Anyone have experience removing the center chrome strip from a front bumper of a 126? Removal of the bumper was easy after I read Snibbles's post on Diesel Discussion, however the chrome strip is another matter.

So far I have loosened the 9 bolts on the underneath side which I assume hold the strip, but they will not come out. There is a recessed bolt near each end underneath, but I haven/t been able to budge these.

Anyone have advice?

I think your answer is here :

Bumper chrome strip removal

Cheers.

azhari:

I have seen your referenced post. It is about removal of bumper. While that post states the removal of the chrome strip should be straightforward, it is not. Bolts loosen but do not come out.

Thanks anyway.

Did any of you guys ever get the chrome away from your respective bumpers? What tips can you provide (mine has started to rust through and it really bugs me!)

__________________
Eric

1991 560SEL-Euro (214,000 miles)
1989 420SEL (Retired from daily use at 325,000 miles; Use as donor vehicle)

Once you have the bumper cover off, loosen the 10mm nuts that hold the chrome strip on from the bottom. The clips that attach to the chrome strip may turn, since they will snap out of the rectangular openings in the chrome strip. You will have to pry up on the nut and continue to turn to remove the nuts. You will also have to loosen the joint covers that separate the center and side chrome from the underside and pry them up gently. There will be a bumper bolt the holds the front strip and the side strips. Remove the bumper bolt and move the joint cover off or up enough that you can remove the center strip. If the joint cover is brittle, you may have to replace it, since the chrome may split. In any event, I would buy new clips and nuts that hold the center chrome in place. Once the old ones are off they are useless.

This is a do-able project but requires patience.

I could not get chrome strip off the frint bumper. Removed the bumper, took it and replacement chrome to body shop.Had them do it for $100.

Looks like new.

For $100 you received a real bargain considering the headaches of doing it yourself.