Is this fixable?

[speeder]

Or maybe a better question, what is the best strategy to fix this? Epoxy is the obvious answer, so what is the best epoxy to use? I'm guessing that I should epoxy and sand/grind it down for paint, maybe epoxy a brace or extra layer underneath?

For anyone poised to ask why I don't just find a good used bumper, the answer is that they are unobtainable for this car, a Mercedes-Benz w124 wagon. If you can find one, they usually have damage and are ~$1000. Mine is fine other than this cracked part. I want to fix it, entire car and bumpers/cladding is getting painted.

Thanks as always!

[908/930]

I think that is heat weldable material, I would still reinforce the back with a single layer of fiber glass and epoxy. Look at hot air welding, really need to identify what material it is first, I'm thinking PVC but not sure.

[greglepore]

SEM MiniMax works well, just make sure that the cartridges flow the mix at the proper rate.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395494860409?

It would help if you could bring the pieces closer together somehow-even with gorilla tape and do the repair 1/2 at a time. Or better yet, remove the bumper cover and do it off of the actual metal impact bar, then reinstall. I recently had to do this with a r129 that had damage to the lower integral valence/spoiler.

One of the comments to the ad is interesting, suggests using drywall mesh tape behind the repair. Great idea.

[wswartzwel]

Plastic welder, if you take it off and look on the inside there will be a stamp whether it's poly propylene, ABS, PVC... You can can buy the correct filler rod to weld it. I have a welder I got from Matco tools, that I use for motorcycle plastic welding... Basically a large soldering gun with different heat settings for whatever plastic you are welding. You may have a local auto body shop that will weld it for you.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

There are plenty of plastic bumper and body adhesives on the market to choose from. A layer of glass will help as 908 says.

I've used 3M's panel bonding adhesive for steel and it's phenomenal. They must have a version for plastic.

What year is the car?

[blucille]

if you can get behind it, reinforce with mesh, fiberglass or steel screen material and some epoxy, it won't ever break there again.

[1990C4S]

Hot staples, steel wool and epoxy/fibreglass resin in the back.

[VINMAN]

On my 944 air dam, I used the harbor freight plastic welder. Worked great. I heated up piece of metal screen and melted it into the back of the crack.

.

[speeder]

Thanks, guys. I’ll definitely be removing the bumper to repair it.

The car is a 1992 although the rear bumper is the same for all w124 wagons.

[javadog]

That thing's in so many pieces...

I'd keep looking for another one. Hard to find, maybe. But nothing's impossible.

[Brian 162]

I would tape over the damaged area, remove the bumper then lay fiberglass on the inside to offer some strength.
Hopefully it will offer enough strength so you then can apply filler to the outside of the bumper and reshape.
It worked for me for a NLA dash piece on my C6

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by speeder

Thanks, guys. I’ll definitely be removing the bumper to repair it.

The car is a 1992 although the rear bumper is the same for all w124 wagons.

I've only had 94 and 95 cars, I thought when I was looking for one, the 80s cars were a little different. The fronts were I'm pretty sure. There are a few on eBay, one for $300 though east coast. Phenomenal cars.

Anyway, that's an easy fix though time consuming to get back to original.

[speeder]

The '80s cars ARE different and the early '90s cars are different from the '80s cars and the last cars. The '94/'95 w124 cars like the one pictured above have different hoods/grilles/headlights and of course the new at the time M104 engine. The 1986-'92 cars had the M103 engine and wagons began in 1987 with the *one year only* diesel wagon, (OM603 6-cylinder diesel), then from '88-on they were gas only for wagons in the USA.

Diesels were of course available in sedans here in '87 and then in scattered years in the '90s. I also have a '95 w124 diesel sedan, a one year only car with that body/engine combo.

[greglepore]

I had one in same color as Shaun's. I gave it to a needy friend ( local bike shop wrench) when I bought my s420. He and his infant were rearended at a light by a full sized pickup going maybe 35-40. Car likely saved them.

[2.7RS]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176271488337?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOorR93iPrs07pH-I0_z-z5Idi4ewYX8u9ytDnN7fIu5YhKgxF8zg82M

Buy a new bumper yours is gone.

554 is not a bad price

Duck tape it if you want to save money

[speeder]

Originally Posted by 2.7RS

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176271488337?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOorR93iPrs07pH-I0_z-z5Idi4ewYX8u9ytDnN7fIu5YhKgxF8zg82M

Buy a new bumper yours is gone.

554 is not a bad price

Duck tape it if you want to save money

You are 100% correct, brother. I just did not see a good one for sale online when I looked before. Thanks for the link!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

There are a few on eBay when I looked yesterday. There are several good W124 forums too.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by greglepore

I had one in same color as Shaun's. I gave it to a needy friend ( local bike shop wrench) when I bought my s420. He and his infant were rearended at a light by a full sized pickup going maybe 35-40. Car likely saved them.

Mine saved me. 67 into a tree. Rear bumper was still good, should have saved it.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Mine saved me. 67 into a tree. Rear bumper was still good, should have saved it.

Yeah, remember when you originally posted that. You can get killed in anything, but the odds are much better in a 90's Benz.
LOL on the bumper, likely the only part of that that would buff out.
I forget-did you fall asleep?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Yup, fell asleep after many sleepless nights and then driving back and forth and back and forth to NYC.