will 116 chassis bumpers interchange? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carson357 · #1 10-17-2006, 12:48 AM

i am thinking of changing my US bumpers on my '79 300SD to the more compact euro style, does any one know what is involved in doing this? will they bolt right on or have to be modified??
thanks

Rashakor · #2 10-17-2006, 09:47 AM

They bolt right in. I would not do it however. I have been in a fender bender and I bless the USA spex ram bumpers that car has...
The euro spex ones are puny piece of thin foil in comparison...
You should consider changing the headlight if you go ahead. the W116 just look wrong with bumpers not matching the headlight!

Carson357 · #3 10-17-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashakor

They bolt right in. I would not do it however. I have been in a fender bender and I bless the USA spex ram bumpers that car has...
The euro spex ones are puny piece of thin foil in comparison...
You should consider changing the headlight if you go ahead. the W116 just look wrong with bumpers not matching the headlight!

headlights are already on their way, thanks for the info, i will see what i decide.

rs899 · #4 10-17-2006, 08:06 PM

I'm not so sure the front is just a "bolt-in" I have both sets of bumpers and one of these days I will get to doing this. But ,IIRC when I removed the fronts from a parts car, there will need to be some fabrication of brackets. Nothing major at all, but, not an hour's job. The rear is cake.

Rick

#5 10-17-2006, 08:19 PM

As fugly as the US bumpers are, they have saved my cars 3 times from major (Radiator and trunk) damage. I love the euro look, but the extra safety margin is not worth sacrificing.

Carson357 · #6 10-18-2006, 05:36 AM

in my opinion many many classic cars do not have the safety bumpers, and look great. why keep the car ugly? if i wreck it then so be it, at least it was looking good for a while. life is to short for fugly bumpers!!!

rs899 · #7 10-18-2006, 07:12 AM

Carson-

You might want to look out for a 73 US bumper rather than euros. The 73 US has just a tad of extra reinforcement between the little rubber bumperettes in the center section. I have both and I will be using the US one. I think the standard in 73 was a 2.5 MPH frontal impact (the standard went to 5MPH in 74). The difference in looks between the US 73 and true euro is minimal.

Rick

Carson357 · #8 10-18-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Carson-

You might want to look out for a 73 US bumper rather than euros. The 73 US has just a tad of extra reinforcement between the little rubber bumperettes in the center section. I have both and I will be using the US one. I think the standard in 73 was a 2.5 MPH frontal impact (the standard went to 5MPH in 74). The difference in looks between the US 73 and true euro is minimal.

Rick

those are actually what i have, were removed from a 1973 450SEL

Rashakor · #9 10-18-2006, 09:56 AM

A funny thing is that europeans crave the USA bumpers and they are incredibly expensive when you can find them in that side of the pond ... I don't think they are ugly and actually make the car look elongated which in my opinion makes the car more elegant and mightier looking. Euro bumpers make the car's look more discreet.

It must come from the fact that i grew up in Europe, but W116 and W123 with their original bumpers looks like taxis!

Carson357 · #10 10-18-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashakor

A funny thing is that europeans crave the USA bumpers and they are incredibly expensive when you can find them in that side of the pond ... I don't think they are ugly and actually make the car look elongated which in my opinion makes the car more elegant and mightier looking. Euro bumpers make the car's look more discreet.

It must come from the fact that i grew up in Europe, but W116 and W123 with their original bumpers looks like taxis!

had the same thing happen when i was converting my 126 headlights and wipers to euro, seems that we want what is different, several people in europe were interested in my US head light set-up to convert theirs to US.

Wodnek · #11 10-19-2006, 08:30 AM

For a daily driver, i would keep the US spec. Too many idiots chirpin on the cell phone. Now for my 6.9 I have a set of euro bumpers. I am pretty sure mine are euros because they have the headlight squirters in them.

Carson357 · #12 10-23-2006, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashakor

They bolt right in. I would not do it however. I have been in a fender bender and I bless the USA spex ram bumpers that car has...
The euro spex ones are puny piece of thin foil in comparison...
You should consider changing the headlight if you go ahead. the W116 just look wrong with bumpers not matching the headlight!

just for general information, they do not just bolt right in... i had to weld brackets for the front and drill holes for the rear, was alot of trouble, but looks great!! if i had to do it all over again??? i would decline

diametricalbenz · #13 10-23-2006, 03:25 AM

I remeber BHD mentioning that sort of fabrication was required. So where are the pictures?! Will the brackets support and channel the energy of an impact?

I plan on keeping my 6.9 US bumpers, it has avoided 2 accidents with no drama.

Kia Rio - 0 6.9 - 1
Audi TT - 0 6.9 - 1

rs899 · #14 10-23-2006, 07:17 AM

Just as I suspected, the front needs a fair amount of work to install. That task may be tossed in the post-retirement pile with a lot of other nice-to-do things....