Bumper removal

[orkboss]

It looks like I need to remove my front bumper to get to the clips for the plate that covers the fog light space. I am putting a set of fogs on my E30 316i but first I need to remove the blanking plate and place some plastic inserts for the self tappers that hold the fog lights in place. How is the front bumper removed? I see two huge torque bolts underneath are these what I have to undo.

[Widge]

T55 torx undo them then ease the bumper off stopping halfway through to un do the indicator wires.

[orkboss]

Oh great like I have a t55 torx head in my collection of tools.

[Treeman612]

Just bought one from a tool shop - Ԛ£3.95 on a 1/2" drive.
PS don't try and 'bodge' an allen key to fit - those two bolts are f**kin tight!
If you're anywhere near Newbury come and borrow mine!!??

[Widge]

It's worth getting a set they come in for so many things, like 70's Chrysle out boards, or that Bugatt typo 35B I was working on last week!!

[beardymat]

dont these plates just screw from behind the valance in the same places as the fogs mount?if so theres no need to remove the bumper,just get under and undo the screws(4 a side i believe)space might be a little tight though

[orkboss]

dont these plates just screw from behind the valance in the same places as the fogs mount?if so theres no need to remove the bumper,just get under and undo the screws(4 a side i believe)space might be a little tight though

The plates themselves push through the hole, the plate and arms are all one piece so once removed there is a void left and you nee to get the inserts for the screws to fix on to , does this make sense?

[TOURINGDADDY]

no on my front valance all i have to do is remove 4 8mm bolts and they fall out

[orkboss]

the fog lamps are held in by four 8mm not the blanking plate though.

[Simon]

No need at all to remove the bumper to remove/fit fogs, just get under the front of the car, and undo from behind the valence.

[beardymat]

maybe the plates do just clip in(been around 12 years since i worked at a bmw bodyshop) but even so they should be quite easily removed without disturbing the bumper,having said that the bumper itself is dead easily removed by todays standards,funny thing is its still more sturdy than modern eurobox efforts too

[orkboss]

I am sure I could remove the plates without removing he bumper. I would snap them off the plastic is 15/16 years old and would be brittle. Besides which I have an indicator bulb that keeps blowing so I will need to get behind and sort out the earthing problem there. What I will try is to get the bolts removed at work where they have a wide range of tools and replace them with standard hex head bolts.

[orkboss]

I had a look in Halfrauds today for the differnet torx bit. A t55 looks a bit too small, isn't it a t70 torx bit for the bumper?

[Simon]

I had a look in Halfrauds today for the differnet torx bit. A t55 looks a bit too small, isn't it a t70 torx bit for the bumper?

T55 is correct.

[bmwe30mtech]

Yer t55 is rigth, i just done the m tech kit. You shouldnt need the bumper off for doing the fogs! Its best to buy a set of torx heads, because its someting like 6 quid for 1, or 18 quid for 10!

[orkboss]

At last got a t55 torx bit, had to get married first. The bumper does come off so easily. So took the bumper off the donor vehicle, removed indicator unit and remaining fog light clips that I was unable to get to. Took the bumper off my 316, removed blanking plates, pushed in the clips, changed indicator unit, refitted the bumper, then got called in for dinner. Played on computer amiga emulators went to bed up at five, 12 hour shift on pulp clamp back home, had dinner went back to the car, fitted one fog then got nagged at on how long I was going to be as her indoors wanted to go out and get some fags. Tried the nearside fog, found needed adjusting where a tab was alittle bent, probably when the lip spoiler was lost. Decided it may take longer than is worth getting nagged at for put the rest in the boot and went in for the night. I will stick the other fog on in at work. I have the relay and fuses fitted.

[orkboss]

Fitted the near side fog light today and put the lip spoiler on. Front end now looks how it should . Smart. Still got to connect the plugs.

[orkboss]

Finished. Sprayed the connectors which I found behind the headlaps, connected them up and found one not working. After flaffing about I found out that a bulb had blown, so changed it, found it easier to take whole unit out. Eveything now working. Excellent!