1989 560 SEL W126 bumper question
 

Hi all,

I am seeing some very minor flaking of chrome with some blistering of the chrome on the front bumper of out 1989 560 SEL. I heard somewhere those bumpers are actually aluminum underneath. Where then would that one rust spot be coming from? Or are my bumpers still steel? Trying to figure out if I have a rusting bumper that may need to be replaced, or an aluminum bumper that may need to be re-chromed at some point.

Thanks!

I believe at least the portion under the chrome is normal steel. The bumpers on my 300SD have been flaking/rusting for years. :o

I suspect it can be restored....
 

I suspect it can be restored? This is only the very start, one minor spot...

I have never tried....a good body shop might be able to fix it.

OK, I now got the details from a restoration shop
 

The chrome portion of the bumper is a decorative set of steel plates that can be replaced. They have nothing to do with the function of the bumper. It is not the bumper per se that is rusting, it is just a replaceable decorative plate.

Whew!....