Whats that plastic piece under the hood latch?
 

1984 300CD. US

I was going to take off one of the pieces that holds the auxiliary fan in place. It is held in place by a bolt that goes into the cross member that the hood latch is mounted to. I can't get the bolt out because of the plastic piece underneath the hood latch. (Right where the plaque with all of the codes is mounted. Does anyone know what this plastic piece is for and how to remove it? The four large Phillips head screws seem to be VERY tight.

You should be able to get the passenger side front support bar out by loosening the lower bolt (in front of the consensor. It will slide down enough to clear the plastic cover for the hood latching mechanism.

That cover is there to protect it.