Taking lower valence off

[MitchFong]

Anyone have a explanation on how to take the lower valence off? Mine is bent and i would like to get it straightened out before i try to install my is lip.
I tried today but i wasnt sure which bolts fastened it on and didnt want to start randomly taking bolts off of the bumper..
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Mitch

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

don't want to hijack, but anyways, same here + how do you take the rear bumper off? the actual cover w/ trim, but let the white piece stay on the car? does it slide off somehow?

[erik325i]

Anyone have a explanation on how to take the lower valence off? Mine is bent and i would like to get it straightened out before i try to install my is lip.
I tried today but i wasnt sure which bolts fastened it on and didnt want to start randomly taking bolts off of the bumper..
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Mitch

You need to first romove the bumper.

Once the bumper is off, you should be able to clearly see most of the bolts that hold the valence on. There are a few along the top, one on each side, and two on the botton, near the brake duct.

It shouldn't be too hard. I just removed one for the first time the other night from a parts car at work. It was dark, and I had to hold my little BMW glovebox flashlight in my mouth while unbolting it.

-Erik

[MitchFong]

How do i take the bumper off? Sorry for the stupid question but i dont want to f*** anything up seeings its winter and there is no rush. IM assuming you take the two bolts off in the front license plate area, is there 2 more besides them on the sides?
And i presume i need to remove the bumper trim first which i do not know how to do also? Im trying to find it in my haines manual but it doesnt seem to show anything about it.
Thanks alot,
Mitch

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

there are these plastic alignment things where the fender meets the bumper.

They each have two screws.

[erik325i]

There are two bolts holding the bumper to the bumper shock.
If you look at the underneath of the bumper, you will see two holes with a bolt in each hole. They will either be a large allen bolt (8 or 10mm), or a torx bolt.
Once you unbolt those two bolts, just slide the bumper forward away from the car. Make sure to unplug the turnsignal before yanking the bumper completely away.

-Erik

[Erick]

The 2 bolts are usually (from experience) a T55 Torx bolt, especially in the later models. You unscrew those from from the bottom of the bumper and slide it out. Before you remove it completely disconnect the turn signals and sidemarkers.

FYI: Most of these bolts are 8mm, if not specified later on in this topic.

Then you start taking off the valence. First, fog lights and brake ducts must go. Disconnect and remove both of them. Where the brake ducts go there are 2 bolts (one on each side) which holds a tab of the valence to the radiator support. Remove those.

Just like those 2 screws, there are 2 that are exactly like it behind the grills, which means the grills have to come out too. Remove those 2 bolts and move on.

Now, on the sides of the valence there are 2 (or 4) sneaky bolts. Usually a Torx (T20 I believe), it bolts the valence to the fender right on the bottom part of the fender closest to the headlights. Sometimes there's 2 bolts, one on each side. Sometimes there's 2 on each side.... one bolted from the top and one from the bottom.

Then you have the 2 bolts by the sides of the fender. This is almost where the fender/valence meets the wheel/tire. One bolt per side. Remove those.

Then comes the bumper aligners. If you look you can obviously tell there's 2 bolts from the inside of the car and that this aligner holds the fender and valence together.... a bit of a pain to get to these but they are 13mm. A u-joint with an extension and you can go from under the valence.

I think after this you should be home free and the valence should slide out. I cannot recall if I'm missing anything, but if this is your first time removing the valence, there will be electrical wires zip-tied to the valence. Those can be easily popped off as you remove the valence.

Good luck
- Erick

[MitchFong]

Thanks guys, much appreciated. Might have to pic up a torx wrench, but thats no big deal. I thinking putting it back together will be the death of me though.
Thanks,
Mitch

[MitchFong]

Slight Problem

Any ideas how i can get the torx bolts out? I got one off, put the passenger side one is literally not going to come off. Cracked a rachet and 2 torx bits in half. Tried rust remover aswell, and left it for an hour. No dice.
I was thinking i could heat it up but that seems impossible with the plastic surrounds.
Anyone have an idea? Just seems like the threads will not move, i think ill crack the botl in half before they become loose.. Shitty deals.

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

maybe try putting the other one back in or something.

maybe it's being pushed tight because the bumper is half-off, sort of like when a screw is mis-threaded.

dunno, good luck

[MitchFong]

could be it, but the screw was just loosened up, not out all the way. And seeings it broke 2 torx bits, a ratchet, and had rust remover on it, i dont think the weight on a slightly hanging bumper would afect it greatly. Could tho, I need to figure out a way to get heat on it.