[Sanidhya mukund]

Note: Starting a new thread because the existing discussion about this seems to be mostly centred around front bull bars.

Hello all!

I would really appreciate some help regarding this.
I have a 2014 Mercedes C-Class (W204). There is a very peculiar problem I am facing. The parking space at my place of residence is not an issue, but in my hometown, there is a parking spot that was constructed keeping in mind the size of our Tata Estate. Since the Merc is a full 100 mm, longer, it just about manages to fit in. The rear bumper nearly touches the wall behind it and the front bumper literally touches the gate:



While parking, one has to strike an optimum balance between accelerating and braking, and not everyone can manage to do that. As a result, the rear end has been hitting the wall a couple of times. Even my Tata Estate used to carry a big dent in the back due to this. I don’t want my Merc to end up with a scratched and dented rear bumper, so I am contemplating installing a rear bull bar to protect it, despite the fact that the bull bar will have a significant impact on the aesthetics.




My questions are:

1. Will a bull bar be of any help in protecting the rear end? It is almost inevitable that the car will hit the wall while parking.

2. Is is even possible to fit a bull bar on this car? Will it block the exhaust? Will it involve drilling holes into the monocoque or the bumper?

Attaching a few pictures of the rear bumper:

[speedmiester]

Definitely no. The bull bar will look ugly on the Mercedes.
Why don't use parking bump stops so that you can park with mm precision. These will be cheaper and definitely will not be an eye sore like the bull bar.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by Sanidhya mukund

. The rear bumper nearly touches the wall behind it and the front bumper literally touches the gate

You have a neat car, get your gate changed to one which you can extend when in use. This is possible if you have a driveway, even smaller will do. I will try to send you some pictures of the setup we have.

[KA18]

Bull bars definitely are not for a car like the Mercedes.

Why don't you speak with a guy who fabricates gates and consider if you can get the gates extended to protrude a few inches more?

[androdev]

No way. You can't be serious I can think of many simple solutions.

1. Put a soft foam on the back wall
2. Fix chokes/blocks on the floor to prevent car from backing up beyond the last inch.
3. Shift the front gate by few inches, chip out few inches out of back wall

And so on..

[irdevanand]

Fix the chappal. Not the foot :-) No bull bar necessary on such a nice car. A big thermocoal + expandable gate modification would do the needful. Please watch this youtube to get an idea. Just a random video but it will give an idea on what we are trying to say.

https://youtu.be/OMWyZ3qVO84

[RedTerrano]

As per this article, bull bars are illegal

Under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicle Act, bull bars are deemed illegal. Using similar crash guards will attract penalties under Section 190 and Section 191 of the Motor Vehicle Act. A circular was issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2017.

https://www.motorbeam.com/bull-bars-...it-everywhere/

Originally Posted by androdev

1. Put a soft foam on the back wall
2. Fix chokes/blocks on the floor to prevent car from backing up beyond the last inch.
3. Shift the front gate by few inches, chip out few inches out of back wall

And so on..

Some excellent ideas here. I was thinking on similar lines. Rubber strips from old tires, on the wall/gate.

[gkveda]

If you install a bull bar, it would increase the length by another 6 inches minimum. So, it would not be possible to close the door at all.

Suggest you to extend the gate by another 1 feet by adding an extender frame. Fixing bull bar may not be workable solution in your case where parking stock car itself is touching the wall and gate

[condor]

Go ahead & put the bull bar if you want an entry into our Weird and Whacky Modifications thread !


Jokes apart, you will kill the looks of the car.

LIke others have suggested, a rubber pad fixed to the all and gate / modify the gate to make space where the car can touch the gate. (Its ok if the gate looks ugly - unless it is a vintage/heritage gate).

[ajmat]

Consider these solutions as used in New York



Strap it inside the boot and drop it out when you park. Some varieties are here
https://www.bumperbadger.com
https://www.bumperblocker.com

[landcruiser123]

If your bull bar takes any impact, it'll bend the chassis or the sheet metal part (maybe trunk floor) it is attached to.

Solutions I can think of:
1. Cheapest - suspended tennis ball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGdkI59e960

2. Wheel chocks - either supported with a wooden plank or drilled into the ground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CldRUSxSPQY

3. Extend the gate as suggested by others

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

As per this article, bull bars are illegal

Who gives a damn? MPs and local Politicians are the first ones to break rules.

[Spinnerr]

Posting the details of a whole thread discussing similar problem and its solutions

Link (Parking bump stoppers, wheel chocks & pillar/corner guards)

[clevermax]

Please do not fit a bull bar on a Mercedes. It will be looking completely weird if you do that on such a car.
Modify the parking space accordingly.

[Vid6639]

Options are simple.

1. Put a rubber sheet on wall.
2. Apply ppf on Mercedes front and rear bumpers
3. Wrap the vertical slats of gate with rubber cycle tube or a foam.

Don’t spoil Mercedes looks with ungainly ugly as hell bull bar. It’s not the cars fault to put that monstrosity on it.

[Vinod_nair]

Buy a full sheet of foam and paste half of it on the wall, and tie the other half, cut into 2 pieces, on the gate, it's very effective, I've done it for both my cars.

Once they get soiled and dirty (the one on the gate will after monsoon) chuck them and paste new ones.