Euro Bumpers - Photo Request - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ten13 · #1 11-03-2017, 06:27 PM

Hey there, sorry for making another post on the topic of my recently-acquired 280ce Euro bumpers... There were no responses to the last one, so I guess my question was maybe too specific and/or impossible to answer.

Therefore, I'm wondering if anyone with a 280ce could send me photos of their euro bumper reinforcement bars and mounting hardware.

Mine are rusty and deteriorating, and I would like to get new ones fabricated, but want to get a few images of how they are supposed to look.

I'm also curious if, while fabricating, it would be possible to incorporate the shock absorbers into the euros. I haven't pulled my US bumpers off yet to investigate.

Thanks in advance,

-greg

Idle · #2 11-04-2017, 01:01 PM

I dug through my parts catalogs to see if I could find an exploded version showing these. I came up empty.

So I went to Evil Bay! There are few euro bumper parts on there. I am not suggesting you buy anything from anyone but a few of the listings have a number of photos of the parts from different angles.

When I am diving into something new I have found that searching the bay for the parts will allow me to understand just what I am getting into. The sellers will usually show more views of a part than the manual.

Good luck.

Ten13 · #3 11-04-2017, 01:20 PM

Thanks, @Idle... I had poked around but couldn't find anything conclusive. Maybe I'll look again on eBay to see if anything new has come up.

When I have some time, I'm going to pull the original bumpers off and see if it's possible to fabricate a structural member that uses the 5mph shocks with the euro bumper caps. It's a total stretch, I know, but it never hurts to investigate.

Cheers,
-greg

Idle · #4 11-04-2017, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten13

Thanks, @Idle... I had poked around but couldn't find anything conclusive. Maybe I'll look again on eBay to see if anything new has come up.

When I have some time, I'm going to pull the original bumpers off and see if it's possible to fabricate a structural member that uses the 5mph shocks with the euro bumper caps. It's a total stretch, I know, but it never hurts to investigate.

Cheers,
-greg

Just thinking out loud here, but....

The 5 mph shocks have a square foot on them that bolts to the front of the car. Same as on the rear.

Perhaps you could cut these flanges/feet off and weld something to them? Be careful here. These might be under some sort of pressure so you might want to drill through the body first and release any oil or nitrogen that might be in there. I have never cut one open so I don't know what makes them work.

optimusprime · #5 11-07-2017, 07:35 AM

Google serch page look to the top right hand side you will see images click on it to bring image search box up .Then just put in there what you want to find ..

Tomguy · #6 11-07-2017, 09:56 AM

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/378173-w115-fitting-early-blade-bumpers-74-up-us-spec-chassis.html

I know it's a different chassis but this may be the best info you'll be able to use.

I doubt the shocks from the Nader bumpers will work on the Euro ones. They're the primary reason they stick out so far!

Ten13 · #7 11-07-2017, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/378173-w115-fitting-early-blade-bumpers-74-up-us-spec-chassis.html

I know it's a different chassis but this may be the best info you'll be able to use.

I doubt the shocks from the Nader bumpers will work on the Euro ones. They're the primary reason they stick out so far!

Thanks for that, Tomguy... I know it's a total stretch, but I was wondering about welding a crossmember between the shocks and possibly cutting the shocks themselves, if their construction can tolerate it, to make the euro bumper 'caps' cover everything.

I'll check out your link over breakfast.

280EZRider · #8 11-07-2017, 02:08 PM

I agree that the US shocks will not fit behind the original (euro) bumpers. To make them fit would require extending the bumpers to make room. In this case, just leave the US bumpers on.

The shocks can be made shorter by drilling a relief hole to allow the oil out, and then collapsing the shock and then tack-welding the two ends of the shock together. This will work for bringing the US bumper closer to the body of the car, but not for attaching the shock to the euro bumper due to the size of the shock mounting bracket.

You need the euro brackets to mount euro bumpers. Your car has two studs around each shock hole front and back for attaching the bracket. The original euro brackets will fit the front.

The rear euro brackets have just one hole for mounting to the body, so using these would be questionable. MBZ does make, howerer, rear brackets for mounting euro bumpers to a US W123 car (2 holes to mount to the body), which are necessary for attaching the bracket surrounding the shock hole. I ordered mine directly from MBZ Frankfurt years ago. The euro car has no rear shock holes.

BTW: Those reinforcement bars were an add-on requirement by the USDOT back in the 70s, so you don´t need to use them if you choose not to. The rust they acquire eventually moves to the bumper itself.

I just had a look at your earlier post about the same topic. Not to rain on your parade, but there is so much rust on the bracket (in the photo) that it would probably be just as expensive to fabricate all this stuff as it would be to simply buy new brackets. And forget about the USDOT stuff. Also, you need a new side part of the bumper since the side mount is missing. These are 3-piece bumpers.

Ten13 · #9 11-10-2017, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 280EZRider

I just had a look at your earlier post about the same topic. Not to rain on your parade, but there is so much rust on the bracket (in the photo) that it would probably be just as expensive to fabricate all this stuff as it would be to simply buy new brackets. And forget about the USDOT stuff. Also, you need a new side part of the bumper since the side mount is missing. These are 3-piece bumpers.

Hey 280EZRider, thanks for the comprehensive reply. Everything makes sense and it's good to know about the DOT reinforcements, too. I'm sure many of my questions will be answered upon removal of the US bumpers - I'm just trying to minimize downtime once they are off, as the 280ce is my daily.

As for the fabrication, next week, I'm meeting with a fabricator who is close friends with my next door neighbor. He mostly works on custom tube-frame chassis' for 20's-30's vintage hot rods, and is interested in this little job. I'll report back when I have some more info and pricing, and will document the project photographically. The bumpers came with an extra side piece, with the attachment "hook" in place. I also have the rubber strip. The bumper shells and chrome are in great condition overall, front and back. I am going to treat the back sides to stop any issues before they start, though.

But, if you have any leads on solid brackets and support pieces, I'd love to know about them. I've searched for months and haven't found a single item for sale. The price I paid for the bumpers was low enough to be able to justify fabrication on the support structures...

Cheers!

jenno · #10 11-16-2017, 11:42 PM

Hi,

I cut the weld-on bracket weld in front off and took the screw out from the top (17mm head). Cleaned out the front taped screw hole from the weld remnents.
Painted in body color.
The bracket I found from a Euro out off the junk yard for my 75 280C.
It has the kink down in it to clear the valance on these series 2 cars.
Drilled out the rivets off the old and "new" bracket, Tapped the holes for the upper bumper bar (watch out, spring steel is hard) and mounted the lower bumper bar bracket onto the upper one. Two screws mounts that assy to the car.
I mounted the first series double row front bumper up.
Rear: poked out the sealer in the center off the old mount pace on the car out on one side. Drilled the hole on the other side.
Welded large washers to a proper length new screw, cut about half the washer off and stuck them through from the inside ( remove rubber plug on left side) with body sealer. Mount the bumper brackets on the outside until the sealer is set. That's it.
Need pictures: I can e-mail