tee_tz

Alright, so first of all, I searched the forum and found a bunch of posts that say "AMG Front Bumper", but not exactly what I was looking for. Maybe it's time to get MB World a Google Search.

ANYWAY. Basically I want to install a AMG Front Bumper and I need you guys' expert help. Might I mention that, so far I have the bumper cover - and in final process of getting the mesh grilles and fog lights (if you have some for sale, speak now or forever hold your peace!). However, apart from gathering the parts, I'm as clueless as the Mercedes dealership.

1st of all, let's identify the subject: W203 2003 C320 Sedan (Luxury Version). Okay, now I can ask questions --

1.) I know the bumper will need the side markers, however, can these be used from my current bumper, or are they different shapes on the AMG bumper?

2.) Are there any other components that I need to install the bumper, besides the bumper cover; fog lights; side impact strips, and the mesh grilles? And also, comment if I can reuse anything from my previous bumper (please don't say the license plate - I may have set myself up there). Also, if you know the part numbers (as you list the parts) please indicate.

3.) Lastly, is there anything else I'm overlooking or haven't asked? Is this a direct 'snap' on?


Thanks guys,


Tee_Tz.

Ryanr317

You can use the same side markers. Looks like you have Euro impact strips on there right now no? I beleive you'll have to get the reinforcement as well. I have one in my backyard with the reinforcement that i just need to get painted before i install it.

MiKeSSw203

you can find the bumper mesh on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...72093120QQrdZ1

tee_tz

Ryanr317 - Thanks. Do you know the part number for the reinforcement bar so I could ask the dealership for pricing? I'm sure it'll be way overpriced, but perhaps I'll search online for one.



Tee_Tz.

WaveyKat

u got a pm give me a call i can walk u thru it i did the same thing on my 01

C320 UK

Be careful there are a number of different types of AMG bumper and grilles. Unfortunatley they are NOT all compatbile.


As well as the versions with & without headlamp washers there is also a different type the featured on cars after 2004 (like the US Sport models). If you have a newer bumper on an older car you will have some problems.

The grilles also differ. I'm still having problems with the install on my car, also a 2002 C320 Elegance (luxury sedan).

I'll post some part no's when I dig them out, but would also appreciate any help.

I finally got the AMG front bumper fitted to the W203 a couple of months ago. It now has the full AMG kit, more pictures coming soon. Only issue I have is that I had a problem with the part numbers for the AMG mesh grille. The grilles I have for around the foglights don't fit

I have both sets of grilles, pre-facelift and post facelift (part no's of all parts too follow) but that didn't solve it. I believe the problem is with the bumper re-inforcement (which was also changed!)

B]Front view[/B]


Facelfit Halogen lights

C320 UK

Here's a message I got from a Mercedes Parts manager in the UK (where I am based)...

First of all NOT all amg bumpers are the same.... there is an early and late type dependent on chassis number...

up to F593966 and up to R153498 is early style
and from F593966 etc.. etc... is late style

This number is found after the 203XXX2RXXXXXX For instance

If you have early bumper on late car all manner of problems are going to start...

The bumper is different, so are the foglamps, the foglamp grilles, centre air vent grille's can be different also....

Bumper
A2038851825 (headlamp wash)
Up to chassis:-
A649999 30/4/2004
F593966 31/5/2004
R153498 30/6/2004

A2038855725 (headlamp wash)
From chassis:-
A650000 30/4/2004
F593967 31/5/2004
R153499 30/6/2004

Bumper A2038851925 (non headlamp wash)
Up to chassis:-
A649999 30/4/2004
F593966 31/5/2004
R153498 30/6/2004

Bumper A2038855625 (non headlamp wash)
From chassis:-
A650000 30/4/2004
F593967 31/5/2004
R153499 30/6/2004

Interior Plastic Part (bumper reinforcement) A2038850165
Same for Classic/Elegance and Avantgarde / AMG
Up to chassis A649999 / F593966 / R153498

but needs to be
A2038850765 for chassis numbers from the range above

foglamp grille A2038850153
and
foglamp grille A2038850253
Up to chassis A649999 / F593966 / R153498

foglamp grille A2038851153
and
foglamp grille A2038851253
Up to chassis A706309 / F598089 / R168023

foglamp grille A2038851753
and
foglamp grille A2038851853
From chassis A706310 / F598090 / R168024

So it does get pretty involved!

The parts that I have:

AMG front bumper (fitted to car as pictured above)
A203 885 18 25 (for vehicles with headlamp wash system)

AMG 3 pc mesh grille
A203 885 18 53 Left side (does not fit – for 2004+ cars)
A203 885 17 53 Right side (does not fit – for 2004+ cars)

A203 885 13 53 Centre (appears to fit)
A203 885 02 53 Left side (correct fit for bumper fitted to car) but doesn't clear foglight in current position within bumper bar
A203 885 01 53 Right side (correct fit for bumper fitted to car) but doesn't clear foglight in current position within bumper bar

The oval cut out appears to be the same width, shape / diameter for the early and late grilles but the size of the grille itself varies. The width of the gap & the fog lights is just under 13cm (think it's 12.8 cm)

AMG Clear Fog lights
A230 820 03 56 Off side (yes it really is a 230 SL part no)
A230 820 04 56 Near side (yes it really is a 230 SL part no)

The mesh grilles (0125 & 0253) are the correct fit for the bumper but catch / fowl the foglights.

