The rubber strip in my rear bumper ('82 300d Turbo) is coming apart and I'd like to take care of it before it becomes worse. (Not sure if this is the result of someone bumping into me in a parking lot.) Does anyone have recommendations for a glue or bonding compound that could be applied to keep this rubber strip in place? Thanks in advance.

3M super trim adhesive (08090 part number) in the spray can.. this is the slightly heavier glue than the 3M general trim adhesive (08088part number) used for headliners....FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS COMPLETELY....very specific directions.... very strong bond if followed.... Greg

I'd had that problem with my 84 300DT twice and I had the shop put on back twice too. Its been holding up, but a small portion of it again is starting to come up...I guess its just a function of "rubber warping" under the exposure to weather condition. Try the suggestion of the last post...seem slike a good idea. Goodluck.

The rear bumper strip has to be pushed in and pushed to the right very hard to the right so the clips lock in. It can be a little hard but those clips have to be all the way to the right also check by tapping them each from under the bumper with a wood punch or plastic hammer. Hans

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A couple of Ford pickups F 150,250, 350 missed.
1983 240 D 256,000 miles ,auto, ac.

I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I tried in vain to slide the clips into position with the bumper on but finally gave up and took the bumper off so that I could get to the back side clips. After removing the bumper (about 5 min), I used some liquid soap for lubricant. It seems you have to apply pressure on the rubber strip while trying to slide the tabs back in place. I used a light tap with a hammer to get them started---the physics were always working against me. Once the strip was in place, I hosed out all the soap, let dry and then used liberal amounts of liquid nail compound to keep the clips from ever sliding out of position. Seems to have worked. The main trick, to make it easier on yourself, is to first remove the bumper. Hope this helps

An easier way to put the strip back on is to insert one end into place and then fold the rubber strip back. This opens the slot on the strip allowing you to just roll it on. I've used a couple screws from the backside to hold it in place, but the liquid nails sounds good if you never want to remove it again.

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

take the entire rubber off including the plastic strip which is attached to the bumper itself. find convenient spots to line up with holes already in the metal bumper so you can wire the plastic strip for a good tight mechanical connection. pound rubber strip onto the plastic one(don't try to slide it on with soap etc. it's next to impossible!) with a mini sledge or the like. i used a towel for protection while pounding on the rubber.
replace plastic strip-rubber back onto bumper and use mechanical means to secure (i used electrical wire).

like elliot fager mentioned it's easier with the bumper off the car.

good luck.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

I'm very surprised that people say wiring the plastic mounting strip to the bumper will hold - I never had luck doing that. BUT, I have had great luck doing the following:

-collect some wide screwdrivers and small screwdrivers to use as pry and wedge tools.

-working from the backside of the bumper, lying underneath the car, wedge the small screwdrivers under the plastic hooks so you are sure the hooks will slide over the metal bumper when you excert force. Then wedge a large screwdriver into one of the far-end holes in the bumper and force the plastic clips home (to the right or left, depending on which plastic strip you are working on).

-once you have the plastic strip and its hooks wedged as far home as you can get them, take some bolts that will completely fill up the resulting gap between the metal bumper and the back side of the hook, coat it with superglue, and screw it into place. Don't screw it in too far or you will start to push the rubber strip away from the bumper on the outside.

There is no way that strip will ever come loose again. The only time my strip came loose was before I thought of the superglue trick and the bolts worked themselves loose.

Lastly, forget about any kind of adhesives, they will NOT hold your rubber strip on.

Greg
'84 300D

Gentlemen,

All the early 123 Series bumpers had the "T" extrusion in metal as an integral part of the steel bumper not the cheap plastic "T" thingie. In short, it couldn't possibly come off. Hence, the real solution long term and I suspect that's what we all want, is to raid the junkyard for the older bumpers. I've done it to all of mine.

Installation of the rubber strip on either the plastic "T" or metal "T" is dead easy. Bend the rubber back 180 degrees on itself. That opens up the strip and it goes right on. Just keep feeding the folded back strip along until you get to the end. It's so easy that if you start in the wrong place pull it off and start again. WD40 helps. If you don't get it quite right and don't want a do over, a couple of angled smacks with a rubber hammer will move the strip one way or the other.

Hope this is understandable.

Ben
www.reproduce100s.com

Hey Ben,

I haven't talked to you on the phone in awhile. I see the injection molding thing is coming along. Back to the bumper rubber thing,you explained the exact same technique I stated in my earlier post, but nobody is listening. Folding the rubber back and rolling it on is a piece of cake. I disagree with you, however, on going through the hastle of acquiring old style bumpers. I just slide the strips in place and run a stop screw into each one before rolling on the rubber strip. I'll give you a growl soon.

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

I would not recommend gluing, as I have seen bad results from this approach by others (i.e. won't work). If you mount rubber strip holder onto bumper (without impact strip), then drill small holes through plastic such that the holes line up next to tabs at each hole in the bumper (when looked at from insde bumper), you can use pan head stainless bolts, washers and nuts to permanently affix. Then simply tap rubber impact strip onto mounting strip with a rubber mallet.

If the mounting strip is simply reset, without permanently affixing, it will come loose again in the future. After fighting this losing battle over the years, this solution has worked perfectly.

More details on old previous post if needed.

Good luck.

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2008 GL320CDI 6K
1970 280SL 112K
1982 240D 210K (Sold)
1973 220D 220K (Sold)
1967 200D 160K (Sold)
1992 400E 139K (Sold)
1988 300E 148K (Sold)
1987 300D 257K (Sold)
1991 300E 108K (Sold)
1987 300E 131K (Sold)
1978 300D TMU (Sold)
1980 300D TMU (Sold)
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