pawe

How much did it cost you to have them installed in your car? I bought a Rieger bumper, took it to a mercedes benz body shop and they said it will take at least $900 to install it.
And I thought it was just a direct install and no modifications and shaving needed. Damn Rieger!

TruTaing

wow... installing a new bumper could take ... maybe 4 hours if you're doing it for the first time.

I dunno about the fogs, but I imagine that couldnt take more than an hour to figure out (worst case).

pawe

Its only the bumper cover that will need to be replaced and he said its probably going to take him 3 days..unbelievable!
Thats $900 without the paint.
Insurance is going to pay for it so I will have to cough up the money for prepping the bumper and the installation and i think the wiring for the fogs is a piece of cake.

C24owner

I paid $600 for paint and install.

LorinserCClass

Wow....back in the day I would complain to my body shop guy that $250 was to much for paint and install lol

kirax2

i paid $100 to have my Front Lip sand, prime, repaint and clear coat

and i snap it on myself

i thought paint only cost around $50... for such tiny lip

pawe

What the body shop guy told me was there will be a lot of shaving and fitting for the rieger bumper. And Rieger said that the bumper was redeveloped to fit the 05 and up w203's so i really dont think there's a lot of modifying to do. painting the bumper is not included yet. To other people who've changed bumpers, is there any electrical besides the fog wirings and other parts inside the bumper cover?

ggong5150

I have an 03 and didn't have any problems with it.

kindafast

got any pix of the bumper?

pawe

pawe

What did you guys do with the wiring for your side markers? It's going to suck if the bulbs went out and I have to remove the whole bumper just to replace it so the "bulb out" warning will disappear.

-I was also thinking of putting a side marker on the rieger bumper just to avoid being ticketed.

kevblah

I don't have this bumper, but I do have the Euro Impact Strips, which remove the side marker light completely. Initially, I just let the bulb hang inside the bumper...but as time went on and water got into the bumper, the bulbs blew and I got dash errors. Even worse, the connectors corroded and completely fried and the side marker lights won't even work with new bulbs.

For you, I would recommend taking the side marker housing and leaving it intact inside the bumper. That way, you won't need side markers, you won't have dash errors, and you won't run the risk of ruining your side marker connectors.

I wouldn't worry about a ticket for that, I don't think I know of anyone ever getting a ticket for that. I doubt any cops know the specific law regarding an amber reflector located on the front of the vehicle that is visible from the side view.

pawe

So you have a dash error everytime you use your car now because of the corrosion issue huh?

-But how would you replace the bulb if it goes out? you have to take out the whole bumper just to replace the bulb, right?

Im really leaning into modding the bumper so the side markers will fit and just buy the smoked ones to make it match the look of the car.

maverik259

no you can reach it but just unclipping a few clips in the wheel well...takes literally 5 minutes and less each time after that...same way to get to the fogs on either side (well only thepassenger since the washer fluid blocks the fog on the driverside)...just take tape them to something on the inside so they dont bang around, that could get annoying plus you dont want them to break...

Mu9enx

i'd do what kev said. just tape the sidemarkers to the inside of the car, and yoyu won't have to worry about anything.

bensitto

ditto...

Keep the sidemarkers and tape them on the inside in a place with easy access for when the bulb burns out.

pawe

I finally got the car this afternoon after 5 days in the body shop.

Before:



After:



Im not really happy with the gaps. The body shop guy told me aftermarket parts are not engineered the same way as OEM hence the gaps. I think they could have done a better job..well, beggars cant be choosers.

ggong5150

Looks good. What gaps are you talking about? Between the bumper and the grill?

ggong5150

Oh, I think the gap between the bumper and the hood? Mine fits perfectly.

pawe

headlights and in the hood. I think they're a little uneven.

pawe

Im also thinking of overlaying the interior alum trim with cf vinyl, there is a nick on the ashtray cover and I get annoyed everytime I see it. The interior trim easily bruises up like a baby.

saer1one

looks good..! the rieger e63 mob is growing..!

yeuchau

so, where did you end up installing the bumper

pawe

I went to Phoenix Motor Corp and they only charged me $600 for the paint, install, wiring and alignment which I think is a very good deal. Plus, I was also able to talk to the mechanics there and asked them if I could go to them for under the table car repairs or custom body works.