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Driving home from work last night. Heard a loud POP, like something hit the car. Stopped in a parking lot and inspected. The entire front glass roof panel was shattered (pano roof). Impact mark in the pics. No clue what hit me. All I know is, when I daily drive my 2003 commuter Nissan Maxima, nothing happens. Whenever I eventually dust off the S Class and put a few miles on it, the Universe attacks it. It's like a rock/debris/**** magnet, I swear to god!
Plan is to replace the panel with a used unit (around $300 on eBay) myself in my garage. Going to be a big job I think. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this particular job?
Sorry that happened to you. Not really common on the w221 for those to break. I would ppf the new one before installing so you don't run into this again.
Off topic , did you end up installing the front bilsteins? Or did it not turn out to be the arnotts making noise ...
Sorry to hear man! I feel your pain!! I drive a Jeep daily and I beat the crap outa of it, not even a scratch on it. I go pick up my S550 after paying $1200 for a ceramic coating. On the way home I am doing 55 on the slow lane just minding my own bussines and admiring the shine of the car. Two *******s racing pass me on the outer shoulder which was full of gravel and kick everything back. Needless to say I was furious. So furious that I actually chased for a little but my wife was in the car screaming so had to stop. After, I had the front bumper painted and put two brand new oem headlights. Don't ask what that cost me. Point is, the more you try to take care of something, the worst it is. In your scenario, you shouldn't be too bad replacing it. Just take your time and do it right. Good luck!
Sorry to see that .
Well, probably a protective film on the glass could help for it
I wish you trouble free and happy driving with your car from now on
Happy Driving
Sorry to hear man! I feel your pain!! I drive a Jeep daily and I beat the crap outa of it, not even a scratch on it. I go pick up my S550 after paying $1200 for a ceramic coating. On the way home I am doing 55 on the slow lane just minding my own bussines and admiring the shine of the car. Two *******s racing pass me on the outer shoulder which was full of gravel and kick everything back. Needless to say I was furious. So furious that I actually chased for a little but my wife was in the car screaming so had to stop. After, I had the front bumper painted and put two brand new oem headlights. Don't ask what that cost me. Point is, the more you try to take care of something, the worst it is. In your scenario, you shouldn't be too bad replacing it. Just take your time and do it right. Good luck!
Wow, hate when cars kick up debris like that! What did the headlights run you? I've been interested in a pair for later down the line when mine get more weathered.
Wow, hate when cars kick up debris like that! What did the headlights run you? I've been interested in a pair for later down the line when mine get more weathered.
a couple of engineer at work have the correct approach - I haven't been brave enough - but its the right way
always buy low mile nearly new cars after it lost the first 35% depreciation, do the oil changes but other than that just drive it in to the dirt for 7 years - don't care about it, don't ever wash it, just use it - if some git dents a door in the car park or smash the the corners of the bumper who cares... don't even look at it
when it dies get another one
this way you keep on top of the safety, technology, and emission improvements that come with newer vehicles - and the lack of stress and worry will mean you get another 10 years of a happy life....
this way you keep on top of the safety, technology, and emission improvements that come with newer vehicles - and the lack of stress and worry will mean you get another 10 years of a happy life....
Hahaha easier said then done my friend. Some of us are OCD and can't help it
A year ago, 3 morons were driving around suburban Denver hurling softball sized rocks onto windshields of passing cars. Caused a young woman to lose control and she was killed. All 3 are sitting in jail charged with murder. But other dudes party on.
Wow guys, got sidetracked with life for a bit and forgot I posted this. Thanks for all your support and stories! I think what I'll have to do is prep the area by removing the old panel, and completely cleaning the old adhesive. Then prep the eBay panel as best I can, then call a glass guy, mobile or shop, and have him help me with the adhesive application and setting of the panel. The glass guys have motorized adhesive guns with pro-level adhesive that make life so much easier setting glass with time-sensitive adhesive. I've seen WIS procedure for I think it was a W212 or some other model and it is as straight forward as remove old glass and glue in the new one, gaps being critical of course, as the sunroof seals to it when in place.
I have not had time to install the Bilsteins but I'm certain the clicking is coming from the Arnotts. I just haven't been motivated to do that work on the car yet. The car only has 50k mi on it and it's in near perfect condition. After this latest incident, I am going to park the car back in the garage and discontinue driving it til I get the funds for a small laundry list of things I want to get done to it. I don't want to trash the car before I get these things done and none are that cheap and I'm just a wage slave working with a little shy of $100k/yr income, which in this country isn't what it used to be anymore.
I'll keep you guys posted. I have too many projects and all I do is work, but I don't want to let this project sit too long.
cars survive best when driven 20 miles in one journey at least once a week - the AC will lose all its gas if you park it up, and apparently ABC struct seals give up with out regular use
cars survive best when driven 20 miles in one journey at least once a week - the AC will lose all its gas if you park it up, and apparently ABC struct seals give up with out regular use
Very similar to aircraft.
