Help on removing front bumper
06-09-2003, 10:32 AM
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2003 ML 350
Help on removing front bumper
I recently purchased a grill guard from eBay. To install it I need to remove the front bumper and drill 4 holes. Does not look like a big deal but I need instructions on how to remove the front bumper. I already installed the trailer hitch after removing rear bumper, a chrome exhaust extension, and the trip computer on my 2003 ML 350. Purchased them all on eBay.
Last edited by techno-kat; 06-09-2003 at 03:57 PM.
06-09-2003, 01:46 PM
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ML350
Hopefully yours will fit better than mine. 1).Start off by removing the lower grill strip which pops right out (plastic clips). 2). Push tabs next to fog lamps to remove them. 3). Unclip temperature sensor (pointy plastic thing behind right side of grill) 4). Remove the two bolts in the center, two bolts from the bottom, and two from the side (accessed by pulling plastic from wheel section). 5.) From under the car, you will see an "L" bracket holding the sides of bumper onto frame, remove top bolts. 6). The bumper should slide right off (be carefull and go slow as you will need to unclip the wire attatched to the bumper). IMPORTANT! My templates for the drilling the bumper holes seem to be made for the Euro License Plates, and I have US plate holes which WILL BE TOO Short. Luckily I measured, otherwise I would have two extra holes in the bumper! Otherwise came out perfect except it seems very snug up against the bumper for me, but I'm going to add some washers to space it out. Good Luck.
07-15-2003, 04:12 PM
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Well I finally installed it on 14 July 2003. It was quite a job. With two persons it took us 4+ hours. We were forewarned about measuring for the holes and it turns out that the templates for cutting the bumper holes were useless -- they must have been for bumpers prior to the ML350. Thank to the warning from RS88. It was big job removing front bumper, measuring and remeasuring to cut the holes, mounting the guard, and re-attaching the front bumper. It would have been much easier if we were able to work with a lift.
The grill guard fits very tight against the front bumper, but looks cool anyhow.
The grill guard fits very tight against the front bumper, but looks cool anyhow.
