Last edit by: IB Nolan
Table of Contents "S55's Endless Build Thread"
1. Car Forklifted Onto Delivery Truck Because Auction Had No Key
2. Finally Sees Car and Damage In Person on Delivery Truck
3. Videos of S-Class Forklifted Off Delivery Truck And Slid Into Garage
4. Additional Rear-End Damage Photos
5. Cost Breakdown For Vehicle and Parts as of 3/12/16
6. Key Arrives! First Start Up.
7. First Test Drive, Warning Lights Abound
8. Fixed Electrical Issues(?), Replaced Battery and Alternator
9. New Woodgrain Steering Wheel Installed
1. Car Forklifted Onto Delivery Truck Because Auction Had No Key
2. Finally Sees Car and Damage In Person on Delivery Truck
3. Videos of S-Class Forklifted Off Delivery Truck And Slid Into Garage
4. Additional Rear-End Damage Photos
5. Cost Breakdown For Vehicle and Parts as of 3/12/16
6. Key Arrives! First Start Up.
7. First Test Drive, Warning Lights Abound
8. Fixed Electrical Issues(?), Replaced Battery and Alternator
9. New Woodgrain Steering Wheel Installed
I finally bought it Fellas!
#1402
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2015 S550
Actually, an S600 is much closer related to an S65 than an S550. Biggest differences between the S600 and S65 are the brakes, suspension tuning, 20 inch standard wheels, AMG gauges, and slightly larger turbos and displacement. Otherwise they are almost identical.
#1406
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by DaveW68
Actually, an S600 is much closer related to an S65 than an S550. Biggest differences between the S600 and S65 are the brakes, suspension tuning, 20 inch standard wheels, AMG gauges, and slightly larger turbos and displacement. Otherwise they are almost identical.
#1410
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Autowerks Certified MB will not do the work unless they do all the work. Just the like Abra auto body chain. Autowerks is the only Certified body shop in the PDX area.
Mike must have a very good relationship with the MB shop he goes to because they wouldn't do piece work for me.
Mike must have a very good relationship with the MB shop he goes to because they wouldn't do piece work for me.
Last edited by mercedesbenzs55; 03-30-2016 at 04:03 PM. Reason: Edited: Cannot to Will Not
#1412
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
The body shop that MB said could help me does not do aluminum work.
Theres a shop here in Vancouver that can. Going to get an estimate there atm.
Didn't think finding a shop that works with aluminum would be so difficult.
Theres a shop here in Vancouver that can. Going to get an estimate there atm.
Didn't think finding a shop that works with aluminum would be so difficult.
#1413
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by mercedesbenzs55
Autowerks Certified MB will not do the work unless they do all the work. Just the like Abra auto body chain. Autowerks is the only Certified body shop in the PDX area.
Mike must have a very good relationship with the MB shop he goes to because they wouldn't do piece work for me.
Mike must have a very good relationship with the MB shop he goes to because they wouldn't do piece work for me.
Did the shop give you an estimate for the whole job? Basically any shop that is certified to work on any make that uses aluminum, and I know Jaguar, Land Rover and probably BMW do.
You're running into the reason it totaled I'm afraid. Tough, expensive repair methodology and not worth the headache as far as SF was concerned. My guy saw your pics and said it looked repairable. Ship it down here
Last edited by Mike5215; 03-30-2016 at 04:40 PM.
#1414
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
They just have done all of my work on all of my cars for the past twenty years so they'll do what I ask. Granted I don't ask for crazy stuff. They'd do your car for me, but I guess if you walked in off the street cold as a cash customer (not insurance) with the car half torn down they'd probably pass too.
Did the shop give you an estimate for the whole job? Basically any shop that is certified to work on any make that uses aluminum, and I know Jaguar, Land Rover and probably BMW do.
You're running into the reason it totaled I'm afraid. Tough, expensive repair methodology and not worth the headache as far as SF was concerned. My guy saw your pics and said it looked repairable. Ship it down here
Did the shop give you an estimate for the whole job? Basically any shop that is certified to work on any make that uses aluminum, and I know Jaguar, Land Rover and probably BMW do.
You're running into the reason it totaled I'm afraid. Tough, expensive repair methodology and not worth the headache as far as SF was concerned. My guy saw your pics and said it looked repairable. Ship it down here
Last edited by mercedesbenzs55; 03-30-2016 at 04:45 PM.
#1415
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by mercedesbenzs55
I replaced everything. So its all buttoned up, save for the plastic rear lip panel. lol ship it 1.8k each way plus the 6k your guy would charge?
There's always MAACO. They're too stupid to know its aluminum, and they'll figure out a way to beat it back into some sort of shape, bondo the hell out of it and paint it over. It's non metallic black so they can't screw up the color.
What did the MB shop up there give you as far as price to do all the work?
#1416
MBWorld Fanatic!
Ok I got some clarification from Brad. The 222 has aluminum sheet metal and steel unibody structure. The 221 is all steel unibody and exterior sheet metal except the front hood and fenders (which bolt on) and are aluminum.
