ml430_owner_315

Well I am just simply tired of looking at my stock ml430 and was wondering what all i would have to get to get that back bumper on the amg if not all of the kit on this site because it looks like i would need fender flares sideskirts and everything. please help me out you guys probably know a lot more than me on this stuff. http://www.amgkit.com/EBMS/Catalog/P...?ProductId=464

pleubner

That's exactly what I am currently doing!.... I have all the parts for the front and rear .....

You are absolutely mad if you buy them on that link you posted .... the bumper usually costs 100-200 Euros here on the german ebay .... approx same in the US.

The mounting parts/bracktes will have to be bought form the dealer.... I have a full parts list posted on P3 .... and will keep updating my DIY as I proceed.

At the moment I posted the parts list (EPC section of P3), have completed the DIY for the tailgate Filler panel, and will try to mount the front/rear bumpers this weekend....

Most members doing the facelift or styling (amg) update let a body shop do it! .....

PS: I bought my front bumper for 95 Euros, the rear for 135 Euros (including the filler panel) , ... and ordered a complete set of mounting parts for 400 Euros ..... (although I could have reused some of my old parts ehich would have brought the extra parts list to around 200 Euros for the front & back)

I also posted the official WIS retrifit instructions on the WIS section of P3.

PS: I made a overview diagram of all the parts you need with the respective partnos on one sheet for the front (haven't got around to doing it for the back).

Essentially the bumper update for facelift needs the mounting brackets displaced somewhat and new holes drilled. I'm not so sure about the Styling (AMG) bumpers , .... that's why I'll be trying them out this weekend.

ml430_owner_315

thank you for the reply but i am not sure what euros are compared to american dollars could you please help me out if you know
thanks josh

pleubner

http://quotes.ubs.com/quotes/Language=E

"Forex/Banknotes" in the left navigator

1 Euro = 1.28 $US

ml430_owner_315

wow thats a lot of peices thanks for the diagram and the euro vs usd site you were realy helpful,mabye if i am saving enough money by not buying it off of amgkit.com than i can get a dealer install! It looks really complicated

pleubner

Not really , every nut,bracket, bolt is displayed here .....

Some of the more expensive parts (front energy absorbtion bar, front side bracket, etc....) can be replaced (minor adaptation required) from the old parts.....


To give you an idea of the comparison to the original bumper (98-01), here is the same diagram.

pleubner

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pleubner

The main "must have" part for the front bumper is this bracket.....

also the fog light surround covers are usually missing when buying secondhand (no idea why).

When you buy one ... try to get one wihout those "headlight washer" holes on the top .... the lids are not connected to the bumper (always missing also on secondhand bumpers), but rather to the washer unit. Finding a bumper without the PTS holes will save you putting in dummy (broken) sensors to cover up the holes..... unless you want the looks!

pleubner

Here is some picture of the inside of the rear bumper .... Assembled parts

(looks much simpler with all the parts attached.... just a few bolts to attach it)

pleubner

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pleubner

Note: single exhaust (Styling) and dual ehaust (AMG) differ slightly with this absorbtion piece..... most retrofiters don't bother with the energy absorbtion anyways!


The blue amg bumper is the one without the energy absorbtion, and the silver on is the styling with it!

pleubner

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pleubner

Note the amg (dual exhaust) has the parktronic cables ....

....also note the slight design improvement of the silver styling bumper with the covers for the rear side air vents (better sound proofing)

pleubner

On the previous pictures (left & right middle sections) you can see 2 vertical brackets

..... These are bolted onto the basic crossbar of the vehicle

..... the plastic bumper cover has plastic studs (pins) that fit onto these vertical brackets, and are fixed by a retaining clip....

The top edge of the bumper is then bolted onto the bracket .... this fixes the top edge firmly. Once the top edge is fixed , the bolts are covered by a plastic strip.... attached to the velcro.

The bottom edge on the other hand is quite flimsy, and is fixed using two staps connected to the lower side of the same bracket.

pleubner

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pleubner

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pleubner

ml430_owner_315,

I'm confused ! In another thread you are talking about getting the kit cheaply from somewhere else?????? In this thread you were talking about getting the kit from an expensive place ?????

What's the real story? Should I bother posting any more DIY tips/instructions?.

PS: Kits don't get sold ? (Except for the link in this thread). If you want a bumper kit you either need to go for a aftermarket body styling (brabus, lorinser, Art, etc...) , or a cheapy set ......

The original Bumpers (Facelift & Styling/AMG) are only sold without the whole mountings, unless you go get lucky sourcing them from a junkyard!

pleubner

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pleubner

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pleubner

Very simple ... exactly the same as for Original (MY98-01).

The side brackets are an updated design (although the original s would do ..... just to save money)

pleubner

In addition to the 4 lower bolts as per Original bumper ( 2 of them are the straps) , you also need to remove the stip on the top edge (velcro) , and remove the top edge screws.

on the picture below it looks like the bracket (with the energy absorbers in front) lloks like 1 seperate piece.... in fact they are 2 seperate pieces , as can be seen from on of the first inside pics I posted in this thread.

Note: The PTS (Parktronic Sensors) are removed from the inside of the bumper. That's why you have to remove the bumper!.

Note: You can also see the air vents (cabin air pressure regulator) on the side of the vehicle (gets covered by the side of the rear bumper). These air vents are usually the main cause for lound noises in the cabin. One of the best noise reduction tips is to coat the inside of the side (opposite the vents) of the bumper with some kind of damping material..... This will reduce much of the noise in the cabin considerably.... Those silver bumpers in the picture above have a kind of cover to reduce the noise, but still let air
in/out....

... another common source of excessive noise is the front door speakers .... coat the inside of the outer door shell at the location of the speakers.

... also the top door window rail (the frame on the door where the window slides up) ... there is a hole (the rubber does not extend far enough downwards....) where the air rushes in.....

.... and lastly .... sound proof all doors (including the hatch!), .... many members of the various forums have done this! .....

PS: Thanks to "marcelc" for the sound proofing tips!

pleubner

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ml430_owner_315

sorry for the confusion a guy here in my area had the kit on his ml 320 for a few weeks and then his wife would not drive it because she said it made the car look like a trashy teenagers car so of course what everyman usually does, he listens to his wife and had the dealer put back on his normal bumpers. So he has no use for it and has never sold on ebay before so he is going to sell to me for a fraction of the cost. but its not like he has to worry about the money anyway so i will take it gladly.
ps i just found out about this a few days after i posted this thread. you have been very helpfull thanks so much i have saved every diagram.

pleubner

Go to the "P3" forum (sticky section "WIS") to look for the
retrofit Installation Instructions

It shows how to mount the fender flares , and also the AMG tailgate.

I also posted other interesting Styling info!