503C43 ////AMG

I seem to have a larger gap than I would expect there to be between the bumper and the quarter panel... it flares out a little as well, is this common???
I have a gap between my rear bumper and the rear quarter panel as well, I am wondering how you take the rear bumper off and does anyone have any alignment tips for the bumpers,

m a x i m u s

I have a pretty good-sized gap on the rear bumper, maybe 3/8 inch all the way around. It's been like that from day one. Not so much on the front bumper though.

Saaboteur

In my perusal of the WIS, I've come across documents on how to remove the bumper and how to realign it. There are some specs. Removing the bumper involves, if I remember right, taking apart some of the bumper trim, and then about four nuts that hold the reinforcement bar to the chassis. Not hugely difficult.

If you shoot me a PM with your email, I can scan you a copy of the WIS document.

DRBC43AMG

Hi!
Found this "How to" in another forum: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/howto...mper-w202.html
You may have to register to see it (plenty of photos and step by step method).
Cheers

503C43 ////AMG

WOW SUPER HELPFUL..... only question is, it appears he is fitting a C43 rear bumper on a C240. I wonder if they fit the same, in the picture he has there is NO gap whatsoever. The WIS instructions state the C43 is SUPPOSED to have a 53 mm gap, whats the deal???

DRBC43AMG

Can't confirm 100%, but I imagine the way they fix up are the same as both are W202's. Have also read somewhere that the adjustment can be a bit of a hassle as its a left adjust right adjust, a bit more left and then right to get everything looking good overall.

503C43 ////AMG

I will snap some pics and post them so you guys can tell me if my gap is larger than yours.

503C43 ////AMG

I finally got some pics snapped (with my Iphone, not the greatest) so you guys can see how mu bumper lines up.


This is the drivers side, I dont really have too much of a gap but it flares out a little which you can see in the next photo


You can see the flare it about the width of my finger, I don't think this is normal


Here is the passenger side, it has a much larger gap and flares as well.


Here you can see the gap is about the width of my finger.

So these pics are after I took the bumper off and tried to realign it. It looks WAY better than it did but the passenger side doesn't look like the drivers side. Granted when I put the bumper back on I don't think I did it correctly as I did it by myself and I had to adjust the sides after I had it on. I read somewhere the bumper should "click" in and that is what keeps the sides from flaring out. Mine did not click that is for sure. Any one got suggestions?????




Here are the pics of my rear bumper gap. I haven't tried to realign it yet as I heard you should really have 2 people to do the rear.

DRBC43AMG

I agree it does look a bit wrong. Have not removed mine but will be doing the front one next week as I have water in the front left fog light. Will see how it goes and if I have the same problem.

eddie_b

rear bumper:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...mper-w202.html

front bumper:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...fogs-w202.html

503C43 ////AMG

OK so I finally got around to taking off the rear bumper (REAL EASY) using the how to found earlier in this thread. I reset my guide rails (per instructions from the WIS) and then put my bumper back on. The bumper still has a gap but it is MINIMAL in comparison. In the how to he shows his finished pic and there is NO gap what so ever. Not sure why (he is fitting a c43 bumper on a c240, not sure if this makes a difference) I have a gap and he doesn't but I am happier with the results I have now then what it looked like before. Does anyone else have a small gap, is this normal? Can someone post pics so I can compare?

m a x i m u s

Looks great to me. As I posted before, mine has a huge gap. Probably half an inch. Not so much on the sides, but more in the rear, which makes me think it is sagging. I tried loosened the rear bolts but the bumper was still unmoveable. Now I'm thinking to do what you did. Was it difficult to realign the rails?

