Originally Posted by stickyfingerz

Ok who wants the easy explanation? Fuel lines run right under the intake manifold which is covered by a plastic engine shield. So you get a leak in the fuel line that is more spraying vapor than liquid. Cars get hotter AFTER they are shut off. Fuel vapor hits the hot manifold and lights. The hoods on those Mercedes are nearly sealed when shut.

Vapor + ignition + plus sealed hood makes the hood pop open like a jiffy popcorn container.

Go dump some gas in a coffee can, put the lid on shake it around till vapor gets going, have a small hole in the can, throw a light at the can near the hole. Kaboom.

Battery COULD blow up and dent the top of the hood (if it was under the hood that is) but unlikely it would do that much damage. This is fuel vapor plus sealed space, plus ignition boom! I think that is very likely what happened here.