Although I'm using the facelift foglights I have it on good authority that the clear foglights are the same size as the original frosty C32 foglights...

This has all lead me to my conclusion that the bumper bar on my car is incorrect. The bumper bar on my car is currently A203 885 0765, my bodyshop also tried A203 885 0965. They also claimed that the AMG bumper wouldn't fit with the original bumper bar (according to EPC the bar originally on my car would have been A203 885 0165).

C320 UK

The reinforcement bars aren't too expensive, they're made of plastic and vary in price from about £35 GBP to £50 GBP (approx $70 USD to $100 USD)...

tee_tz

Okay thanks. We'll talk.


Tee_Tz.

tee_tz

Oh man, you're scaring me! But I see the logic (that not all bumper are/were the same). I hope I'm getting all the right parts then. How do I find out my chassis number? I will check the bumper's number and try to find out which grille match it. I believe the bumper is from a 2005 model, and like my car, it has the headlight washing system.

ALL 2005+ C230 Owners!!:
If anyone knows the part number for the reinforcement bar, for a 2005 sport model, please let me know. OR let me put it this way, anybody with a 2005 C230, please call your dealership and ask for the Reinforcement bar part number, as well as the grille's part number. Prices would help too.

By the way, C320UK, your pics didn't show.


Thanks guys; keep it coming.


Tee_Tz.

C320 UK

No worries, don't mean to scare you!

Let me know the part no of your bumper and I may be able to help, depending on the part no I may have a spare set of outer grilles (A203 885 1765 and A203 885 1865). Shipping to the US isn't too expensive from the UK.

The images should show, they're hosted on another website, I can see them in this thread?

Likewise if anyone can help me with the fitment issues I have I'd be grateful for your thoughts...

Cheers

tee_tz

Okay, I'll let you know as soon as I get home the part number of my bumper.


Tee_Tz.

tee_tz

My own impression though is, if I use all 2005 Parts - 2005 reinforcement bar; 2005 fog lights; 2005 grilles with the 2005 bumper, it should fit properly, no?

Also, can you guys tell me if there rear bumper is as complicated. I think for the rear bumper all you need is the bumper cover itself, no?


Tee_Tz.

rlee02135

MJ50 installed a rear c32 bumper in his c240...pm him
i think you will need the bumper foam for the rear

C320 UK

I think you will be okay if you use all 2005 parts, if you post or PM your bumpers part no I'll see if I can help further...

My rear bumper was a straight fit using the standard mountings.

The side skirts are very easy to fit too (did those myself! )

tee_tz

I forgot to get the part number off the bumper, but I will tonight. Just got the fog lights for the AMG bumper, and now waiting for the grilles. After that, I'm ready to start... This is gonna be interesting.

Hopefully in some time I'll have the pictures up for the AMG Bumper installed!


Tee_Tz.

WaveyKat

yo after you do the AMG Kit and everything you gonna love it make sure when u do the Exhaust delete your Resonator...

Ryanr317

Do you have any sound clips of your exhaust? I'm on the lookout for an AMG muffler.

WaveyKat

i don't have a sound clip but its not loud just a bit deeper tone which i like it doesn't take away the MB sound just makes you feel like u have a little bigger engine Lol

tee_tz

Which one is the bumper re-enforcement:





Or neither?

Mercedes is charging me $191 for the part. That's madness, I found it on this site for $89 for the top one and $79 for the bottom picture.



Tee_Tz.

Ryanr317

The top one, but make sure you get the right part no. I heard they don't all fit.

C320 UK

Mine looks like the top one, but as Ryanr317 said they're not all the same.

I have had two (both with different part no's) that look like this on my car and it's still not right :-(

tee_tz

Then it might be worth buying it from the dealership to prevent having to buy it from this site just to find out it doesn't fit. The dealership found it from the 2005 Model C-Class with AMG Bodykit; which means it'll match my 2005 AMG bumper (or at least should match!). I'm going to pick it up tomorrow morning, so I'll at least know how it looks like -- here's a though, should my bumper be able to align with it? Also the mesh grilles are on the way...

Now that I've got all the parts (or at least all the parts gathered), looks like installation is the second problem, I got a quote from Mercedes' contractor to paint and install the front bumper for $600; is that fair? I was told painting a bumper can be as low as $70, whereas these guys are quoting $250, therefore I'm think of thinking let me paint the bumper elsewhere and take it to them just for installing. Hm.... how to minimize costs to the extreme; so far this conversion has cost much less than I first anticipated (read my first post when I was complaining that the AMG bumpers were $1,350 each -- not including the mesh grilles, fog lights, etc, etc), hopefully it'll end that way too.

Thanks guys, keep the help coming.

By the way C320 UK, you car looks good, do you have parktronic on it?


Tee_Tz.

WaveyKat

don't forget the clips for the mesh

C320 UK

Yep, don't forget the grille clips, think you need 12 but buy a few extra as they're easy to break!

Yes I have Parktronic on my car, I'll just be relieved when I get the bumper finished properly.

As for cost I guess $650 USD is okay, it cost me £300 GBP for a bodyshop in the UK (near London). I guess it depends on where you are, the paint alone and any prep work is a major part of the cost.

You will always find cheaper but you do get what you pay for. I'm pleased (despite the problems I've had) with the way and cost my AMG body conversion has turned out.