AFTER PARKING THE CAR A SMELL OF SMOKE WAS NOTED. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY WELL AND WAS RECENTLY SERVICED BY A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHICH INCLUDED A NEW BATTERY AMONG OTHER THINGS. BLACK SMOKE WAS NOTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. AS IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO POP OPEN THE HOOD, FLAMES DARTED INTO THE COMPARTMENT THROUGH A CREATED HOLE JUST UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE NOTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, AROUND THE TIRES AND SOON ENGULFING THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND IT'S COMPONENTS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED, THE INTERIOR FILLED WITH BLACK SOOT AND ODOR. THIS WAS A HUGE SHOCK AND SURPRISE TO THE OWNER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING SO WELL AND NEVER HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE.