having a hard time with my bumper

[GrimReefer]

i'm in need of a little help here. i just picked up an 86 325ES that hit someone going about 12 MPH and the front end is pushed in. i have already removed the hood, fenders, front valance, and 1 headlight fixture (can't reach 1 srew holding in the other fixture because of a bent frame.) my problem right now is that i can't get the bumper off. i have read that there should be 2 bolts holding it in place, but i can't find them. i see there are a couple of holes on the bottom side of the bumper, but they have nothing attatched or inside them that i can see. what am i missing?

anyone have a link to a walkthrough with pictures or something of that nature? i just picked up a service manual today, and it told me nothing that i didn't already know.

i tried searching and came up empty handed as far as what i'm looking for.

thanks in advance
-Ben

[Mike325]

Do you see the two shocks for the bumper? There are two 13mm bolts that hold it to the frame of the car. I will try to find you some pics.

[Mike325]

Here is a pic of the front shocks. This is a plastic bumpered car, but it is the same.

[GrimReefer]

thanks for the speedy reply! if i look under the bumper, i think i see the edge of the shock mount or what ever it is. i can't see the bolts though. i'm guessing they are just blocked by the bumper. this is how the car sits right now, so you can see what i see. it looks like the shocks would be directly above the tow hooks right?

[JasonC]

Only way to get to those bolts are to 1-cut a hole in the bottom of the bumper where the shocks are. Or 2-drill the shocks and pull the bumper back out that way or 3- hook the bumper to something and pull it out so you can get to the bolts.

[GrimReefer]

i kind of figured you would say that. for the life of me, i couldn't find those bolts. tomorrow i will try forcing the bumper forward a bit, and if that doesn't work, i suppose i'll be buying myself some cutting tools. what would you recommend i get to make the cut?