Since I bought my 83 300D 3 years ago the rear bumper has had a slight upturn. I've read the posts regarding bumpers and I think I understand what's going on here, but I'd like some other opinions.

I'm pretty sure the 2 bolts holding each bumper on are not OEM. Since they are only holding the top of the bumper it is turning upwards.

It appears the rubber base is cracking.

Can I put 2 more screws on the bottom of each bumper to pull it into alignment?

If I pull the bumper (which is in great condition on the outside) do I need to replace the entire unit, shocks and all?

Thanks for reading!

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Rich

83 300D
98 E320 Wagon

I just looked at a 85 bumper I have, and it has no bolts holding the shock
mount to the bumper. they slide into a bracket on the bumper itself from the
sides.

the bumper on the car is from a 80 I picked up from PNP. this one has 4
small bolts that hold the shock to the bumper.

both of mine look totally different from yours. living in NY with the salt used on the roads, and the corrosion it creates, maybe a PO added this
bolt to hold it on. does it look the same on both sides? Is this bolt in line
with the bumper strip? maybe the bolt head is hidden by the rubber?

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Charlie-

Yes, I think mine is the other type of bumper with the straps that hold it to that rubber square at the end of the shock.

The car was in Maryland until shortly before I bought it. I never drive it in bad weather and it really doesn't look all that corroded to me.

Those photos are one from each side, so, yeah, they are both bolted like that. The screw heads are behind the rubber bumper strip which is why I wanted to check that this was a previous fix and not OEM.

So I guess the long-term answer is to find a new bumper

-Rich

__________________
Rich

83 300D
98 E320 Wagon

A few years ago I tightened the strap on the bike rack that connects to the bumper and coulda swore that I saw the bumper move. So I let the strap loose and pulled it tight again. Yup, entire bumper moved. Took of the bike rack, grabbed the bumper, and the entire thing came off, leaving the mounts on the shocks.

I can guess what the bolts are doing.

__________________
95 E300D working out the kinks
77 300D, 227k, station car
83 300CD 370k, gone away
89 190E 2.6- 335k, no more
79 VW FI Bus- 145k miles, summer driver
59 VW Beetle ragtop- 175k miles
12 VW Jetta- 160k miles

A bumper from PNP yard, runs around $45.

here on the west coast we find good bumpers. I did look for a while before
I found one with good chrome not scratched up, and rubber strip that was
in good condition.

remove the 3 17mm nuts off each side, and it will pull right off.
there are also the bumper ends. think a 8mm socket fits the bolts for that.

Good time to clean up and paint the metal bracket the rubber ends attach
to. I had to strip the paint off mine, and coat them with POR paint.
even here in the west we see rust .

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

That sounds great! Except...anyone know of any pick 'n pulls in the metro new york region?

__________________
Rich

83 300D
98 E320 Wagon

Up untill about '80 or '81, these cars had the bumper bolted to each shock with 4 metric carriage bolts - 2 inserted through the outside of the bumper and hidden under the rubber strip, and two anchored in a channel inside the bumper. Then they switched to some sort of welded or epoxied frame that grips the end of the shock, without any bolts. I've heard these have a habit of separating due to corrosion and/or fatigue. Looks like that happened in your case and someone jury-rigged some bolts.
You might be able to remove the rubber strip and rig up a better bolt arrangement that will secure and level your bumper. Otherwise, it's time to visit your local salvage-yards.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

One side of my TD bumper is not attached. I was going to drill in the bumper under the rubber strip and bolt it to the mount. One bolt should do it.

Or

Mix up a poop load of epoxy and try to epoxy that mount to the back of the bumper.

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D