I know this is a weird question, but the classic hotrodder in my blood is coming out. Does anyone know the construction of the bumper shocks on a US W123?
I am trying to tuck the bumpers up to the body for a tighter, and in my opinion better look at a much cheaper price than the euro bumpers ive seen.
If i can safely cut the us spec shocks apart, i have a bracket already made up and all i will have to do is get them welded at the proper distance.
Andrew

The manual says to drill a small hole in the bumper shock prior to discarding it. That hole allows the fluid to drain out. and will allow the shock to collapse. Once drained, simply push it in and spot weld it!! My 450 SL had one front shock that was empty, every time I washed it, I would have to pull that side back out away from the body.

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81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

I did exactly that some years ago on a Volvo 240 wagon. I drilled a whole in each of the 4 shocks, collapsed them, and then welded them closed. It made the bumpers on the car look pretty good.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

well, im going to add to this since i just did this, the bottom part that goes into the car is oil charged. I used a relatively small drill bit, maybe .25", and the fluid was flying, a solid 6 feet, it was awesome to watch until i realized i was going to have to clean that up..........
it tucks the front bumper much closer to the body and gets just the look i want. i am going to have to decide how i want to hold them in place, but the scary part is over for 2 out of the 4
Andrew