I need to replace a 1990 300TE front air dam/spoiler/skirt, my wife drove over a fallen branch or something that was 'covered with snow' or whatever....took a chunk out on the drivers side air dam....from a repair aspect is this difficult? It looks like it could be...

Really simple Cliff. Unfortunately, it's the whole bumper cover.

In the wheel openings, a 1mm hex bolt, one per side. If the bracket won't come loose from the bumper, you can remove the bracket from the car side instead.

In front, where you'd expect frame-tips, there are two 13mm hex bolts on each side (just under the fog-lamp IIRC). Accessible from beneath the bumper.

Center, one bolt top/center, not sure if it's 10mm or 13mm. Accesible with the hood up.

Last is the temp-sensor (first really), behind the license-plate bracket. To the car's right of center on the front section, there is a recessed phillips screw that needs to be removed to release the temp sensor so that it can remain on the car. Early ('86/'87) has this sensor on the driver's side of the bumper, yours is centered.

When you have the bumper off, unless you are buying a complete/used one, you will want to save the tow-hook cover on the right side, the license-plate bracket (or filler panel), and the rub-strip.

The tow-hook cover un-clips at the top, the rest is obvious.

License-plate mount on the '90 should have screws you can see, then slide upward out of the bracket behind it. Remove the bracket also.

The rub-strip has three phillips screws in each end from the inside of the bumper, and tabs around the rest of the top & bottom, pry the center of the tab inward from behind the bumper to release them one-by-one.

Good luck, biggest pain is painting the new bumper-cover to match. I've had to replace the one on my daughter's '94 three times, ...

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Surely you meant 10mm hex bolt not 1mm, right?

__________________
-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

one last question...should I disconnect the battery so as to not actuate the air bag in case? or not?

There are no sensors that could possibly be tripped by removing the bumper. Infact, the airbag systems on these cars are VERY well designed. They don't just go off for any collision either. I've seen some pretty bad high centered front collisions, that didn't trip the airbag. Because the frame was never touched.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...