installing the bumper strips, the best way???
 

Anyone know the best way to install bumper strips on a 85 300TD wagon? (Probably the same for many other models as well)

I took of my bumper strips to make some bigger holes in the rear bumper for a new set of backup lights (will post a picture) and I the previous owner use some wire to hold on the plastic strips under the rubber. It was hanging off in a number of places and its always been an eyesore, the dangling bumper strip, in a pinh one time I even used some construction glue to hold it up, but its come off about 2 1/2 yrs later.

It looks cheap to buy a new rubber strip but the plastic clips are $50 a pair. I may try some other way of wiring them back up.

What I wanted to know is the technique for replacing teh rubber strip. Is it to put on the plastic clips first then slide the rubber all the way on from one side? or do you slide the clips into the rubber first then clip ihe whole assembly on?

Thanks again
Michael

Too bad you don't have the early style, where the rubber strip is simply pressed over a rib permanently formed in the aluminum bumper.
I'd try almost anything before I have to pay $25 a clip!
Is there enough 'meat' left in the broken clips to drill a small hole in each, to accept a small stainless sheet-matal screw and fender-washer?
That's what I'm going to check on my 240D when I get back to Virginia Beach. I keep the car at my parent's house there.

Happy Motoring, Mark

You install the plastic guides first. Then, preferably with two sets of hands, you slide the rubber strip on. Some people have used a very small amount of lubricant to assist, others manage to do it fine without.

How much success you have depends on how 'plasticized' the strip is on your car. After four tries, I gave up on mine. Mine is so hard that it just doesn't want to stay in place in the corners more than a few days after I get it back on. Pops off again.

If the plastic guides are broken/loose it will be much harder to get it on. The $50 for the new set will be repaid x2 in your sanity.

I installed the plastic clips, making sure they would not move, then lubed up the rubber strip, slid it in the one end, banged it on with a mallet, slid the other end in, done.

Rear, coupe.

Talc powder also makes for a slick install and washes off pretty readily afterwards.

Im still not sure I understand. I know this isnt rocket science but to be able to get the rubber strip onto the clips, if the clips are secured to the car, wouldn't you have to slide the entire Rubber bumper strip starting from one side all the way to the other?

When the clips are on the car where they should be without the rubber bumper there is no gap between the two clips in the centre of the bumper. SO this means I would have to remove the side rubber bumper cover in order to access the end of the clip on one side?

It seems like a long way to have to try and slide on the bumper. I thought perhaps it would be done from the centre part and sliding it on in two stages, first right then left, but it still doesn't seem possible.

Yes.

That is why I said it works best with two sets of hands. You have to start from one side and feed the rubber strip across the car. If yours behaves like mine, the big trick isn't the run straight across the length of the bumper, that's easy. The hard part for me was keeping the strip in place on the corners as it was being fed. The one on my car always wanted to pop off the plastic guide.

I removed one of the rubber bumper ends to do it. I don't think it can be done otherwise, but someone else may have some magic solution....

I just noticed you're not far from me. I hope you are working in a heated garage. I wouldn't hold out much hope it can be done working outdoors right now....

No. Sliding the rubber part will be good on one side of the rails, but will push the other half of plastic rails out of its position. This is how I did mine:

Place the impact strip on the rails so that when installed, the strip is even on the bumper. Sliding it around is not going to happen. Then, bend the impact strip backwards almost 180 degrees. When the rubber is bent, the opening will widen. This will allow you to press down on the strip and allow the strip to bite the plastic rails (or metal rails for early model bumpers). Lead the strip this way to both sides of the bumper starting from the middle. One hand is to bend it all the way back, the other hand is to guide the strip over the rails and to stabilize the bumper.

If you have assistance, even better. Have somebody hold the bumper in place then guide the strip over the rails.

I just installed the rear impact strip on new rails on my 300D, it was not easy the first time but once you get the hang of it, it should be straightforward.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/280878-new-member-1983-300d-3.html

Page 3 post #44.

I didn't find out about the roll/invert method until after mine was back on.

One of the bumper strips was slid several inches to one side. I peeled it off and thought about putting it back on. I ended up using some silicon spray to lube up the track then started sliding it from one end all the way around until it was centered.

For those of you with broken plastic holder strips:

Correctly position the plastic holder strip and drill a small hole through the plastic holder strip into the bumper. This will most likely be very close to the outside edge of the strip. Secure the plastic holder strip to the bumper with a stainless screw.

This holds the plastic holder strips in place.

I clean the inside of the rubber bumper strip with a stiff brush and your favorite Simple Green equiv. After its clean AND dry, coat with silicon spray and start from one end and slide onto the plastic holder strips. Over shoot the end, complete the attachment and then slide the other way into the bumper covers. If the rubber is in really good shape, I've also used a plastic faced hammer and just pushed it on (after it was cleaned and coated with silicon).

I just fixed the rear rubber strip on my '82 240D. Turns out there's an ivory-colored plastic strip embedded in the rubber with a number of hooks molded into it and some sort of molded clip on the end. My plastic strip stayed attached to the rubber, but two of the hooks and the clip had snapped off the right side on mine. So I ground off the plastic stubs and drilled a 7/64 hole at each of those spots to take some #8 x 3/4" Philips sheetmetal screws. I added fender washers to those screws to attach them to the bumper at the existing holes, so no bumper-drilling was needed.
It's probably stronger now than the original plastic. I wish fixing the glovebox latch on these cars was this easy!

Front bumper clip rails replace
 

@Mbeige has it correct. I just did it myself with a little help from a mallet without removing the apron. Secure those two rails to the bumper. Really hook those cleats into the metal bumper. ...It’s the opposite of peeling the rubber strip off. Rolling the splayed rail gap as you are bending the rubber strip back on itself. It takes a bit of muscle as you are making sure that the rails are being held in place as you unroll the bumper rubber strip across the entire bumper. I measured and started on the right which forced the right rails to stay seated . After finishing the right rails I made sure the left rails were super secure and carefully unrolled the rest of the bumper rubber strip over the left side. After I unrolled past the last rails seat clip, I held/pressed it with my knee and just put the end of the rubber bumper strip under the rubber apron and used my mallet to get it on from there hitting the rubber strip close to the connection from right to left for the final 5 inches. Good luck!

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I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you, Nate. Last post on this thread was 4 years ago.