rear bumper brackets / bumper clearance

[mnahon]

Over the years, I assume from various small bumps at the rear when the car was parked, my rear bumpers have become quite close to the body, so that in some spots, the bumper is essentially touching the body.

I'm planning to take the bumpers off and bend the brackets to move the bumpers a bit away from the body. Does anyone know what the clearance should be between the front edge of the rear bumper and the body? Also, I assume that gap should be the same all along the bumper. Right now, on my car, that gap is anywhere from about zero to about 10 mm.

[BobH]

On my 230 the gap is about 7mm

[mnahon]

Thanks very much Bob. I measured mine more carefully. The clearance on the left one is zero outboard and 5 mm inboard. On the right it's 5 mm outboard and 10 mm inboard. I think I might aim to get 10 mm all along.