Currently upgrading the cooling system on my 2003 e55 to help with the florida heat. Im installing a PLM XL heat exchanger and Suvneer secondary heat exchanger but it is rubbing against the power steering cooler. Looking closer I noticed that the bump in the crash bar is pushing it back. Looking around I noticed that it looks like they changed the crash bar and got rid of that bump in the rear. Should i cut that off or do i need to get a new crash bar. Has anyone come across this before and just curious if anyone knows when they implemented this change.

This 03

The HE hitting the power steering

Newer one

It amazes me all the little minor differences in these cars from just a few years, 2003-2006.
Replacement of the bar would seem more costly and more work so I would try and work around it if you can.
If not swap the bar out. E320-350 may be the same at the junk yard cheap as well,not sure.

The original crash bar is likely part number 211 620 05 34 while it has been superceded by 211 620 28 34. Since they no longer sell the old part number and all modles get the latest number you should be able to swap out your crash bar for the newer one. The junk yards should have plenty of the newer versoin of the crash bar to sell.

It looks like its just glued on, im gonna take everything apart and see if i can just split the two pieces. If not ill just go grab one from the junk yard.