So back to Vlad. It's conventional all steel construction where your car is damaged.
So back to Vlad. It's conventional all steel construction where your car is damaged.
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#1417
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Ok I got some clarification from Brad. The 222 has aluminum sheet metal and steel unibody structure. The 221 is all steel unibody and exterior sheet metal except the front hood and fenders (which bolt on) and are aluminum.
So back to Vlad. It's conventional all steel construction where your car is damaged.
So back to Vlad. It's conventional all steel construction where your car is damaged.
#1418
Super Member
hey
LMAO..man oh man...benz55 must have nightmares about Dave taunting, haunting and hunting him.
We need to register you two on celebrity grudge match...duke it out in the ring...lol
We need to register you two on celebrity grudge match...duke it out in the ring...lol
Last edited by just1time; 03-30-2016 at 05:46 PM.
#1419
Member
I would think the first body guy you contacted could secure the car to the frame puller, and come up with some plate steel about the width of the back panel, bent at a 90 degree angle, wide enough so it spreads the load across the panel and pull it back into the approximate original position.
I think Maaco could definitely prep poorly, use some low quality supplies and get a noticeably bad result. Most body work is done to a pretty basic standard. In their defense, there's lots of ways to screw it up.
I think Maaco could definitely prep poorly, use some low quality supplies and get a noticeably bad result. Most body work is done to a pretty basic standard. In their defense, there's lots of ways to screw it up.
Last edited by MrRat; 03-30-2016 at 05:56 PM.
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#1420
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by MrRat
I would think vlad could secure the car to the frame puller, and come up with some plate steel about the width of the back panel, bent at a 90 degree angle, wide enough so it spreads the load across the panel and pull it back into the approximate original position. It won't be the same as cutting it out and regluing ( and re-riveting?) the center section but it might get the job done, maybe ripping the aluminum a bit, but that could be patched over and is hidden.
I think Maaco could definitely prep poorly, use some low quality supplies and get a noticeably bad result. Most body work is done to a pretty basic standard. In their defense, there's lots of ways to screw it up.
I think Maaco could definitely prep poorly, use some low quality supplies and get a noticeably bad result. Most body work is done to a pretty basic standard. In their defense, there's lots of ways to screw it up.
#1421
Member
oops already re-edited that. By the time I posted there was new info.
I'm actually busy with work, this is entertainment.
I'm actually busy with work, this is entertainment.
#1422
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
"Vlad" is a figment of my imagination. I made up that name probably around 30-40 pages ago....and Benzs55 keeps rolling with it. I don't know that there is really any truth to his story. But he has certainly kept us entertained with his wealth of knowledge on the W221 chassis and drive train.
I didn't bother MB giving me an estimate as I was not going to go through them.
Been to nearly all the Auto body shops in my area that are reputable. 3 of them do not work on Salvage cars even if the cars first damage is what salvaged it. A number of shops did not have the experience/tools to work on the aluminum.
MAACO and Vlad are what I'm left with. Mike, how sure was Brad that rear lip is sheet metal? Because I put multiple magnets to that lip and it didnt stick. Though the quarter panels stuck.
Last edited by mercedesbenzs55; 03-30-2016 at 06:15 PM.
#1423
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2015 S550
That actually gives me an idea: He can use his thick skull to bang some of those panels straight instead of relying on a bouncy rubber mallet. Probably wouldn't even phase him. Then he could drill some big bolts into that skull, hook up some chains, and try to pull that frame straight. Big time money saver and could get him closer to budget without having to fork over a bunch of money to the fictional Vlad.
#1425
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by mercedesbenzs55
I mentioned his name was Nick, but you kept using Vlad(which sounds funningly Russian) so I rolled with it.
I didn't bother MB giving me an estimate as I was not going to go through them.
Been to nearly all the Auto body shops in my area that are reputable. 3 of them do not work on Salvage cars even if the cars first damage is what salvaged it. A number of shops did not have the experience/tools to work on the aluminum.
MAACO and Vlad are what I'm left with. Mike, how sure was B that thdarat rear lip is sheet metal? Because I put multiple magnets to that lip and it didnt stick. Though the quarter panels stuck.
I didn't bother MB giving me an estimate as I was not going to go through them.
Been to nearly all the Auto body shops in my area that are reputable. 3 of them do not work on Salvage cars even if the cars first damage is what salvaged it. A number of shops did not have the experience/tools to work on the aluminum.
MAACO and Vlad are what I'm left with. Mike, how sure was B that thdarat rear lip is sheet metal? Because I put multiple magnets to that lip and it didnt stick. Though the quarter panels stuck.
Just tell them it got rear ended, the other guy was uninsured and you didn't carry full coverage on it because it's an 08 and you paid cash.
Have you looked into whether it's insurable after its fixed? I changed carriers this weekend and every one I got a quote from made a point to state they won't insure rebuilt salvage cars. Might want to get ahead of that before spending more money.
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mercedesbenzs55 (03-30-2016)