Front Bumper removal / front panel replacement

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  • winstontj
    E30 Addict
    • Mar 2007
    • 500
    #1

    Front Bumper removal / front panel replacement

    Looking to replace 41 33 1 925 148, the front panel. I was making a U-turn last night and misjudged my turning radius (an e30 has a wider radius than a 2002 BTW) and tagged a curb with the lip of the front panel. It's bent and totally repairable but the PO tore off the little black lip (spoiler/apron) and has hit all kinds of things and hammered this back into place a number of times.

    How hard is it to remove the front (euro) plastic bumper and this front panel section? Will I need to remove the fenders too? Also if anyone has done this could you tell me if you can access the AC system any better with this off? I noticed that there is no AC belt attached and the pulley looks rusted. I'm assuming that the AC doesnt' work.

    Can this front panel replacement be done in a day and easily?

    Thanks for any responses.
    Tags: None
    • FredK
      R3V OG
      • Oct 2003
      • 14747
      #2
      Euro? The plastic bumper is stock on 89+ models.

      Anyway the bumper is held on by 2 large bolts, either hex or Torx T-55. After removing the bolts, you just slide the bumper out, being careful not to tug on the turnsignal wires too hard.

      The valance / front panel can be removed without removing the fenders. You just have to unscrew two screws that attach the valance to the fenders, and there are a handful of other screws that fasten the valance to the radiator support (IIRC).

      It's very straightforward and it can definitely be done in a day. It can probably be done in an hour or two assuming you don't run into any snags. Sometimes those bumper bolts don't want to come out though.

        Comment

        • winstontj
          E30 Addict
          • Mar 2007
          • 500
          #3
          I say euro because the car was initially an automatic i car and the PO bought a badly rusted out grey market euro 323i and put all the bits in the car I bought. My car has rear headrests, the bumpers, decklid, etc. are all off the 323i. I know very little about these cars in terms of styling changes and differences so it could be just as a normal IS. I only said euro incase there were subtle differences that I'm not aware of.

          I'll get all the fasteners & bits from the dealer/BavAuto and post up a WTB on the for sale. Maybe I'll get lucky and someone will have a really clean Bronzit front clip I can pick up cheap.

          Thanks!

            Comment

            • M42Technik
              R3V OG
              • Dec 2003
              • 9781
              #4
              Anywhere I can find a more thorough writeup? I have to do this and don't want to take all day doing it...

              ...although I might end up having the shop who's repainting it do it...
              Reminiscing...

                Comment

                • winstontj
                  E30 Addict
                  • Mar 2007
                  • 500
                  #5
                  Too bad you aren't closer to Boston!

                  I'm going to go to a junkyard and try to find an e30 that's not cracked up in the front end. You guys will probably hate me for saying this but I'm going to practice on a car in there just incase I do something wrong.

                  I'm mostly concerned with removing the plastic bumper correctly without breaking anything. Once the bumper is off I have a feeling that the rest will be very easy and straightforward. It's more about being patient and making sure you don't just try and tear things off than needing a full writeup.

                  If you can adjust valves you can probably do this no problem - i'll let you know :-)

                    Comment

                    • winstontj
                      E30 Addict
                      • Mar 2007
                      • 500
                      #6
                      I'm about to place my order. Could someone let me know if I'll need any other little consumables (like little plastic clips, etc.) that I'm going to break when I take this off? I'm OK with re-using metal fasteners but I'd rather replace all the plastic clips.

                        Comment

                        • M42Technik
                          R3V OG
                          • Dec 2003
                          • 9781
                          #7
                          Originally posted by winstontj
                          I'm about to place my order. Could someone let me know if I'll need any other little consumables (like little plastic clips, etc.) that I'm going to break when I take this off? I'm OK with re-using metal fasteners but I'd rather replace all the plastic clips.
                          Real OEM is your friend:

                          www.realoem.com

                          That should give you the part numbers you need for fasteners. Get yourself some trim for it too, It'll look much better. Euro trim removes the sidemarkers, but if you want to keep them go US ones.
                          Reminiscing...

                            Comment

                            • winstontj
                              E30 Addict
                              • Mar 2007
                              • 500
                              #8
                              what do you mean? This is why I say "euro" a lot about my car. The PO probably already did some of that because it looks exactly like a 323i inside and out (except for my dumbass driving into a curb and tearing up the front end)

                              I meant little bits under the bumper, etc. I grabbed the clips and a set of everything I can see from realoem but I'm sure there's more I'm missing

                                Comment

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