I've heard that the front bumper is easy as crap to remove, but I can't seem to get it. What the heck are #10-12 for? I removed all of them, and it seems that I need to pull the bumper out sideways to get over the protrusion of #9. I removed all four of the nuts under the black trim on the front, and pulled, but to no avail. :help

The reason I'm trying to remove it is because my bumper is "lopsided." The passenger side is too far back, so it almost rubs the wheel. I tried loosening the bumper shock, because there is some room behind the bolts for it to slide forward, but I couldn't get it to go. Hope that makes sense.

Help with any of this is appreciated, Thanks!

Well, regarding your lopsided bumper, are your bumper shocks the same length? It's very likely they're not due to tap in a parking lot that you'd never notice. The parts you're asking about hold #8 to the side of the car, it's all there basically for the bumper to slide into and keep the sides from wobbling when going down the road.

So far as pulling the bumper goes, just take the black plastic trim on the bumper off with a small flatheaded screwdriver. Behind each side there's two 17mm nuts. Remove them, and the bumper will just pop right off.

So far as pulling the bumper goes, just take the black plastic trim on the bumper off with a small flatheaded screwdriver. Behind each side there's two 17mm nuts. Remove them, and the bumper will just pop right off.


Yep, the nuts are #16 in the pic.

hmm, removed those four nuts but the bumper seems to be stuck, and that the sides need to come "out" to clear a plastic piece in order for the whole thing to come off. I pulled and pulled, but it only moved maybe 1/8". so confused, and I don't feel like messing with it anymore today.

Dude, you DID remove the side market lights right?

Dude, you DID remove the side market lights right?

Of course, I'm not that big of an idiot! I'm not sure you can get the trim off without taking them out.

Then just grab the bumper and yank. Think of it as a big back seat attached to the front of your car.

Think of it as a big back seat...

Wisdom applicable to just about anything E34 related :shifty

Wisdom applicable to just about anything E34 related :shifty

haha that belongs in this thread for sure: :lol

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=721796

Then just grab the bumper and yank. Think of it as a big back seat attached to the front of your car.

HA! :lol

Alright, I'll try it your way. It sure seems like the things on the side need to come off, though, but I guess I'll understand it all better when it's off.

You did remove #10 - 12 by inserting a svrewdriver and turning to unlock the plastic plug, right? Once that filler plug is out the bumper then should pull right off.

Just a question... those side marker lights in your US bumpers... are they actually lights, or just bicycle style reflectors?

Just a question... those side marker lights in your US bumpers... are they actually lights, or just bicycle style reflectors?

I thought they were reflectors... until one got broken off, then I just realized that all of mine had burnt out :stickoutt So there are bulbs in there.

Just a question... those side marker lights in your US bumpers... are they actually lights, or just bicycle style reflectors?

mine used to be lights, but I pulled the connectors to use them on my city lights. I will soon not have any reflectors because I'll be swapping to the Euro trim.

You did remove #10 - 12 by inserting a svrewdriver and turning to unlock the plastic plug, right? Once that filler plug is out the bumper then should pull right off.

Yeah, but it seems like the bumper still needs to be pulled out and over something to come off. I'm gonna get my friend to help me this weekend. He's a body expert, so hopefully between the two of us we can figure out this stupidly easy task :rolleyes

Sometimes the inner fender wells can hold onto the bumper a little, however like other have said if you just pull forward it will come right off.

believe me, i was stumped like you


just yank like a mofo....

believe me, i was stumped like you


just yank like a mofo....

awesome. I think i'll hook up a ratchet strap between the bumper and the jeep. I'm pretty lazy :D

awesome. I think i'll hook up a ratchet strap between the bumper and the jeep. I'm pretty lazy :D


Dear god, please let him film this. That is all, thanks!

Dear god, please let him film this. That is all, thanks!

HA! I guess I didn't explain this very well...

I'm planning on using the jeep just as an anchor point, and gently tightening the ratchet straps to pull the bumper off. I won't be yankin' it off and dragging it along... but that image in my head is hilarious. I could see myself doing something stupid like that.

You really shouldnt have to do that. However they can get kind of "wedged" on if not coming off straght. Just pull from by the wheel wells on one side and then the other and it should slide off pretty easily.

Rachet strap dosent sound like too good of idea unless you make sure you are on the bumper reinforcement, but from what I remember there isnt a real good place to hook. Otherwise you will end up ripping off or cracking a part of the bumper, causing more repairs.

You really shouldnt have to do that. However they can get kind of "wedged" on if not coming off straght. Just pull from by the wheel wells on one side and then the other and it should slide off pretty easily.

Rachet strap dosent sound like too good of idea unless you make sure you are on the bumper reinforcement, but from what I remember there isnt a real good place to hook. Otherwise you will end up ripping off or cracking a part of the bumper, causing more repairs.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have my buddy work one side while I work the other, and hopefully we can slide it off.

mine used to be lights, but I pulled the connectors to use them on my city lights. I will soon not have any reflectors because I'll be swapping to the Euro trim.

City Lights... Are these what I'd refer to as parking lights?
The little lights at the top of your low beams?

Yeah, I think that's what he's referring to.

Yeah, I think that's what he's referring to.

So when you all say "parking lights" are you referring to when the indicators come on solidly?

awesome. I think i'll hook up a ratchet strap between the bumper and the jeep. I'm pretty lazy :D

:eatpop:

So when you all say "parking lights" are you referring to when the indicators come on solidly?

The black plastic bumper trim has a light at each corner on US cars, yellow in front, red in rear, and they have prismatic lenses. I honestly can't recall if they flash when you turn, but they stay solid when the headlights are on.

So I figured it out, and it was pretty easy when it's all said and done. The reason I was having problems was because when the car was repainted they apparently got a lot of overspray on the slides, and they were stuck. I pulled the bumper over those, and then saw the error in my ways. Got them cleaned up so they slide nicely, and fixed the bumper twist. :) Turns out it was a partially used bumper shock, so I picked up a new one at a local junkyard and installed it. Pretty easy overall.

Oh, and I didn't hook up the jeep and yank. Sorry to all of those that wanted to see carnage.

nice man, just takes some patients.

nice man, just takes some patients.

You mean patience? Or like a bunch of nutjubs being chased by dudes in white outfits carrying butterfly nets?