SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Extensive pothole damage SL55 (can anyone top this?)
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Joined: Jan 2005
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G55, SLS, smart eq
Extensive pothole damage SL55 (can anyone top this?)
Well, the other day I went on a trip from Amsterdam to the Champaign region in France (for obvious reasons) in the SL55. On the way back through Belgium just over the border I hit a hole in the road at 75 MPH. It didn't look too bad as I was about to drive over it (I was to late to react). However, the impact was so frighteningly hard (twice, left front and rear) that I thought the car had broken in two pieces. And with a trunk full of champaign I thought they would all start popping at once.
The champaign turned out fine in the end. But the car... Not so much.
Attached is a picture of my front tyre, but that wasn't all the damage. The complete list:
- Front tyre almost blown
- Front wheel bent (really bent)
- Rear wheel bent (really bent)
- Front ABC strut: broken at the top, holding on to half an anchor
- Rear suspension arm backlash
Since my rears were gone for 65% I replaced them too out of precaution, eventhough the rear wheel didn't show any damage, the carnage to the front led me to believe it might not be safe to drive 150MPH anymore. But that was my own decision.
Now, an ABC strut, two wheels (which I bought years earlier for an occasion like this, I don't like to straighten bent wheels), a tyre and the rest of the work turned out to be something like: €5,500
I'm in correspondence with Belgian road officials, and hopefully they will contribute significantly to the damage, but I'm prepared for the worst.
The champaign turned out fine in the end. But the car... Not so much.
Attached is a picture of my front tyre, but that wasn't all the damage. The complete list:
- Front tyre almost blown
- Front wheel bent (really bent)
- Rear wheel bent (really bent)
- Front ABC strut: broken at the top, holding on to half an anchor
- Rear suspension arm backlash
Since my rears were gone for 65% I replaced them too out of precaution, eventhough the rear wheel didn't show any damage, the carnage to the front led me to believe it might not be safe to drive 150MPH anymore. But that was my own decision.
Now, an ABC strut, two wheels (which I bought years earlier for an occasion like this, I don't like to straighten bent wheels), a tyre and the rest of the work turned out to be something like: €5,500
I'm in correspondence with Belgian road officials, and hopefully they will contribute significantly to the damage, but I'm prepared for the worst.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 388
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From: Austria
Mercedes
Well, your champagne just got a little more expensive. 
Btw.: The region in France you referred to (as well as the alcoholic beverage you got from there) are spelled CHAMPAGNE, not "champaign". In fact, "Champaign" is a city in the State of Illinois.
Just my 2ct (and another "invaluable contribution to this story").
Btw.: The region in France you referred to (as well as the alcoholic beverage you got from there) are spelled CHAMPAGNE, not "champaign". In fact, "Champaign" is a city in the State of Illinois.
Just my 2ct (and another "invaluable contribution to this story").
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
I know. But just imagine what hidden damage you can obtain when you buy a second hand performance car. If I had straightened the wheels (potentially damaging their integrity more) and put one new tyre on it I could sell the car "accident free". Never thought of that myself actually until now...
Anyway, better abandon his thread I guess...
