How do you remove the bumpers?

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Wed May 19, 2004 11:20 am

I have decided to send my bumpers to a local bodyshop for colour coding, and since my car isn't insured, and I cant drive, I cant take the whole car.

I have so far only identified 2 screws on the front bumper that screw into a beam running across the front of the car. I dont have a clue how to unhook the bumpers from the brackets.

Any help here greatly appreciated.

Karl

Gilex · Post by **Gilex** » Wed May 19, 2004 11:29 am

There are three more screws that you'll have to remove.

First remove your frontgrill(or what ever it is called) and there you will see them. After removing them you can easily slide the front bumper off

Rear bumper is basicly the same way, three screws on top and two on the down side.

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Wed May 19, 2004 11:32 am

Gilex wrote:Rear bumper is basicly the same way, three screws on top and two on the down side.

Are the screws I'm looking for viewable with the tailgate open? and where abouts would the other two on the bottom be?

Thanks for your help

Karl

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Wed May 19, 2004 11:32 am

rear.

open the boot, and ping the 4(?) clip covers off. There are bolts (or big screws cant remember) under them.

There are 5(?) 8 or 10mm bolts under the bumper too. The bumper will then pull backwards out of the side brakets.

front.

You have to remove the grill and there are nuts behind it. There are two more at the top of the air vent too (behind the number plate). The inner arches also have two grommets that you have to get out. I found a flat head screwdiver did the trick, although i'm having trouble getting them back in again... :tard:

Putting the front bumper back on is definately a 2 person job as you have to squeeze the sides in, and mess about with the middle of the bumper to get it all to line up.

Saying this, 15 minutes and you'll have both bumpers off, 25 minutes will have them both back on.

Out of interest, how much have you been quoted to get your bumpers smoothed and painted??

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Wed May 19, 2004 11:36 am

Local place here quoted Â£120 for the pair.

Thanks for your help. I can see a new grille on the horizon knowing my ham fisted self lol.

Karl.

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Wed May 19, 2004 11:43 am

The front grill shuld come off with nothing more than your fingers... but if it all goes t**s up, I have my old one that I'm sure we can come to an agreement on.

Â£120 is damn cheap.

Mine cost 100 each +VAT, and they were already smoothed and primered from VAG.

I hope yours turn out OK...

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Wed May 19, 2004 12:12 pm

It's now Â£100 each. One place quoted me 500 quid the pair. Its the smoothing that the bodyshops dont like.

Karl.

86C · Post by **86C** » Wed May 19, 2004 5:35 pm

Yeh, the plastic that VW use on these is a real arse to sand smooth. It took me an hour to do each of the small rear arch spats(next to the rear bumper) on my old Genesis. Then you gotta prime and rub down in the usual manner. It's a pig of a job to do properly

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Thu May 20, 2004 5:57 pm

They're pretty easy to get off, but putting them back on is liable to drive you mad unless you have at least 2 (two) people to help you...
Was my experience with the foglight fitting anyhow. Removal lulls you into false security.

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Fri May 21, 2004 9:56 am

They were a bit too easy to come off, once I had located all the screws with Gilex and dub_envy's help.

They are now either being primed etc as I write this, or are propped up against a wall in the bodyshop (probably the latter). I have to wait just short of 2 weeks now, before I can collect em (cash flow lol).

I am thinking though, before I put them on whether of not to add a mesh grill to the front bumper covering the vent. They can't be too hard to do, just some holes drilled for screws to go into, thats all I think.

In the mean time, heres some pics of my car without the bumpers.

Karl

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Fri May 21, 2004 3:28 pm

Are you getting the whole lot done? Or leaving the top bit black? Imo I prefer them with the top black as it breaks up the colour better... I still look at older pics of mine (like my sig) and miss my all black bumpers.

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Fri May 21, 2004 3:34 pm

I am going for the black strip at the top, I prefer them that way, as it will tie in better with the black rubbing strips and the grill.

envy: Didn't you do a guide on meshing the vent on the bumper? I can remember seeing some pics just after u got ur bumpers done.

Karl

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Fri May 21, 2004 4:22 pm

I meshed mine the way that Doug told me he did his!!

A feww little screws throught the back and weyhey!!