auxiliary heating - safety issue

[caMPike]

friend of mine had a minor accident with his MB V-class few months ago, despite minimal speed he crashed the car due icy road to a slim tree (max. 10cm diameter) few meters from road. Nothing serious happend. He got cold while waitting for police so started aux. heating. Bad smell after 20min so he turned it off. After another 5 min staying outside he saw low lights under car body, run back to the car unfortunately not equiped with fire extinguisher, the flames became prety high in 30 seconds, the car burned down completely...
reason: when the car crashed outside of road, it got also hit to bottom by stone next by road, it bended knee of exhaust outlet and heat-stream came horizontally directly to plastic body of V-class
lesson: check exhaust outlet from time to time especially after offroading + fire equipment
P.S. the heating was original from MB factory, insurance discusions still go on.

 

[Method7]

Hmm that is terrible, glad no one got hurt. Licky it’s a factory fit so at least there is mimimal room to wriggle out of that. Watching it go up must have been heart breaking.