Someone parallel parking behind my TD yesterday hit the corner of the bumper as they were backing into the space behind me and dislodge the rubber trim. It looks like there is a plastic piece that bolts to the bumper and the rubber trim snaps over it? Rubber piece is still over the plastic piece at the far end of the bumper. Plastic piece broke about a foot back from the end of the bumper and on the inboard side, rubber pulled off the plastic trim. So at the end of the bumper, plastic trim and rubber is sticking out about half an inch. Anyone know how easy it is to push that rubber piece back over the plastic trim so I can get the whole thing to fit tight against the bumper again?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The plastic item you describe does not bolt on, it has hooks that fit in slots in the bumper. There are two of them and they slide toward each other.

I found when trying to get the strip back on, I would knock off the other side, so with the rubber strip completely off the car, I got both of those plastic "bumper joint covers" on the car, secured them together by using kite string, then slide one end in the corner, bang the rubber strip on half way, slot the other corner in and simply pound it on.

Pics here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=206084

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83 SD

84 CD

Thanks. I now know what is going on and what I need to do. My only question is whether I can make mine function since the plastic strip broke in two. I think so, but I'm not sure.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

If you spray the rubber bumper cover on the inside with glass cleaner it will make it easier to smack it back on with a rubber mallet. Glass cleaner is slippery and will evaporate later.

Richard

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

Thanks. Some glass cleaner and one whack with a rubber mallet put in back in place. However, the hooks on the plastic piece on the outer end got broken in the encounter. Someday I will have to replace that plastic piece but for the moment, it's just not perfectly tight against the metal but good enough.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thought I'd share my experience with this.

Ever since I bought this 1984 300TD W123, the plastic hooks under the rubber trim were not on the bumper--finally got around to fixing it. I had no luck, however, doing it using needle nose pliers under the car to pull the hooks through; maybe my hooks are not in good condition. Bumper removal was the way to go--maybe I could have removed the rubber trim from the hooky plastic channel with the bumper on, but I figured it would be more work to replace the rubber.

1. Six nut (17mm) removal on bumper.
2. Make sure rubber is centered on plastic strips--I used window cleaner (well, just ammonia solution) which worked fine to help the rubber slide on the plastic.
3. Use shims under each hook (five total per side?) to make sure they hook. I levered up with a flat screwdriver and grabbed with needle nose.
4. Start from the middle using a punch and hammer to set the hooks on the bumper. On one side, I had to set the middle hook a little ways before getting enough of the outside hooks to grab onto with needle nose pliers to set the shims.
5. Reinstall, that's it.

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1980 300D (non-turbo, 421k miles)
1984 300TD (turbo, 305k miles)
1985 Vanagon (170k miles)