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Back-up sensors don't protect you one hundred percent of the time, or so it would seem since a fresh scrape was discovered on our Mercedes R500's right rear bumper. The damage is minor, but will still require a trip to the body shop for a touch-up.
Kelly Toepke, Manager of Vehicle Testing at 20,185 miles
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SubyTrojan says:
09:38 AM, 02/21/07
I guess now it has achieved true minivan status!
blueguydotcom says:
02:46 PM, 02/21/07
Huh? BMW's backup sensors let you know if something is to the side of the car too. Weird.
desmolicious says:
03:23 PM, 02/21/07
Did the driver of the R500 do this, or did someone hit it when it was parked?
mercedesfan says:
04:00 PM, 02/21/07
Mercedes' Parktronic system also tells whether objects are to the side of the vehicle, something like this only happens if someone is careless or if the car is hit while parked.
bimmerjay says:
06:06 PM, 02/21/07
Hmmm, this might be a case of the not mes! Perhaps the owner's manual has a section about proper backing up procedure? ;-)
steve_ says:
09:47 PM, 02/21/07
If that were my car I probably wouldn't bother fixing it - it's not like hitting a tree or something!
dderosa says:
12:37 PM, 02/22/07
We're not sure how it happened. It must have been while it was parked.
It looks worse in the photo. In person the scrape is so faint it's possible the driver didn't even notice it.
-- Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
playdrv4me says:
07:23 PM, 02/26/07
You know, this is going to sound like a cliche, but that really will probably "buff right out". And for whatever mark remained, Id just hit it with silver touch up paint. I know its Edmunds' money, but the body shop is going to tear someone a new one and repaint the entire half of the bumper, if not the whole thing and destroy the integrity of at least SOME portion of the shiny factory original paint. As you know, as far as my thoughts of the R500, it looks no worse with the scratch than without, but no less, it shouldnt have to be taken in for that.
I agree with the above, its just not worth it. This just happened to my 2004 BMW 330Ci two days ago and most of it rubbed right off with a warm, wet towel, and some elbow grease.