Rechroming bumpers: keep overriders? Opinions!

[ksalzer]

I'm about to send my bumpers off to the platers and was deciding whether to fill in the holes for mounting the overriders or leave the holes there.

So that spurred a question: do you think the w113 looks better with or without the bumper overriders?

Kris Salzer
65 230sl

[Pawel66]

Without.

[dirkbalter]

Without.  I wasn’t aware that the 230sl had these bumper overriders. Did all US models have them?

[Mike Hughes]

Without is purer, especially on a euro model car with euro headlamps.  However, overriders are very commonly found on U.S. market cars and the M-B over riders DO provide some aesthetically pleasing bumper protection in close quarters.  As much as I admire the pure line of an unprotected bumper, I've come to appreciate the overriders on my own 230SL.  There are some larger aftermarket overriders that may be a little ungainly in some eyes and if you happen to be contemplating removing those and filling the holes in favor of the pure line of an unprotected bumper, I'm with you all the way!

[scoot]

Without.

[Taleb]

Of course without , like what I did with my pagoda and I covered it with flat chrome nuts . It dosnt bad for the low cost

[RAY]

Without, Without a dought !

[Tyler S]

Without. The overriders were not standard equipment on US delivered cars (DOT regulation) until 280sl's starting in 1968.  My late (aug 67) 250sl does not have them even though it is post vin 2979 (250sl) of the major DOT mandate changes like matte chrome, soft door pockets etc..

[mclewis]

Without.  My original early US 280SL (000870) does not have the overriders.

[Pawel66]

Kris, does this answer your question? 

[Iconic]

OK, I'll say it. With ! I like Pagodas with the bumper overriders. There, that was difficult to say.
Which way does it look better to you?
When I was growing up (in the US), what I saw was Pagodas and other Mercedes with the overriders.
To me it just looks more "correct" to have them on. Additionally since I am very concerned about originality, I would never take them off my car because that is how it came from the factory.
There is no right answer.
To each his own.
If you are going to use the argument that, that is the way Paul B. designed it ... then maybe we should put a pull handle on the driver's door, leave the rockers body colored, put an extra body panel below the radiator in front, don't paint black (with a paint brush !!!) behind the grill. Make recreations of what Paul B. originally penned .... don't restore a car produced by a company and delivered around the world ..... there I'm done. 

[Pawel66]

You've ruined the party..
 

[thelews]

Iconic is wrong. 
Without
And lose the side markers too.

[mbzse]

Without. The overriders were not standard equipment on US delivered cars (DOT regulation) until very late 250sl's and all 280sl's starting in 1968..../...

My original early US 280SL (000870) does not have the overriders

This is interesting. The factory picture (in Germany) shows US version 280SL w/o bumper overriders. Were the overriders fitted in the US by MBNA (upon arrival at distribution center?)

[neelyrc]

With! I’m with Iconic for exactly the same reasons. 

I will add that I think the European version without the overriders is beautiful.  Half of each year I spend in Italy. I am not actively looking for another vehicle there but if by chance I am fortunate enough to find and purchase a European version there at some point, I will treat it exactly the same. That is, maintain it exactly as delivered from the factory. (My 280SL -007749- was delivered from the factory with the overriders)

[Iconic]

Iconic is wrong. 

John, thank you for at least putting the wink after you said I was wrong. 
Ralph, I think we agree on many things !! 
Hans, are you trying to tell me the overriders did not come from the factory?  Well then, I know the installation holes in the bumpers came from the factory .... So I will keep my holes, but they would not look good empty, .... so I like like they have overriders installed in the holes.   +
This is probably too much information for the OP, ksalzar.

[thelews]

For U.S. safety reasons the bumpers on the 107 SL after 1973 were extended front and rear to look like buffet counters.  All US versions had them.  Butt ugly.  Using the "it's the way I always knew it logic" you would "like/prefer" the lunch counter bumpers on the post '73 107.  I presume few do, or at least, better than the '72-73 version as originally designed (and Euro version throughout production).

Thus, I opt for the purity of design as MB envisioned and executed without the safety modifications mandated by the US for import.

But, that's me, and to each his own.

[Tyler S]

Hans, I had my dates mixed up. Edited my post above. Was thinking off.
Judging by the "AC" headlight doors and side reflectors in the photo it appears to be either a late 250sl or early 280sl

[Cees Klumper]

Here's a typical case of mutual benefit: those with good taste do without the overriders and sell them for good money to those without good taste! Easy peasy 

[114015]

The bumper guards/overriders (code 44/0) were added as a standard later throughout the built year 1968.
I currently don't know the exact serial number ...;
will look this up ASAP.

Best,

Achim

[ejboyd5]

You'll never have another chance to remove them, act now or forever hold your peace.

[Jordan]

Kris, I am with the "without" crowd.  Have them seal up the holes before rechroming and see how you like it.  You can always redrill the holes if you want to add the over riders back at some later date.

[TheEngineer]

May  remind you guys that these cars were made for driving and enjoyment to look at. It is important to have the car in good condition. It is not important to have shiny injector lines or a debate about having or not having overriders. If the car came with overriders - keep it that way. You may also find that the overriders have left marks on the bumper. The bumpers are not that thick and may have deformed locally.

[ksalzer]

Thank you all for your opinions - it seems the "without" crowd is in the lead. I have to agree; without the overriders it's just so much more pure in terms of design, with that strong horizontal across the front and back.

I always find it fascinating digging deeper into the recesses of my car... it's kind of like an archeological expedition, getting closer to the guys who built it half a century ago. After removing the bumpers and overriders this weekend, I discovered something interesting: the holes for the overriders were not round, as in, they were cut without using a drill. How, I'm not sure, maybe with some kind of nipping tool. At one point I was thinking that I could rechrome the bumpers and leave the holes, in case I changed my mind about the overriders. Now that I've seen the (really ugly) out-of-round holes I think I'll have them filled in by the plating people. And to one of the posters, yes there was some localized distortion of the metal, probably due to tightening of the bolts holding them on.

Perhaps I'll sell the overriders to help pay for the rechroming. Any idea what they'd fetch?

Anyway, thanks again for all your thoughts!

Kris