Yes. The rear light assembly is completely independent of the bumper system. Check the R171 gallery. I posted some photos of the bumper removal. While they don't answer your question specifically, they may be of some help.
BenzWorld.org forum is one of the largest Mercedes-Benz owner websites offering the most comprehensive collection of Mercedes-Benz information anywhere in the world. The site includes MB Forums, News, Galleries, Publications, Classifieds, Events and much more!