05-25-2008
| #1 (permalink) |
| Professional TV Watcher 
 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany
Vehicle: 2000 Designo SLK230
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|  Weekend Accident Well, the wife and I just got back from a great weekend getaway to Garmisch, Germany (pics to follow soon), but it didn't end quite as we had planned. I thought I would start this thread and share with you this experience first since the other would just be boring, beautiful pictures of the area known for the highest point in Germany. Anyway . . . We're traveling along Autobahn 8 (A8), west of Munich, when we happened upon a rather abrupt encounter. The Polizie had a speed trap setup. Sooooo, people were throwing on their brakes and the car in front of us was not paying attention to the car in front of him and slammed into the back of them. Which in turn caused us to have to brake with extremely little notice. I really wasn't tailgating the guy, but technically I was too close because, as the pictures below show, I didn't have enough clearance to stop without impact. It all happened rather quickly, but instinctively I had to make a quick decision on where I was going the let our car go. I was in the far left lane (fast lane) of 3 lanes of traffic. I knew I couldn't go to the right because I would have hit the cars in the middle lane. I didn't want to just brake and hope for the best because I would have squarely rearended the car in front of me. So, I took the path of what I felt would cause the least bodily damage, human AND automotive. So, I went for the very, VERY small space between the car in front and the guardrail to the left.  Below is the result. Enjoy? (Somehow that just doesn't sound right.) Wreck01.jpg Wreck02.jpg Wreck03.jpg Wreck04.jpg Wreck05.jpg Wreck07.jpg Continued below...
__________________ Kevin An American in Germany... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. '00 SLK230 Designo copper, '06 Saturn Vue, Cessna 172 (pilot) |
 
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05-25-2008
| #2 (permalink) |
| Professional TV Watcher
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany
Vehicle: 2000 Designo SLK230
Posts: 1,702
Country:
Thanks: 98
Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts
|  Wreck08.jpg Wreck09.jpg Wreck10.jpg Wreck11.jpg Wreck13.jpg Wreck14.jpg I was looking to have the car repainted . . . but this wasn't exACTly how I wanted to go about it. Side note: We ended up having a very delightful lunch/dinner with the couple that the car in front of us rearended. Great people!! Thanks Martin and Karin for everything!!! Stacey and I look forward to getting to know you better in the future. But please, lets' not meet the same way next time. LOL
__________________ Kevin An American in Germany... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. '00 SLK230 Designo copper, '06 Saturn Vue, Cessna 172 (pilot) Last edited by DesignoSLK; 05-26-2008 at 06:28 PM. |
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05-25-2008
| #3 (permalink) |
| Founding Member #8  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK
Vehicle: 2004 SLK350
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| Kevin & Mrs Kevin((Stacey), you must be gutted. I hope you're both OK
__________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 2005 BMW LT - 16 countries, 2 CONTINENTS & counting 2004 MB SLK 350 Andradite Green (6 speed manual] 1999 Ducati ST2 2003 Vauxhaul Vectra 1974 Triumph Bonneville 750 T140V 1937 Norton 500 single (all still current) |
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05-25-2008
| #4 (permalink) |
| SLK World Member  Join Date: Jun 2006
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| Sorry to hear about your mishap. So, essentially the police potentiated an accident in their efforts to further public safety. |
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05-25-2008
| #5 (permalink) |
| Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
Vehicle: 2000 SLK230 Copper Designo edition
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| Glad you and the Mrs. are okay, but from one copper slk owner to another, OWWWWWWWW! |
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05-25-2008
| #7 (permalink) | |
| Senior SLK World Member
 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bremen
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| Quote:
I think you both are okay, that's the most impotant thing. Years ago I have had a comparable idea like you in that situation, and I have had more luck, more space, more speed ... I don't know, it has simply worked. The car looks as if it could be fixed ....
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05-25-2008
| #8 (permalink) |
| Dude  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales
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 | Ouch, I'm real sorry to see that mate. Please don't think I'm trying to criticize a split-second call here mate and i hope you never have to make another choice like that ever again but always use the bumper. You have the tail end of the car in front and all the padding on the front of the SLK to help absorb the impact but when you expose the fender's to it all they transmit the force right into the chassis leg and if you bend that it's game over for the car, plus you risk damaging the front axle.
__________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening. |
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05-25-2008
| #10 (permalink) |
| Don 
 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia USA
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|  Kevin, very good job of defensive driving. You minimized the damage to your car and I hope there is no further damage that Dan mentioned. Glad you and spouse are OK.
__________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ----------------1----------------- --------SLK 55 ///AMG--------- THE MON55TER ON THE BLOCK |
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05-25-2008
| #11 (permalink) |
| Elite SLK World Member
 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: GA
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| Sorry to hear, glad all the people are OK! |
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05-25-2008
| #12 (permalink) |
| Moderator  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal
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 | Glad your ok mate. and congrats for keep it cool and going for the only good opportunity. Most would have just locked up and crashed into the back of him. Only if there was another 12 inches. Anyhow good try and glad your ok. Brian
__________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
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05-25-2008
| #13 (permalink) |
| Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will
 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA
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| Kevin and Stacey, glad to know you're both okay. I probably would've done the same and I think Dan is absolutely right. I hope the chassis is fine, and only the front quarter fenders need replacement. I have to remind myself to stick to the 3-second rule (always stay at least 3 seconds behind the car in front at any speed).
__________________ Eddy To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, Mod. R170 ant., EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled. |
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05-25-2008
| #14 (permalink) |
| Founding Member #7  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York
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| Our most recent defensive driving course actually says 4 seconds now. I remember when they first came out with the 2-second rule. I guess 4 is safer Sorry to hear about and see the accident. Glad no one was hurt. |
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05-25-2008
| #15 (permalink) |
| Founding Member
 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas
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| Kevin...most importantly you two are ok! The car can be fixed. You were looking for a new paint job...hopefully that is all the car will need...just fenders and paint. Maybe you can work the AMG body trim you were wanting into the repairs?  Thinking of the positive...How awesome is this...Just think of it...How many people can say they crashed their car on the Autobahn!!!   Awesome defensive driving. Rear end hit may have deployed airbags. I would be interested to know how the rare copper designo package plays into the value of the car since it was only that color in the year 2000 for that car? Hope all works out ok for you and repairs are quick! SLKman Brent
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05-26-2008
| #16 (permalink) |
| Moderator  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
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| Glad you guys are okay, the U.S spec Designo SLK looks impressive in Germany's very green enviroment.
__________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce! |
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05-26-2008
| #17 (permalink) |
| Lifetime SLK World Member
 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Athens, Greece
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| sorry to hear kevin, but glad it's over without any injuries or serious damages. that friendly dinner was a very decent and civilized conclusion to a bad moment i hope will be forgotten real soon... all the best ir-ops |
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05-26-2008
| #18 (permalink) | |
| Click it or Ticket!
 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Burleson, Texas
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