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exhaust heat - melting the plastic - have you been driving aggressively? Do you have a tune?
do you let it idle for a long time?
or did you just back into something (my #1 guess) and it's a one time dent/deformation - how does the other side look?
no to all of the above, and haven't had it tuned since I bought it in 2015.
The dots are all uniform from one end to the other. Nothing appears to be melted, simply discoloring. If it was melting the plastic, I don't think it would melt it all the way to the end of the cover. The other side is exactly the same. It's 12 years old so I'm wondering if if the part is just starting to discolor. It's weird that they're all in a row.. I think it best to just take it to the dealer and see if they can explain it.
One thing though, I think that part was replaced when I was hit in the rear end . I don't know if that has anything to do with it
Thanks for your input
So you're talking about the discoloration? That's just heat over time from the exhaust on the mesh common - circle what you're worried about to be specific
have you tried cleaning it with a safe tire/wheel cleaner? (Meguires hot wheels)
can we see the other side?
Last edited by PeterUbers; Nov 1, 2025 at 05:31 PM.
So you're talking about the discoloration? That's just heat over time from the exhaust on the mesh common - circle what you're worried about to be specific
have you tried cleaning it with a safe tire/wheel cleaner? (Meguires hot wheels)
can we see the other side?
see the photo
Looks like machine gun dings. Will try that...
Last edited by mbates50; Nov 1, 2025 at 05:39 PM.
Reason: Add info
Oh now I see! That while speckled pattern - is that where the connectors are on the other side of that bumper piece - this is a defect in that piece and may need to be replaced entirely
was this car in an accident and non OEM bumper cover was used in the rear?
Oh now I see! That while speckled pattern - is that where the connectors are on the other side of that bumper piece - this is a defect in that piece and may need to be replaced entirely
was this car in an accident and non OEM bumper cover was used in the rear?
Yes, about 3 or 4 years ago. Dont know what Caliber Collision usec. Doubt is still under warranty anyway. Seems odd that there are that many connectors, tho.
Yes, about 3 or 4 years ago. Dont know what Caliber Collision usec. Doubt is still under warranty anyway. Seems odd that there are that many connectors, tho.
nothing odd about that - look at the diagram online of the lower valence - it has that many connectors
Any chance a paintjob would last.? I have a guy who's excellent fixing and painting car bumpers
is the surface smooth? Sure - a good prep, prime and spray could last many years but I'm curious if there is a physical defect in that plastic
I think that's just a prefinished piece that when you order a new one it's already finished in that gun metal, that's my suspicion
so if you wanted to just finish that in an even a darker shade of gunmetal, it would look really good and you wouldn't have to spend as much money, you would be the only one that knew it was refinished because it would look perfectly fine to everybody else
Last edited by PeterUbers; Nov 1, 2025 at 06:17 PM.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
