Oops.
This winter I drove out of a snow drift to find that my rear bumper didn't come with.

When I bought the car, the right side of the bumper was "loose" but didn't look out of place. Now that I can see easily the inside of the bumper, I see that it is very rusted, shale-like and chunks flake off when touched or shaken. It looks like the bumper supports (which are very solidly attached to the car) simply rusted away from the bumper on both sides.

The question is, does this sound like a job for a welder or should I find myself a new rear bumper. Am I right to think that the bumper and the supports are not supposed to come apart, and that buying a new bumper would include the two supports?

The two reverse lights are fine and the wiring doesn't look damaged. I'm sure someone's replaced a rear bumper before, what's it like? what should I look out for?

And if I'm driving the car without a rear bumper, but I'm on the way to pick up a replacement bumper, will a State Trooper still ticket me?

Thanks Everyone,
Floydo

I don't think its against the law to drive without a rear bumper. There are lot a pickup trucks without rear bumpers. It might depend on your state.

There are a lot of ass-hole state police out there that get aroused to give a ticket for the smallest infraction..

P E H

What year/model car? My very limited experience with 123's has shown two kinds of bumpers in the US. I call them slip-on and bolt-on, because that's how they attach to the shocks. Your rear bumper shocks either slipped into two aluminum brackets on the bumper, or the shock bolted onto the bumper. If it's a bolt on, which would be my guess, you should be able to slide new carriage bolts into the bumper and bolt up a new shock. If it's the slip-on type and the aluminum tabs have broken off you're in trouble. Welding is out of the question as the amount of heat required for sufficient penetration would burn the chrome plating off of the other side. Only solution is new bumper in this case. If it's a bolt-on, but the bolts can't be replaced and/or your still screwed, I have access to several rear bolt-on type bumpers, shocks attached. If you post a picture and part numbers and cover the expenses I could get one and ship it to you.

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

ok.
here's a link to the pictures:
http://homepage.mac.com/humiliated/PhotoAlbum2.html

1. is how it looks while parked, so that I don't get a ticket on the streets of NYC.
2. is how it looks while driving.
3. is the left rear support. Depite the rust, very solidly bolted to the car.
4. is the right rear support. Also solid.
5. is the end of the bumper that was attached to the left rear support.
6. is the end of the bumper that was attached to the right rear support.

From what you're saying, I seem to have a slip-on type bumper and the tabs have rusted completely away. Does that seem right?
Thanks.
Floydo

Yes, although the pics are small I can tell by the shock end. You have the same bumpers I do. Basically, there were two right angle tabs inside the bumper that the big rubber covered end of those shocks slid into, top and bottom. Then it was bolted to the car. Your tabs are gone and it's a common problem with rear bumpers. Your shocks look OK, but you'll need a new bumper. The salvage yard near me doesn't have that style so I can't help you out with a replacement. An alternative I have seen before involves removing the impact strip, drilling four holes (that will be covered when impact strip is reattached) through the bumper and the shock end, and using the flattest pan head stainless steel sheet metal screws you can find to basically screw the bumper onto the shock. When you put the impact strip back on, you can't see the screw heads, but depending on their head hight, they may push the strip out a bit. I have thought about how I would fix this if I needed to, and I don't yet, but if I did I would do this: I'd have a new brackets fabricated with using a piece of 1/4" aluminum c-channel and 2 pieces of 1/4" flatbar. I would put them on the end of the shocks. Then, I would drill 4 5/16" holes through the bumper at the same points the screws would have been, over where the shock ends would be, under the impact strip. I'd drive to a welding shop, put the rear bumper in position, and have it plug welded to the the new brackets which are on the end of the shock. This would be a real fix, the shocks would be able to be replaced, the bumper is permanently attached to the new brackets, and there is nothing sticking up to interfere with the impact strip. I don't know if this has ever been done, but I think the theory is good. Below is a crude diagram, with the light gray piece being the piece I'd have made and the red dots the plug welds.

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

bjsc that sounds like a great idea of yours. mine 'fell' off too and i reattached it with 2 coat hangers at the extreme ends of the bumper. it has lasted a long time but a more permanent fix would be more desireable. also the rubber parts at the end of the bumper shocks were partly disintegrated so would need to be replaced somehow.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

My bumper became loose on my "84 300D. I was suprised it was bonded from the factory with no bolts holding the bumper to the struts. Apparently the bumper had oxidized behind and around the rubber strut fixture in contact with the aluminum bumper surface. The oxidation was a white powdery substance and that is what seems to indicate the bumper is aluminum. There was no "orange rust"
Scraped away the loose oxidation and used aluminum Naval Jelly to remove any residual oxidation around where the rubber strut would re-attach.
Used Goop automotive glue to bond the strut to the bumper and let it sit overnight with bricks on the struts to maintain close surface bond.
This glue is a very strong bonding agent and is holding the bumper very well.
Hope this experience may help. -Tom

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'96 C220 138,000mi, '95 E300D 239,000 mi., '87 300TD 214,000mi '88 6.2 Turbo Diesel Chevy Conversion Van 253,000 mi.

84300DT:
Thanks. It would be pretty inexpensive to do, too. Re: your shock ends, you can't put new rubber on them. It's metal underneath and that urethane block is cured onto it. The process and expense of removing and repouring that block on the end of the shock would be much greater than replacing it. It is possible, though...

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

Well, thanks for all the suggestions.
I'm a little uncertain about having things built and all that. My bumper is completely rusted from the inside and I can't see any aluminum parts anywhere. Even a simple weld worries me b/c so much metal has rusted away.
I'm probably going to buy a used bumper and put it on. The people I've talked to are selling the bumper with the two supports for about $200. How's that sound? I think I could get one for $125 sight unseen and plus shipping. I feel a little better about paying a little more to see it first and know whether or not it's what I need.
Floydo

From your description replacement would be the best route since the bumper that fell off is extremely corroded. There are members on this site that are having cars parted in the
Mercedes classifieds swap parts forum.

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'96 C220 138,000mi, '95 E300D 239,000 mi., '87 300TD 214,000mi '88 6.2 Turbo Diesel Chevy Conversion Van 253,000 mi.

I agree. If your bumper is that bad and you can replace it for $200, that's the smart choice.

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

Unfortunately, the gentleman who assured me that the bumper in his yard was intact, was mistaken. He lowered the price to $150, but it had the exact same problem as my old one--the supports coming loose from the bumper proper, but less rust. The owner of that car had tried a cheap fix with a wire and a couple of burly screws. Maybe it will prove harder to find a solid bumper than I originally thought. Maybe I will have to get a few pieces of metal fabricated. If anyone hears of a bumper for a 300TD, please let me know.
Floydo

floydo you might try these people in case they may have one

http://www.toms4n.com/

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP