Front Bumper Bolts

[prb44t]

I am hoping someone can give me some specs on the front bumper bolts on my E30. I need to get to the wiring of the turn signal, and haven't been able to remove the front bumper bolts via a breaker bar or air wrench mostly because the head was already stripped.

I am now in the process of drilling out the bolts and on one I'm almost 2.5" from the crown of the bolt in. Can anyone tell me the length of the bolt and thickness of the shaft?

[FredK]

Yikes dude. The bolt is M12x100. 12mm shaft, 100 mm length (around 4"). Good luck, and hopefully you can get the bumper off tonight!

[prb44t]

Thanks. I am about 3" in with a 5/16ths bit. That leaves a 1/8" ring which means I should be able to reuse the threads.

What a pain. Still not sure how I am going to break the bolt once I drill through. Ideas?

[FredK]

A #5 bolt extractor should work.

Something like this

http://www.tooldepot247.com/proddetail.asp?prod=53405

Bolt extractors are commonly available at auto parts stores and usually places like Lowes and Home Depot.

Now, bolt extractors have their own problems. They are made out of very hard, very brittle steel. If you torque them too much, they will snap, leaving a virtually undrillable piece of metal inside a bolt, unless you resort to using an even harder, more brittle, expensive drill bit. :mrgreen:

You should liberally spray on a quality penetrant like Kroil, CRC Freeze Off, or PB Blaster and let it soak in for a long time. Hit the bolt with a hammer to speed penetration. If you drilled the center of the bolt and there's still some of the head of the bolt left, use a chisel to knock it counterclockwise.

Now, you've done as much as you can. Insert the bolt extractor, and turn until it starts biting into the bolt. When you feel it loading up, pray to the automotive gods that it breaks the bolt free and doesn't snap in the process.

[Mastrcruse]

The bumper should come off with the bolts UNDER the bumper. If its the same problem I was having, I was trying to get the front bolts off.

Not trying to sound like a smartass but I had the same problem, you are trying to get the right bolts out right? Not the front bolts, the underneath bolts will take the bumper off.

[emi325i]

Cut the plastic on top, drill through the top of the bolt, then replace or fix bumper cover.

[prb44t]

I am drilling the bolts that hold the bumper on (from the bottom). I'd rather not cut through the top and create more work for myself. It's already way more work than it should be to fix the wiring on a turn signal...

I am going to drill through the shaft entirely and then try and dremel the crown of the bolt. I figure if I can get that split it may release tension and allow the bolt extractor to work without breaking. If it does I'm in trouble as a Cobalt bit is having a hard enough time getting through it now.

[profbooty]

did you get the bolts off?

one of mine is loose but spins in place, the other one hasnt moved yet and is starting to get rounded off on the inside.

[prb44t]

I just used the screw extractor on one of the screws and snapped the top half of the bolt off. I need to do the other side now. I assume if I break that side too, the bumper should still come off and then I can drillout the holes a bit easier.

[brokenbimmer533]

Did you unbolt the bolts that connect the bumper shock to the frame rail?
2 bolts on each shock so 4 total. Very easy. Some WD-40 if they are rusty like mine were.

might want to get a set of these for the future.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952166000P?vName=Tools&cName=Hand+Tools%2C+General+Purpose&sName=Bolt-Out%2C+Taps+%26+Dies

I like these a little better than the above. I have those too, but I always seems to break those like he said.

Used my set a few times. Works good.
Some of my bolts were so rusty though they just snap. That works as well though, I guess. lol

[prb44t]

Wish I would've known about the frame rail bolts sooner, that would've been a lot easier.

After I get this last bolt off (or it snaps) how does the bumper actually come off? Do I pull forward, or up? With the first bolt head snapped off there doesn't seem to be any give/flex yet, so wasn't sure how it will come off.

[lordofthewaters]

Pull forward.

[prb44t]

maybe I'm missing something but was just looking and there is no way I can get access to the bumper shock where it attaches to the frame rail. Are you thinking single piece chrome bumpers?

[lordofthewaters]

Works the same for plastics and aluminium. Whether you're pulling the big bumper bolts or at the shock, it still needs to pull out not up. If I remember (it's been a while since I've had a bumper off) the threads are located in the upper part of the bumper bracket, so drilling may not help you at all.

[brokenbimmer533]

Bumpers that I have pulled have been diving boards.
See the frame rails on either side of the radiator and fan. The two bigger holes on either side are where the bumper shock slide into. The two smaller holes next to the big one are where the bolts are.
Unbolt those and you might need to unscrew various bumper trim shit to get it to come out.
After all clear and free pull straight out. Might take some muscle depending on if there is rust between the shocks and frame rails.


I had to put my feet on the radiator support and pull back. But that little lip on the frame rail was bent around the base of the shock.