Well..I think I have isolated the squeeking to the suspension or body mounts. Now I know you are going to ask how I know that.

Well this morning as I've entered a left turn lane a red Merc SLK320 decides to enter it as i'm almost to the light. He side swipes me starting at the rear of the passenger front door and all the way back.

Here's the good part - after I complete the left turn and pull over to assess damage and exchange insurance info...he keeps going. SO I get back in my car and chase him down for over 20 blocks. Frustrated and finally having to cut him off and brake in front of him to get him to stop, I remember i have a prop badge from a photoshoot that i grab and wave to get his attention! He finally pulls over and stops.

WAIT...it gets better. When we get out he wants to know what the problem is. HE HAS NO IDEA HE HIT ME!!!!! Seriously..no idea whatsoever.

I start yelling at him then realized he's too old or medicated to really understand. I regain my composure and take him and show him my car. He says he didn't do that, then states it's not that bad, then he's sure there is no damage to his car. I then walk him up to his and not only is his entire front 1/4 panel in front of the wheel well collapsed in to where the wheel is completely exposed, but also the rim bent and the front of the door scarred with black rubber marks and dents from my rear wheel.

At this point he has no idea what happened and goes back to my car to look at the damage - and after seeing the red paint on mine agrees he must have hit me. He then asks if i can just send him the bill...of which i said no. ( I realize that he hit the rear wheel pretty hard so there might be some internal damage that needs addressing). He starts to rub off the red paint and I ask him to stop immediately and back away from my car.

We exchanged insurance info and i have already started the claims through both companies this morning. After looking at his license he's 83 years old.

As for the creak...it's now 100% worse than before and like a Symphony. I think it's because of the way he side swiped me, hitting the wheel and suspension.

The first estimate is 5k, withstanding any drivetrain issues - with a down time of 10 working days.

Any of you have any hints on what i should look for regarding the rear axel?

Here are some thumbnails...as you can see it's not that bad...but with only 3900 miles on the clock, I'm still not happy. I have decided tho to have his license pulled by filing a complaint at the DMV on Monday - and then if this hits carfax i'm going to ask nicely, then sue him civilly for the diminished value. I'm mainly concerned that at this point he could have killed somebody and had no idea he did it. He should not be driving in Los Angeles at 83.

I love Saturday mornings.

Anyway...that's it for this morning...

Wow. Unbelievable man. You're right that guy shouldn't be driving. Did you call the police?(sense he ran from the scene)
The first thing about the rear that comes to mind is checking the trailing arms & their mounting points for damage/bends/twist/etc. Good luck.

He HAD to feel that in a SLK.
Bill

ohhhh, that sucks man, should of called the police while chasing him down for leaving the scene of an accident, its to your benifit if he fights not being him good luck

Unbelieveable! Good luck............

sorry my man....as I always advise....look into loss of value or diminished value after the damage is fixed

Wow. Like the others ask, you did get the police there, yes?

And *ahem* a "prop badge"! Photo shoot? We better not catch you using that on our teenage daughters!

Good luck on the fix. I'm sure she'll be as good as new (and hopefully that creak will be gone too).

I knew the prop badge would raise some eyebrows...it's actually from a stupid short film and subsequent photo ad I did as a favor to a friend. I mean...it LOOKS like a prop to any one who knows. And having a brother in the FBI, another is a Federal Air Marshal, and a mother who is an ex police commissioner...I understand the legalities. So...your daughters are safe.

I would have liked to have called the police but I left the house without my phone...which is the first and last time i ever do that again.

I am filing a formal complaint though with DMV Monday...with details being provided. After that elderly man killed so many in Santa Monica and then this happening...i'm not about to allow him to be behind the wheel again if i can help it.

After driving it a bit i can tell there is some suspension damage in the rear...it feel slightly different. So i'm grounding it till i can get it in the shop.

Damn thats terrible. I had a 55 year old hit me while parked and he passed out and had no idea what happened. Then I get his info and I discover he has no insurance and his license is no good. And the cops dont arrest him! So then he tells me to send him the bill, which I say no to and then I find out where he works because he started dodging me and I told his boss that I was gonna kick his ass. His boss started acting like a tough guy. Then he paid me. I feel your pain man thats horrible. It might not drive the same again. I hate when stupid chit like this happens.

I am all for older people driving but they need to be tested yearly after a certain age. My wifes grandfather, 94, was driving until the age of 92. He bought a new chevy monte carlo 5 years ago and the thing looks like it was in a demolition derby contest and lost. What is really ironic is that this same old man nearly killed me & my family when I was 14, pulled out infront of us while we were travelling 70mph causing my father to nearly flip the car. Now I'm maried to his granddaughter..lol... but it is horrible to see young innocent people who still have a full life ahead of themselves be wiped out by some old geiser who should not be driving. Very scary, thankfully you were not injured.

dam that sucks... good luck dude

the same exact thing happened to my wife, but not in my truck...luckily. She was minding her own business on a main street and an older gentlemen pulls out of a shopping mall parking lot and cuts everyone off and swipes the front left fender of my wifes 1.7 EL...and yup, keeps driving along on his merry way. My wife was shocked and didn't follow him but got his license plate. What an ordeal, a few trips to the police station, 2 trips to body shop for estimate and a few pictures later, she got the green light from her insurance to bring it in for repair this monday. I think it would be safer for everyone on the road if elderly people stuck to cabs and their kids to get around. Mind you, it depends on the person...

As for the creaking sound, sorry it had to take an accident to discover the source, but thanks for sharing your info, despite your misery.

Wow, that sucks. Good luck! It must be very frustraiting, especially with brand new car. Why didn't you get cops involved?
Scary part is that he didn't even notice...
I feel for older people; their car is often the only way for them to get around, there's simply no public transportation available. On the other hand, when you hear about all this terrible accident with elderly drivers involved ("gas pedal got stuck")...
It'll get only worse, with more older people on the road.

Im sorry to see this, I know anything anyone says wont make you feel any better, having this happen to a new truck really hurts.

If it makes you feel any better I just had my drivers fender and door repainted.