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Who will swap for euro spec and where can we buy them?
If it's anything like what used to be on Porsche's, you're gonna need a lot more work than just a rear bumper swap. Those bumperettes usually have reinforced steel attached to the rear crash bar (removing them won't just leave a hole).
In all likelihood, you'll have to cut off those steel bumper supports and do a euro bumper swap too... that's a lot of work.
Anyone have any info? BTW dealer has no clue. I'll be doing a Euro Delivery later this summer and to accommodate the Euro plates the rear bumper of the 2017 C Class coupe must be Euro spec. If so, will the bumper have to replaced before the car is shipped back to the USA? Or will I be a beneficiary and receive a euro spec without bumper-ettes?
Anyone have any info? BTW dealer has no clue. I'll be doing a Euro Delivery later this summer and to accommodate the Euro plates the rear bumper of the 2017 C Class coupe must be Euro spec. If so, will the bumper have to replaced before the car is shipped back to the USA? Or will I be a beneficiary and receive a euro spec without bumper-ettes?
I'd seriously doubt they will ship a US-noncompliant car to the US.
I'd seriously doubt they will ship a US-noncompliant car to the US.
Mikey53 appreciate the comment. If the bumper-ettes preformed a vital function, surely they would be applied before being exported. However they appear to be nothing more than a design element used to frame North American License plates. For reasons not explained German auto-makers have a tendency to over compensate when it comes to accommodating the proportion of the plate. Looking at the BMW 3 series, introduced in 2013, they applied the same element to the front bumper. After consumers complained the addition resembled a wart, BMW soon backed off from the application. I feel the bumer-ettes are inconsistent and a distraction to the overall design of the C205.
The bumpers are because of a US law where a 5 mph crash cant cause any damage to the collision area (or something stupid as **** like that).
Ah' the 5 MHP crash can't cause significant damage requirement. Should have known. Before putting the issue to rest compare photos of the rear of sedan to the coupe and it appears the bummer-ettes on the coupe are applied to frame the plate, looking at the sedan the plate is mounted up into the trunk. Not sure where the extra 5 MHP crash protection is located for the sedan. Until official information confirms the bumper-ettes purpose lets leave the topic open for speculation. Thanks for the reply
Forgot where I read it, but it is really a big deal to get rid of the bumper warts...like having to change the whole bumper and doing some metal cutting (if I remember correctly.)
Forgot where I read it, but it is really a big deal to get rid of the bumper warts...like having to change the whole bumper and doing some metal cutting (if I remember correctly.)
In most cases you're correct, but looking at the bumper-ettes on C205 North American export, they appear to be glued to main bumper.
Anyone have any info? BTW dealer has no clue. I'll be doing a Euro Delivery later this summer and to accommodate the Euro plates the rear bumper of the 2017 C Class coupe must be Euro spec. If so, will the bumper have to replaced before the car is shipped back to the USA? Or will I be a beneficiary and receive a euro spec without bumper-ettes?
Vector_Pilot,
You will get US bumpers at European Delivery.
The ED license plate is "short" - not the same as a long european license plate.
Here's what it looks:
Thanks Flanker for the reply, returned from our Euro Delivery a month ago, and yes you're correct, the plates are not as wide standard Euro plate. I was hoping for hope the car would have a proper Euro spec rear bumper and not have the ugly bumper-ettes to accommodate North American Plates.
Last edited by Vektor-Pilot; Aug 26, 2016 at 03:23 PM.
Regarding the rear of the C205, love or hate it, at least it's not generic or boring. As for the topic being discussed, US spec rear bumper accommodating standard Euro plate, attached photos have laid that issue to rest.
Last edited by Vektor-Pilot; Aug 29, 2016 at 01:27 AM.
Thanks for posting the diagram Tvall13. Hm' patching four holes on each side requires a bodyshop, not sure if it's worth the effort to satisfy an annoying level of aesthetics.
FYI when I online chatted with MBUSA. They said they would email me when they got more information as to how they bumperettes were attached.
This is extremely confusing. I contacted my dealership today and requested to have the bumper guards removed for my build. I also referred to this response sent by MBUSA. However, I was told that it is not possible due to a government safety requirement. This was after they consulted with their master tech.
The relationship between MBUSA and their dealers seems to conflict on many levels and the issue of the bumper-ettes is no different. Researching the topic it's become clear the bumper-ettes are there for a specific reason and if a MB dealer were to remove them it may violate original specification of the product. As for MBUSA, it appears they wish not to get involved so they request consumers to contact their dealer to resolve the issue.
Hey guys, pictures speak for themselves but there is a huge hole behind each bumperette. I paid my local body shop $1000 (quotes ranged from $600 to $1200 so do your homework and go to a trusted body shop since it is not an easy project) to use the covers of the bumperettes to cut them out in the shape of the hole and solder it and coat with fiberglass (at least this is what they told me they needed to do since soldering plastic on plastic can become brittle with extreme temperature changes and thus crack). In any case they gave me a 6 month warranty on the whole project so I just bit the bullet and went with it. No problems since and it looks much better IMO. Let me know if you have questions.
Hey guys, pictures speak for themselves but there is a huge hole behind each bumperette. I paid my local body shop $1000 (quotes ranged from $600 to $1200 so do your homework and go to a trusted body shop since it is not an easy project) to use the covers of the bumperettes to cut them out in the shape of the hole and solder it and coat with fiberglass (at least this is what they told me they needed to do since soldering plastic on plastic can become brittle with extreme temperature changes and thus crack). In any case they gave me a 6 month warranty on the whole project so I just bit the bullet and went with it. No problems since and it looks much better IMO. Let me know if you have questions.
Wow.. That looks so much better haha. How cold does it get in Massachusetts? I don't want to end up doing this, and have the bumper start cracking up since the temperature gets pretty cold in Canada during winter (up to -40 degrees Celsius).
Result looks great but requires extensive modification by a bodyshop that's up to the task. Recommend to anyone considering the procedure look before you leap.
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