2017 GLS550 Front Bumper (Deer Hit)

[rpaoness]

Hit a deer on the way home from picking Max up from the high school tonight.

I didn't see it until too late to completely brake. Max said he saw another deer ahead of it but figured I'd noticed. I hadn't. The second one I picked up too "close" to be able to stop. I think I was probably doing like 10 or 15 from the 42 mph or so I was doing since I had braked some. The deer bounced off the bumper, got up, and ran off into the neighboring property.

Cracked the front bumper cover, I think cracked the mounting tabs off of the big Mercedes logo pie plate (it was on a snow bank), and I think lost one of the two like 3" body color covers. The recovery hook cover is there but dangling.

I'll need to start looking up parts and price out doing the repair vs. claiming insurance shortly.

I can likely make it kinda driveable indefinitely (distronic, parking sensors all seem fine), but I would like to fix it ASAP for cosmetics.

[rpaoness]

I'll try to get some pics in the morning.

[rpaoness]

It also took out the front charge air heat exchanger - bumper/grille must've pushed back far enough to nick it and make it leak. Super-minor drip.

Shopping list so far:
- bumper cover
- driver side access cover (don't know what to call it - right below the grille. It's not for the tow hook, and there are two symmetrical ones, still have the passenger one)
- grille
- Mercedes logo bezel (still have the logo, just not the retaining ring)
- charge air cooler

"Maybe's"
- Front camera has a wing broken off
- Lower air dam plastic chrome coating has some wrinkles in it

[rpaoness]

"Bare Bones" estimate came in at $3500. I'm thinking I'll just have it fixed "right" with an insurance claim and get the energy absorber, radar realignment, etc.

[rpaoness]

Estimate and photos from the adjuster.

[rpaoness]

Got it back after more than three weeks at the body shop right around March 1st.

When we went to pick it up the low temp cooling system was low and they refilled.

I refilled when I got home again - assuming there was still air trapped somewhere.

I’m pretty sure the suspension seems to be set too low - I don’t see any air suspension problems, I just think it may have been recalibrated too low. I wonder if they reset some alignment parameters when they installed the new camera and recalibrated the front radar?

Today I also got my first “check engine oil level at next fuel fill” message twice. Level appears about 70% or so up the stick which is normal. I wonder if they recalibrated the oil level sensor also by accident.

I also am not thrilled that they cracked a tab on the plastic radiator support cover.

Today the low temp system was again about a cup or two low. Not sure if it was still air or perhaps there’s a small leak. Great.

Options:
1) Live with these gremlins and do nothing. I don’t think I want to.
2) Investigate each on my own and deal with them one at a time.
3) Ask the body shop to address each
4) Take it to a Benz dealer and ask them to fix it. Send the bill to GEICO and let them argue with the body shop?

I’m kinda leaning towards 4, but GEICO could refuse to pay if they don’t think it’s collision related. I wonder if they have to if it was part of a botched repair and they can go after the body shop to refund them?

[kevm14]

I’m pretty sure the suspension seems to be set too low - I don’t see any air suspension problems, I just think it may have been recalibrated too low. I wonder if they reset some alignment parameters when they installed the new camera and recalibrated the front radar?

Calibration of the long range radar sensor does not involve ride height adjustment. Just verification of tire pressure. I verified with Xentry simulation. There is a lane keeping camera behind the rearview mirror but that was likely not replaced. Only other camera in the front would be for the 360 parking camera and that wouldn't require ride height adjustment either. You'd only do that during an alignment and then only if the ride height needed adjusting. I think this is probably in your head from past discussions. But I haven't seen the vehicle.

Today I also got my first “check engine oil level at next fuel fill” message twice. Level appears about 70% or so up the stick which is normal. I wonder if they recalibrated the oil level sensor also by accident.

There is no calibration of the oil level sensor. I believe the sensor is an electronic float switch similar to the one in my S550 (that was bad and I had to replace it - it was errantly flagging low oil level). You may be able to replace through lower access cover but WIS says to remove the whole oil pan. I did mine laparoscopically through the lower cover.

FWIW I attached the official procedure for checking the oil with the dipstick. They want a hot engine check (>80C). Level between min and max. Difference between min and max is 1L. Obviously if you have a cold check reference you can probably use that but should check warm to at least match level sensor expected conditions.

I found four possible codes that you may not have (P250Bxx and P250Exx). All four of them say to check the oil level manually and if it's fine, replace the sensor. Obviously there could be a wiring issue but the sensor is inside the oil pan. This is probably a coincidence?

Today the low temp system was again about a cup or two low. Not sure if it was still air or perhaps there’s a small leak. Great.

Now this one is probably their fault. They must have replaced the front heat exchanger. And there are brittle plastic lines and fittings everywhere...

Options:
1) Live with these gremlins and do nothing. I don’t think I want to.
2) Investigate each on my own and deal with them one at a time.
3) Ask the body shop to address each
4) Take it to a Benz dealer and ask them to fix it. Send the bill to GEICO and let them argue with the body shop?

I’m kinda leaning towards 4, but GEICO could refuse to pay if they don’t think it’s collision related. I wonder if they have to if it was part of a botched repair and they can go after the body shop to refund them?

You probably need to get on record of having the complaints (and giving them a chance) before #4.

[kevm14]

Level calibration wants the level sensors in a range (vehicle on flat surface, and they want an alignment rack). Once that is the case, you simply enter the inclination angles as shown.

Permissible range (via Xentry) is 4.1 to 9 degrees on the front lower control arms and -1.8 to 2.5 degrees on the rear.

Nominal value appears to be 5'26" in the front, +/- 1'2".

Nominal value appears to be -0'77" in the rear, +/- 1'1".

[rpaoness]

Ok - makes me feel better that the oil level doesn’t have a calibration. The transmission sensor in the GLA does and you had sent me the instructions for that.

We’ll see if I have to add coolant again before I go chasing it more. Certainly not a big leak so far.