but i'll admit it...... IM LAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Agreed. If it makes an difference, I was assured this has not gone any farther than the first 2 feet of the car. Roughly 1/3 of hood was required to absorb the impact. It was NOT transferred into the body of the car.

 

Exactly. I must stress to all that I felt just a bump. I am not making that up. No pain, no whiplash...NOTHING. I had a moment of sheer shock.... "was that it?... really? thats it? it can't be that bad". But when I saw the damage, I was very upset, naturally.

 

yeah I hope so...

good that you will have her back Monday