W123 Wagon Euro Bumper Project - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

w123love · #1 04-03-2012, 08:05 PM

I bought a W123 Estate Euro Bumper a couple months ago and now have decided to put it on.

I had it sandblasted and powder coated to the original luster. It looks really great and will keep it rush free for a while to come.

I thought It was all going to be fine and dandy putting the bumper on. But what skipped my mind was that Euro bumpers do NOT have the shock absorbers that the Federal W123’s come standard with. Was a great surprise when I was lifting the bumper

So that was my first hurdle. Easy enough to overcome, I drilled 1 7/8" holes in the trailer hitch mounts. This allowed the shock absorbers to pass through the mounts and into the frame, like how it is supposed to be.

(I’m now regretting getting it powder coated already)

So now that I had it all drilled, I went for a test fit.

Success!!! But was short lived....

w123love · #2 04-03-2012, 08:27 PM

When I went for a test fit, I encountered two new problems.

Numero Uno:

The right angle of the trailer mounting bracket was hindering the ability of the bumper mounts to be flush to the trailer hitch brackets.

Sooooo time to bust out the RotoZip!!!

It was bittersweet; fun to use the RotoZip but sad because I had to modify it more. At this point I double regret getting it powder coated already.

I took one cut out of each side to accommodate the bumper bracket. Easy enough to do, and it was done before I knew it.

Numero Dos:

So now with the bumper back on the hitch the dang thing won’t go flush to the hitch!

Welp I now have clearance issues with the middle of the bumper resting against the hitch mount support. (Basically where the ball hitch attachment mounts too)

So here are my options in my mind:

#1: Bend the middle of the bumper about 3 mm into itself to accommodate the hitch mount.

#2: Cut out a section of the bumper and do no modifying to the hitch. Probably my least favorite option, I’d hate to cut that beautiful chrome

#3: Somehow modify the hitch mounting points to make the hitch lower down about 3mm.

MTUpower · #3 04-03-2012, 08:46 PM

The Euro rear bumper provides nearly zero protection against a rear end hit. The front euro looks really good and with prudent driving you can avoid rear ending someone else- most of the time. I have a euro front but I would not put a euro rear on. Your license plate is begging to get you a very expensive ticket for using non taxed fuel.
Hey - it's your car however and you can do what you'd like. I know what I've done to my wagon is not for everyone either...

w123love · #4 04-03-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

The Euro rear bumper provides nearly zero protection against a rear end hit.

I totally know. Just yesterday my neighbor’s daughter (driving a W123) was rear-ended by a commercial truck....absolutely nothing happened to her except some whiplash. The car could have cared less.

Quote:

The front euro looks really good and with prudent driving you can avoid rear ending someone else- most of the time. I have a euro front but I would not put a euro rear on.

Yeah I could care less for Euro bumpers now....

Quote:

Your license plate is begging to get you a very expensive ticket for using non taxed fuel.

Again...could care less. “Why officer, I am running on Diesel what are you talking about?”

Quote:

Hey - it's your car however and you can do what you'd like. I know what I've done to my wagon is not for everyone either...

I dig your W123. Especially that intake set up. Really clean.

MBeige · #5 04-03-2012, 10:18 PM

I'm wondering why you went to go to the trouble of mounting the bumper shock absorbers onto the Euro rear wagon bumper, when the original brackets would have fit on to the unmodified hitch (assuming the hitch was a factory Euro part). If it was a Curt or aftermarket hitch meant for a US model S123, it would have already been designed for the shock absorbers in mind.

If the rear Euro wagon bumper had the reinforcement for Federalization, they would not fit with the hitch assembly installed. But this reinforcement would have helped the bumper shocks. It doesn't make sense to me, maybe I'm missing something.

I'm also worried that the 7/8" hole on the hitch will weaken the hitch or lower the towing or carrying capacity.

w123love · #6 04-03-2012, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

I'm wondering why you went to go to the trouble of mounting the bumper shock absorbers onto the Euro rear wagon bumper, when the original brackets would have fit on to the unmodified hitch (assuming the hitch was a factory Euro part). If it was a Curt or aftermarket hitch meant for a US model S123, it would have already been designed for the shock absorbers
If the rear Euro wagon bumper had the reinforcement foUr Federalization, they would not fit with the hitch assembly installed. But this reinforcement would have helped the bumper shocks. It doesn't make sense to me, maybe I'm missing something.

I'm also worried that the 7/8" hole on the hitch will weaken the hitch or lower the towing or carrying capacity.

It is a Federal bumper. Also the hitch is off of a Euro 240 W123 Estate. I could have gone with the Curt, but where's the fun in that?

It hurts every time I cut something, but I'm confident I'm not severely ruining it's integrity. The hitch also mounts forward of the fuel tank, which should take a majority of the towing load. The two rear supports should take most of the tongue weight.

Yumeko-chan · #7 04-05-2012, 06:07 PM

I have Euro bumpers on my car. When I still only had my permit I backed into a pole in a mall parking lot (February 2007 I'd say). I was going no more than 5MPH probably, but the bumper now has a sizable dent where it hit the pole, and it got pushed into the body of the car slightly. Had to replace the right-side taillight as well.

w123love · #8 04-05-2012, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yumeko-chan

I have Euro bumpers on my car. When I still only had my permit I backed into a pole in a mall parking lot (February 2007 I'd say). I was going no more than 5MPH probably, but the bumper now has a sizable dent where it hit the pole, and it got pushed into the body of the car slightly. Had to replace the right-side taillight as well.

Bugga^

I think that is why I will keep the standard bumpers.