[quote=AN][quote=flu]
But I have to say, at least for hondas it doesn’t require you to drop have a fuel tank to replace a fuel filter like *cough* a B5 Audi A4…. (I lucked out because I have small hands)…
Surprising the Mercedes w203 C class isn’t that bad to work on…. I pretty much replaced the front end recently…[/quote]
I’m very impressed flu. I wouldn’t dare attempt replacing the front end. I would only try DIY if I can finish w/in a couple hours. The rest, I’ll just buy the parts and take it to the shop :-). Maybe it might be different if it’s a 2nd/spare car. I don’t dare do that on my main commuter.
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Well, it was out of necessity… Morale of the story… don’t let your collision coverage lapse accidentally. And no, I wasn’t driving…
Err, that will buff right out…NOT! Things dont look that bad from the outside, until you take it apart….
Everything in front up to the absorber has shifted about 5-7 degrees to the right and the bumper, hood, front end don’t line up anymore….. So everything in front pretty much had to go…Bumper, absorber, frame components, radiator brackets, radiator, auxiliary water pump,etc,etc,etc,etc… Nice huh?
I learned that Mercedes runs some of your coolant through the headlight washer system just to keep it warm… Yeah, that’s why when you crash the front and snap a plastic auxilary water pump you get coolant all over the floor, making your car undriveable…
Also, a bunch of the wiring was ripped apart on the passenger side…This is why I was asking you about if you had your c series still, so if you could help me figure were everything routed to..I found out later with a neighbor’s car.
It’s all put back together. Parts came out to be about $1200. Still needs to be repainted, which I think I can do for about $500, including getting a new air compressor specifically for it… Yeah, get to add more to my tool collection….
I should mention, everything was taken apart and put back together with hand tools and a torque wrench. No power tools, no air compressor, etc…Wasnt home when I was doing this but at my relative’s house…
Insurance probably would have totaled it. Not because its not repairable, because it just would have cost way too much labor. Moral of the story, don’t let your collision lapse.
Well, the good news is that if I ever want a career change, I can run an Audi, Mercedes, and now BMW repair shop…
