twickk

There are atleast 3 members wondering about this.

I have a C450 and trying to get the lip wrapped since i didnt get the NP.

Has anyone successfully unclipped the front splitter from the bumper? If so, please advise us

Mike5215

Ok, I PM'd Carlson. I'm pretty sure he said his shop did one...

twickk

There was another person who said they did this.. but didn't elaborate.

And another member asked the same question.

mmaldin

I have a c300 sport. Are you referring to the chrome 3 pieces on the bottom lip? If so, I replaced mine due to damage and can help you.

Mike5215

Yay! Help us!

mmaldin

Changing those parts requires putting the car on ramps or a lift and removing the front splash pan, I believe there are 6 small screws holding on the 2 sections of the splash pan. That will give access to 2 plastic rivets that fasten the center piece, they are behind the grill. Once the rivets are removed, the center piece can be pulled off and then the side pieces. If you need further detail, let me know.

Mike5215

Thanks. Are they those plastic expansion rivets that can be re-used or did you have to break them to get them out?

mmaldin

They are those plastic expansion rivets that can be re-used. After they are removed, it is not easy to get the chrome off. I found that if you pull firmly from either end, it will start snapping off. There are eight or so plastic protrusions on the chrome(actually plastic) pieces that clip on to the bumper too. I pushed on those from behind also. It's a PITA.

Mike5215

Ok, I'm to here:





It's hung up in the center on the top edge. There's a chrome tab dead center and two smaller metal tabs to either side. Do you recall how you disengaged that bit? Tugging doesn't seem to do it. Thanks!

mmaldin

Just pulled out the old parts and popped the hood to look. The center top edge has a protrusion with a lip. If you put a flathead screwdriver where it is hung up, you will be able to lift the grill plastic above the lip. I''l post a pic shortly.

mmaldin

Hope these help.
It's been over a year since I did this and I don't recall all of the details.

Mike5215

Great. Thanks. I'm taking pics along the way so I can do a full DIY at some point. The sides are really in there and I can't get at them from behind. Just tug?

mmaldin

I pulled from one side and used a screwdriver to nudge it past those clips and just kept pulling and disengaging the tabs where I could.

Mike5215

Ok. Guess I should get the middle out first so I can tug the exposed edge...

Mike5215

Success with the middle! One last favor. Can you snap a pic of a side piece off the car so I can see what I'm working against? Thanks!

mmaldin

Top and bottom view.

Mike5215

Got them. Thanks again. The outside end of each side piece needs to be pried away enough to get something behind it ( I used a screwdriver) . Working from the outside end towards the center of the car, pull the part away and the clips will release. The last bit on the inside end has a large tab and also has to clear the lower grille so it's just a matter of working it side to side while pulling away.

Got the center wrapped. The sides have a lot going on contour wise

Never wrapped before so I watched some YouTube tutorials, carefully prepared the piece, and made my wife do it.





Meanwhile I think the OP decided "F THIS" and split!

Mike5215

Test fit. Still need wife to wrap the left piece but she had too many wine coolers and had to take a nap.





Depending on the viewing angle it's lighter or darker.

Mike5215

Attachment 331506

Mike5215

Done...



Huge thanks to mmaldin!

For anyone trying this, I'm not sure the whole heat shield needs to be dropped. May be able to get away with removing the front four bolts and flexing it out of the way to access the rivets.

Once the two expansion rivets are pulled, I think the rest can be worked from the front. Need to get a pry tool under the bottom edge of the center piece and pry while tugging from the front.

mmaldin

You're welcome. Nice work.

Mike5215

Well, it looks good on the top side. The underside looks like a kindergarten art project. Kind of matches the parking curb scrapes down there, so that's good. I may pull them again and have a shop do them. Luckily I totally forgot the stupid expansion rivets until the heat shield was installed so I can pop them on and off pretty quick.

twickk

Whewww awesome!

I shall try this tomorrow/monday when I wrap my lip too and i will post up. Just waiting on my 3M to arrive.

Great job Mike and Thanks for the recommendations mmalin!

Mike5215

Appearance of an expansion rivet (2). Pry the top up with a flathead until the two pieces separate.


Typical 5/16 bolt for the heat shield.


Underside with front shield removed.

Mike5215

Hey if you come upon a trick to get the wrap to look good on the bottom edge let me know. On the three pieces I started by laying the upper side flat on the wrap and then working it over the front edge and down, so the tops look perfect but I ended up with creases and wrinkles on the undersides, especially on the side pieces.