Removing front bumper W164

[markjc]

Hi all,

Decided I'd have a look at my parking sensors on my ML320 to see if there were any obvious loose wires or moisture ingress issues (intermittent fault) which required removing the front bumper of the car.

I got the work instruction AR88.20-P-2000GZ which I followed through (took me AGES) but when I got to final stage of lifting off the bumper it wouldn't come off.

The bumper was lifting up and swinging forwards but it still seemed to be attached to the bodywork at the corner of each light cluster (so basically it was pivoting about that point). It was free and clear everywhere else. I had already removed the obvious bolt from this area (step 2 of the work instruction) yet it still seemed to be clinging on and it was not clear why. If I pulled on the bumper, I could see it trying to pull out the light cluster but I don't think I should need to remove the lights in order to get the bumper off. I was wary of pulling any harder in case I snapped the plastic bumper.

I've attached a couple of photos with the two sticking points highlighted. Anyone done this before and got any ideas - do I just need to prise it off at this point with a screwdriver??

Unfortunately, because I needed to use the car, I had to eventually put the whole thing back together but still want to get in there. MB were going to charge £102 just for the labour of removing the bumper!

Thanks!

 

[kid-jensen]

Don't know if this info is too late, but you're right, those tabs that are part of the front bumper should be gently levered over the hollow studs that retain them.

The front bumper will then drop on your foot...

 

[markjc]

Thanks Paul, yes that's exactly what I did. And that's exactly what happened...

Pity I had purchased the wrong parking sensor so had to put it all back together again with the broken sensor still present. Got the right one now so just need some free time!

 

[kid-jensen]

I bought 2 sensors, figuring more than one would be failing and it seems that 5 out of 6 are not working!

Added to this the sensors that arrived in the post are different...

I'm suspicious that so many can be faulty, but my diagnostic reader shows only one sensor reading (surprisingly accurate ) distance, the others show the default 2.3 Metres figure.

I've done the same as you and replaced the front whilst I order some more sensors, but I left out all the time-conusming satuff like the inner wheel arch liners.....they can wait.

 

[kid-jensen]

Just to put this Sensor problem to bed...

My suspitions were correct, it was only one sensor that was faulty.

The circuit shows each sensor going to some mystery box (I guess a multiplexer) with separate wires, so you would think that one faullty sensor would not drag the other 5 down.

But, that was exactly what was happening, and worse than that, the Rear Sensors were switched off too.. Whoever decigned the BITE must have Shares in the Sensor manufacturers...

Anyway, All working now, Front and Back, and only one Sensor needed.