E 240 Estate 98 avantgarde crossmember

[fig401]

Hi

Have just spoke to the body shop repairing my merc (was reversed into by 4x4, £4k worth of damage to front of my vehicle.

Amongst the list of parts being replaced or fixed is the cross memeber. I'm not an expert at all but I do know that the cross member is a very essential part of the chassis. They said it was slightly bent and have straightened it.
Question. Is the cross member attached to the chassis on an E240 estate or is it seperate, can it be replaced?

Does anyone have any advise on this matter? If it's attached then I would have thought the insurance company would write it off.

Fig

 

[Xtractorfan]

I doubt if the actual crossmember was bent otherwise the engine and radiators would have been mangled, they are probably talking about the bumper support member ..which if bent should be replaced ..and it is just bolted across the front of the car. its your insurance in a front end collision

 

[fig401]

Cross member repair or replace?

They are replacing the rad and air con rad, bonnet, bumper, fogs, H/Lights, fan cowls & scam panel and hopefully the grille but they didn't mention that.
Was reversed into at no more than 10mph. Definately said the cross member....would the vehicle need to go up on a jig to sort this out?

 

[Xtractorfan]

No the bumper itself will absorb a 10mph shunt, possibly the 4X4 caused more upper damage, hence the bonnet and rads etc. I would say from experience that the Xmember is probably ok and its probably better left alone, the car wont need to be jigged or benched..Benching or jigging is really only for more seriously damaged cars.