I know some of you have taken your front bumper off so many times you could do it in your sleep, but for the rest of us it can be pretty daunting the first time around. The first time I pulled mine off about a year ago I had gotten some good descriptions on this forum of how to do it. Since this happened to be the third time I’ve had to pull mine, I'm going to try to return the favor with pictures of the process.
First of all, why would you need to remove your bumper? The reasons that come to mind include:
1) Replacing the bumper with a new OEM one because you tore yours (that’s my story this time)
2) Replacing the OEM bumper with an aftermarket kit
3) Retrofitting xenon headlights
These instructions should be good for 430 and 55’s with the AMG body kits; it may be a little different for 320’s but still should be applicable. By the way, I need to say that I accept no responsibility if your call falls apart, falls on you, or flies to pieces at 120mph.)
1. Raise the car – Put the front of the car up on jack stands. I used a forward suspension joint for jacking up the car and put the stands on the side jack points right below the plastic cover on the side skirt.
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2. Remove spoiler divider bar – If you are still lucky enough to still have your divider splitter (also called a bumper joint cover), remove it by pulling straight forward.
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Remember to zip-tie it in place once you reinstall it.
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3. Remove the external temperature sensor – Push it in while gently twisting.
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4. Remove side marker lights – Using a butterknife wrapped in a soft cloth, pry up at the back end while sliding the light forward. If you have painted side lights like mine, make sure you have a Mercedes touch-up paint pen handy as some paint always seems to chip off here. Push the bulb and socket inside the bumper.
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5. Remove splash guards - Crawl under the car and unscrew the screws holding the right and left splash shields in place, and remove the shields. I don’t have good pictures of this but if you can’t figure it out, get out from under the car immediately!
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6. Remove fender well rivets and screws – The bumper is attached to the fender and fender well guard in two or three places. The first is the bolt; simply remove it. You may have a rotating clip near here as well; if so turn it 90 degrees and pull it out.
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The last place is a plastic rivet from the fender well to the bumper. If you can pull the center pin out (or push it out from behind), do it. If not, cut it out and get a new one from the dealer for 50 cents.
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7. Disconnect fog lights – Gently prying with a small screwdriver while pulling the plugs apart makes this easier.
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8. Remove corner screws – Reach up inside the bumper near the corners and right behind the side marker light you will find a long zinc-colored screw. Remove it. (Be careful when reinserting it as it supposed to cut into the fender sheet metal but yet is itself housed in a brittle plastic mount.)
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9. Remove headlight bolts – There are two on each side. Be careful not to over-tighten these on reassembly as you can break the front headlight mounting tabs.
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10. Remove the radiator guard – With a Philips screwdriver twist the clips no more than 90 degrees, then pull the guard straight up about an inch, than out towards you.
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11. Remove main nuts – These nuts in front of the radiator are all that hold the bumper on now. The one on the right side of the car (your left) is especially tough to get to.
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You can make more room by removing the screw holding the cooler conduit, and gently pulling the conduit away from the radiator while working on the nut.
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12. Pull off bumper! – Once these nuts are off, pull the bumper straight forward and off the car. Crack open yet another beer.
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13. Reassemble in reverse order.
I’ll post some photos of my bumper swap later. Getting the bumper off was easy, getting the new one on was not thanks to the evil mounting brackets...
First of all, why would you need to remove your bumper? The reasons that come to mind include:
1) Replacing the bumper with a new OEM one because you tore yours (that’s my story this time)
2) Replacing the OEM bumper with an aftermarket kit
3) Retrofitting xenon headlights
These instructions should be good for 430 and 55’s with the AMG body kits; it may be a little different for 320’s but still should be applicable. By the way, I need to say that I accept no responsibility if your call falls apart, falls on you, or flies to pieces at 120mph.)
1. Raise the car – Put the front of the car up on jack stands. I used a forward suspension joint for jacking up the car and put the stands on the side jack points right below the plastic cover on the side skirt.
2. Remove spoiler divider bar – If you are still lucky enough to still have your divider splitter (also called a bumper joint cover), remove it by pulling straight forward.
Remember to zip-tie it in place once you reinstall it.
3. Remove the external temperature sensor – Push it in while gently twisting.
4. Remove side marker lights – Using a butterknife wrapped in a soft cloth, pry up at the back end while sliding the light forward. If you have painted side lights like mine, make sure you have a Mercedes touch-up paint pen handy as some paint always seems to chip off here. Push the bulb and socket inside the bumper.
5. Remove splash guards - Crawl under the car and unscrew the screws holding the right and left splash shields in place, and remove the shields. I don’t have good pictures of this but if you can’t figure it out, get out from under the car immediately!
6. Remove fender well rivets and screws – The bumper is attached to the fender and fender well guard in two or three places. The first is the bolt; simply remove it. You may have a rotating clip near here as well; if so turn it 90 degrees and pull it out.
The last place is a plastic rivet from the fender well to the bumper. If you can pull the center pin out (or push it out from behind), do it. If not, cut it out and get a new one from the dealer for 50 cents.
7. Disconnect fog lights – Gently prying with a small screwdriver while pulling the plugs apart makes this easier.
8. Remove corner screws – Reach up inside the bumper near the corners and right behind the side marker light you will find a long zinc-colored screw. Remove it. (Be careful when reinserting it as it supposed to cut into the fender sheet metal but yet is itself housed in a brittle plastic mount.)
9. Remove headlight bolts – There are two on each side. Be careful not to over-tighten these on reassembly as you can break the front headlight mounting tabs.
10. Remove the radiator guard – With a Philips screwdriver twist the clips no more than 90 degrees, then pull the guard straight up about an inch, than out towards you.
11. Remove main nuts – These nuts in front of the radiator are all that hold the bumper on now. The one on the right side of the car (your left) is especially tough to get to.
You can make more room by removing the screw holding the cooler conduit, and gently pulling the conduit away from the radiator while working on the nut.
12. Pull off bumper! – Once these nuts are off, pull the bumper straight forward and off the car. Crack open yet another beer.
13. Reassemble in reverse order.
I’ll post some photos of my bumper swap later. Getting the bumper off was easy, getting the new one on was not thanks to the evil mounting brackets...
