CJackson13

Hey Guys,

First, we all know our car looks aged in a few key areas. One being the front bumper. Some may think the OEM AMG bumper looks good, but I personally think it's very out of date. Take mine for example.



There's so many pictures out there of some of your guys' cars with some amazing looking front bumpers other than the stock AMG one because it is dated. I've always wanted one of those low sweeping w209 style bumpers with the front lip. So I've been looking around for a while and doing a lot of reading on front bumper options for our cars and here's what I've come up with:

There's the VIS Racing front bumper:



Or theres custom molded front bumpers which forum veterans like VIPCLK and Williams have showcased. To me it seems like these guys took another mercedes bumper and molded it to the top part of the w208 bumper through some crazy witchcraft.



Anyway, I've wanted to do a project like VIP's bumper but really have no clue where I would take the two bumpers to be fabricated, or if it would be possible to do it myself. So, time for my question.

Does anyone who has molded bumpers together have any advice for me? Should I buy a used bumper to mold together or a new one? What's the best model bumper to use? Are there any cheap places to find some used bumpers? What kind of body shop should I take it to? Does anyone know of any reputable body shops that have done this work before?

Basically, I'd just like a little input before I bite off more than I can chew. Thanks to everyone in advance.

Williams707

Ash uses all Original Mercedes Parts. He takes two Mercedes bumpers, one project I think being from a W202 and another from a W209 AMG.

CJackson13

So the bumper you have is the w209 bumper. Could you tell where it had been cut and molded before your install?

Williams707

Sorry, I don't know, mine was also an Ash / VIPclk320 Special. I was living in Japan when it was made, so Ash/VIPclk320 would be the one to answer all the questions. Wish I knew more.

CJackson13

It's all good man! Thanks for the help. Your bumper is beautiful by the way

MagmaRed55

I'm on the market too. The original bumpers are okay but other options terrify me for more than one reason.

CJackson13

Yeeeeee, same buddy. I just need some tips on making one

I see what you mean about how they terrify you. Theres so many small things that need to be perfected that going into fitment and durability for the perfect oem look.

Williams707

Thanks man, but all the credit has to go to VIPclk320, all I did was become broke...lol

hemmissey

Any body shop can section out a bumper and mold them together. That is nice.

CJackson13

Hahahahaha I'm sure the quality was worth it though

CJackson13

I'm a little skeptical. A guy who has a heavily modded w208 with a w209 bumper and CF lip told me that your typical body shop wouldnt be able to do the job, or at least do it well.... I figured I'd believe him because his car speaks for itself, but I mean he could be wrong

Williams707

I heard the same and that the problem was with the bumper splitting at the seem.

VIPclk320

its not a job for your typical bodyshop. sure anyone can grab two bumpers and fiberglass them together with 50lbs of bondo but it will crack on the first drive and the car will feel like crap with the all that weight. I made all my bumpers with aero dynamics and weight in mind. you have two make sure the bumper that you choose is close in size to the w208 bumper so you don't have over hang. then you have to calculate and position the wheel arches so the bumper doesn't look like crap from the side and also doesn't hang too low or too high. then you have to find strong points to attach them together I use a specially made liquid plastic to bond them together which I pay about $250 can for which is specially made for me and I use about 3 cans and then I use urethane to do the final stage of fusing. that insures my bumpers being super light most cases lighter than what I started with and also flexible so they bend and everything just like the oem bumper without cracking. best advise I can give you is find strong points for attachment. also some bumpers you have to extend the sides or shorten the sides and recreate arches which is why it takes me about two months to make one of my bumpers. so take your time and don't rush it. unfortunately there is no blueprint for this kind of work it just takes experience, skills and a wild imagination. haha

p.s. measure 4 times cut once.

beefstallionAMG

I really wish someone made a front lip for the W208 AMG front bumper. The CLk320 has a lip spoiler available. I doubt one will ever be made since the W208 had pretty low production numbers. Its nice the car's rare but a hassle getting aftermarket body parts.


Anybody want to create a urethane or carbon fiber front lip and start a group buy?

VIPclk320

There is already a front lip offered for the 430 and 55 bumper. Its by a company called JDL tuning out of UK buy therr are many of their dealers that will ship to USA and the lip is about $250 and the nicest one I have ever seen for the amg bumper.

beefstallionAMG

I've searched many times for front lips and found nothing. Do you have a link or pics of it? I'd be very interested in seeing this!

beefstallionAMG

Is this it?

http://andytuning.de/product_info.php?products_id=27502

CJackson13

Thank you so much VIP for setting me off in the right direction. I'll have to play around with a bunch of different materials and ideas until I find something that works.

I've decided I am going to use the w209 AMG front bumper and have just ordered a used with light scratches but is still structurally in tact. I've never cut body panels before so we'll find out how that goes after having done my due diligence.

If you dont mind me asking, what do you do that allows you to create all of these crazy parts and one-offs? They're extremely impressive.

VIPclk320

yes thats the one.

VIPclk320

haha people always ask me that. What I do for living has nothing to do with cars. Im an investment advisor by day and w208 fanatic by night.

CJackson13

With the type of things you come up with for your car, I'm sure you're asked what you do all of the time. Then furthermore, how you do it haha. The things you create for the w208 are seriously at the level of a world class automotive engineer. The way you replicated the new black series headlights for your w208 was insane. Anyway, thanks again for the guidance with the beginnings of the bumper and good luck with your mods down the road.

etownbala

Here is my VIS Racing front bumper. Pretty much a C350 replica. I have the fog lights and mesh for it but wont be putting those in until the summer when the bumper cover gets repaired and re-painted. Currently have some cracks in it and it hangs loose off the one side. Fitment is actually quite good though...



KRis

MagmaRed55

That's a pretty nice bumper. Any fresh install pics?

etownbala

Unfortunately I dont. I will have some this June when I get the bumper reworked and repainted. The bottom lip broke in half and is being held together by black hky tape lol.

I was gonna wash the CLK up tonight after the long trek from Vancouver. I will take some pics after the wash and post them up. The bumper fits good though which is really all I could ask for. After the makeover Im installing 2007 C350 3000K HID Yellow Fogs in the fog light openings. Give it a nice DTM look.

KRis

Gundo

I've also thought about joining the lower part of a w209 bumper with upper w208. My thoughts have always been to make the cut underneath the impact strip that way you could bond them together from both sides and your seam would still be hidden by the impact strip (except for exposed left and right sides of course). The grand idea seems to be good fitment around headlights thus using top part of 208 and sleek look of lower half of 209 bumper. I don't have any hands on with dimensionally sizing the two up but it may be in the works for me soon.