503C43 ////AMG

NOT AT ALL.... whole project took about 1 hour and that's cause I was cleaning stuff up as I went. I would like to mention that the rails are located just behind the rear tires and really have more to do with locating the sides of the bumper, the rear of the bumper is held on by 5 nuts (2 on each side and 1 in the middle). If the rear of your bumper is sagging I think you could make the adjustment without having to remove the bumper (I could be wrong but looking at how my bumper went on that's how it appears to me) I suggest you refer to the how to located earlier in this thread, it shows the exact location of all the bolts. I will say this, the how to was missing a couple steps, their are 2 more plastic snap thingys holding in the material in the trunk. They are located up towards the roof of the trunk. When you remove your bumper there is a wire connected to it (not sure what it does as the wire isn't connected to anything) make sure you don't pull that out, it is on the drivers side.

m a x i m u s

that's what I was thinking: loosen the nuts and slide the bumper skyward then retighten. I'll give it another go. From your reply I am assuming there is some play in the up and down alinment until the nuts are tightened? Thanks for the reply and again, great job on yours. Looks awesome.

503C43 ////AMG

Thanks... there is probably about 1/2" of play in the bolt holes. If you have more of a gap than that you might have some other issue (warped bumper, bent bumper bolts, etc....) What I did was lift and tighten one side and then I moved to the other side and loosen the bolt and lift and tighten again (basically moving up and tightening so I wouldn't lose the progress I had made). I repeated this process until I felt like it wasn't closing the gap anymore (I think I did it 2 times per side). This whole process would of been WAY easier with 2 people but I did it by myself so it can be done. I suggest laying something down under the bumper before you remove it so it doesn't get scratched if it accidentally falls. GOOD LUCK

503C43 ////AMG

So I refuse to believe that the bumper on a c43 can be flush with the quarter panel. I took my bumper off a little while ago, reset the guide rails, and put it back on. It looked WAY better and the gap was closed significantly. Driving down the street I pulled up next to a C280 and noticed the bumper was SUPER FLUSH and had MAYBE a couple millimeter gap, way smaller than what I have. I also noticed there is a "how to" earlier in this thread and at the end his bumper is SUPER FLUSH as well. This slowly began eating away at me (I am CRAZY when it comes to my cars) and i decided I was going to do the rear bumper again. I pulled the bumper off and reset EVERYTHING and then put the bumper back on. It closed the gap again but only by a couple millimeters. I am to the point where I refuse to believe the C43 bumper can be aligned any better than what I have.... Can anyone prove me wrong?? Post a pic if you think your bumper has a smaller gap than mine.



Here are the pics after the first reset




Here are the pics after the 2nd reset (this is how they look now)

m a x i m u s

i know i posted above, but just wanted to reiterate that mine had a gap from day one, and i bought the car in 2003. but ever since you posted this thread, ive been obsessing over mine now too!

503C43 ////AMG

Yeah I am CRAZY I know..... I will say this, the gap is uniform all the way around and it DOES line up with the little gap above the door molding. I would love to see some pics of other C43's to compare.

DRBC43AMG

I have to admit that the 2nd reset looks just perfect

503C43 ////AMG

So you are saying you have a gap as well??? It is supposed to look like this??? Can you post a pic of your bumper gap?

DRBC43AMG

To tell you the truth, I havn't noticed nor really checked as I have to bend down or get on my knees. Will check and take some photos tomorrow if it stops raining....

AMG_C36

anyone know if removing the front bumper on c36 is the same as the how to posted above? my front bumper doesn't sit quite right under my grille...alo, my fog lights both went out the other day for some reason (no idea why actually...). id also like to realign my fogs as one was sagging a bit compared to the other before they went out

DRBC43AMG

I have the feeling it should come off and go back on just like any W202. Just be careful when removing the bumber to disconnect all the wires (fog light and temp sensor).

DRBC43AMG

Well after a drive in the mountains, stopped for a snack and some red wine. As I had my camera handy, took a photo of front and rear bumbers Looks I need to get the tools out when I get back home in a weeks time.

503C43 ////AMG

Looks like you will need to pull the front bumper off and reset the guide rails, your rear bumper looks like it is only sagging in the rear and you might be able to unbolt the bolts in the back, pull your bumper up and tighten them with out removing the bumper and resetting the guide rails. The guide rails on the rear bumper are on the side not in the rear, the rear is held up by 4 bolts that go into holes in the rear. Taking off either bumper is EASY and resetting the guide rails is easy too.