Especially the more complex aircraft.
If they sit in the hangar, they become hangar queens, and maintenance nightmares.
On a regular basis, they need to be started, warmed up, exercised, get all the fluids, electronics, pneumatics, and all systems running at operating temperatures/ pressures.
Care must also be taken not to overdo it, and exceed any temperature, pressure or speed limits.
OP get the panel and have the glass guy do the removal and install.
Ask the dealerships around you who does their glass work. Hint: The techs don’t do tape set windows.
Those guys do such things daily. You don’t. Some things we need not be able to do ourselves.
I hear ya man, but I've never let anyone else work on my stuff, sans alignments. I have done everything myself, to every vehicle I have ever owned. Damage to the vehicle in some way will absolutely occur if you let someone else work on it. I'm good with figuring out how, and obtaining the tools to do everything myself. I'm going to order the glass soon and I have a few days off coming up. I really don't think this will be a difficult task!
Any chance it could be filled with the clear epoxy, like windshield repair outfits do?
Yes,
That is what I would also try and if it does not work nothing lost other than $20 for the repair kit.
If going this route I would use the kit that has the resin in the small black bottle with resealable cap. I have found this resin penetrate in the cracks better than others.
2007 S600, 2007 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2000 C5 Corvette, and 2017 Mustang GT, and just got a 2023 300C
Just got back from travel for the last month and catching up saw this, and my heart is in pain. I just took the 2007 S600 to Florida from DC (23 mpg) and had a rain of rocks and gravel hit me; so I completely understand how it happens. Doesn't make me any happier knowing it is trucks and idiots rolling into the shoulder kicking up stuff. Nonetheless, it is a great ride and I plan to continue doing the work to keep it a daily driver. I hope you are able to do the repair and put this behind you.
Please keep us posted. I understand $100K isn't what it was.....
Just got back from travel for the last month and catching up saw this, and my heart is in pain. I just took the 2007 S600 to Florida from DC (23 mpg) and had a rain of rocks and gravel hit me; so I completely understand how it happens. Doesn't make me any happier knowing it is trucks and idiots rolling into the shoulder kicking up stuff. Nonetheless, it is a great ride and I plan to continue doing the work to keep it a daily driver. I hope you are able to do the repair and put this behind you.
Please keep us posted. I understand $100K isn't what it was.....
Wow, that is hard to hear! Your car is in such good condition. Did you suffer any damage? I will be ordering the glass soon and removing/cleaning up the old panel soon! I'll get pics and post them here. My next couple days off are end of week.
2007 S600, 2007 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2000 C5 Corvette, and 2017 Mustang GT, and just got a 2023 300C
One small windscreen crack and a little scratch on the left front plus numerous small front end paint chips. I have had luck on the small windscreen cracks using clear superglue on a dry day.
all the screen guys in the UK wander round with a naked flame cigarette lighter - they have this penchant for leaning in trying to set fire to the dash - heating the screen with a flame to get the gunge to seep into the cracks better
Project on hold guys. I've got the glass on order but that's all I've had the spirit to accomplish thus far. Last Monday, my neighbor's pitbull escaped from their backyard, ran into my backyard, and killed my cat. All while I was inside the house. I didn't hear see or even hear anything. Went out to the back porch about two hours after the last time I was out there where he was sleeping, and saw him laying at the back of the yard flat and not moving, even to my calls. He looked a bit dusted over, and my heart began to sink. I ran out to him and he was dead. I couldn't figure out what had happened after I examined him in complete hysteria, so after about 20min I dug a 6' hole in his favorite spot to lay under the tree and buried my best friend. I'm never married, no kids and live alone, so this was very tragic and traumatic for me. I haven't buried anyone in 30 years, I was 10 years old then. I found Stimpy as a kitten at a 7/11 gas station about 8 years ago and he was with me everything I did while at home. He would lay under the car whilst I was underneath it during oil changes.
I didn't find out what had happened until I left work the next day at noon simply because I was unable to continue at work in that state. I'm not sure why I even went in. I discovered what had happened in the afternoon once I remembered the neighbors (whom I don't know well at all, just passing by "hello" gestures and waves) had a pitbull, which I've never seen outside their backyard except for one time last summer when it had escaped their backyard. I confronted the neighbor and he admitted that he chased his dog into my backyard but by then it was too late and the dog was just sitting over my cat's dead body. I lost it at that point. Things just went from bad to worse.
So it's been a rough week, and I don't know how long this will take before I feel like getting excited about things again. I know it's just a cat, but he was my family.
I know this isn't really the place for this kind of stuff, but I wanted to say this and to tell people. I'll delete the post later if need be. I miss him terribly. I sit on the ground next to him every night before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up and say goodbye before I go to work. I still can't even believe this is real, or that this happened. I didn't know there was a threat out there. I'm shocked and deeply saddened.
03-06-2024, 08:42 AM
