Rear bumper removal

[tomson]

Ok, i know there are two torx/star bolts but they wont budge!
Anyone had this problem before and can give me any tips they would be much appreciated!!

Cheers

[orangecurry]

spray WD-40 or equiv into the bolt threads the day before you have a go (I bet you've done this already)

[Chris-W]

They're failry binary - they undo ok or they snap!

Worst way you can remove the actual brackets from the bodyshell - three x 13mm bolts inside the boot and behind the rear valance.

[Theo]

Ahh, same situation as I was in a week ago... and you've got the mtech bumper on, making it harder to access, and impossible to use heat? I ended up removing the bracket as Chris said, but I was lucky as one of the nuts (the really inaccessable one) was not there!

Try using an impact driver, lots of freeing oil, a big drift with a big hammer - basically give it some shit to try and loosen it.

[tomson]

thanks guys, yes its the tech II bumper so even harder!

Ive tried wd40 but you cant really spray it on the threads as you cant see them!

I think the heads will round before they snap!

I will try finding the bracket youve mentioned and see if this works tomorrow.

Have tried "shock" treatment allready with no success, ive got a scaffold pole now to put over the ratchet but as i said i think the heads will strip! I do have an impact driver so will give this a go tomorrow too, only i dont want to damage the paint!

[Brianmoooore]

It's not the head of the bolt that strips (unless you use a crap torx socket), it's the captive nut that the bolt is screwed into that breaks free.

[A1BMW325iSport]

yeah crap torx bit is no good, i got a halfords professional torx bit set, they have shifted this bolt 90% of the time,
couple of times had to resort to Chris' method of bracket removal

[tomson]

I have a draper professional torx set so there is no problem with that!

[tomson]

Sorted, thanks guys.

One of the torx bolts the head snapped off with the scaffold tube so i had to undo the 4x 13mm nuts on the brackets, what a biatch! The one in the boot was obviously fine but the other 3, underneath, were rusted solid. even with lots of wd40 and wire brush action they started turning "inside" the bumper. A struggle with a set of grips and 45mins later it was off! Also was easier for access when i removed the back box of the exhaust and the heat shield.

Cheers

Tom

[A1BMW325iSport]

sweet nice one,

new brackets 6nuts and 2 long torx bolts dont cost much from bmw as i bought them not long back

if you need part numbers and exact prices let me know and i'll check on my receipts

[Brianmoooore]

And put copper grease on them, this time!!

[Richy325iTouring]

i bent my halfords torx bit
ended up ramming an allan bit into the rears and drilling the fronts off and that was a right twat

[tomson]

A1, thanks dude but i got part no's from the etk.

Brian, i didnt take it off before but as you say copper greece all the way before re-fitment!!

Richy, i dont plan on doing this anytime soon but ive had worse jobs!!

Cheers

Tom