Hi Folks I have a question about W126 bumpers.

I own a 2nd gen US model W126 (300SE) with the big US bumpers. In the future I would like to upgrade to Euro bumpers.

I only see 1st gen euro bumpers for sale and I prefer the look of the 1st gen Euro bumpers anyway.

Are they going to just bolt in to a 2nd gen car?

Is there a difference between the short and long wheelbase bumpers/rear bodywork?

What about the door cladding? Is it going to look weird or can I swap in the 1st gen cladding easily as well?

The rear bumper is definitely different between short and long wheelbase. I believe the front is the same. Lower cladding is also different. LWB cars have a physically longer rear door than the SWB.

Since you have a 300SE, you have a SWB, and should have an easier time finding parts from grey imports. That back door was more or less shut down ~1985 or so, so Gen II Euros will be really tough to find without resorting to importing parts.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

I just compared part numbers for rear bumpers between the 280SE and 280SEL and they are both the same. I even checked the part numbers for the brackets and they are both the same.


I think that the back of the car from the C pillar back is the same for both SE and SEL. I mean why would they change it?

Difference in the SWB and LWB cars are in the doors not to the trunk.

__________________
With best regards

Al