removing front bumper on 930

removing front bumper on 930

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Discussion

s,one

Original Poster:

4,587 posts

239 months

Monday 31st January 2005
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How difficult is it to remove the front bumper on a 930. I ask because my local paint shop who are about to sort out some minor bodywork issues have asked me to remove the front bumper prior to dropping the car off to them.

Cheers

Steve

dilbert

7,741 posts

232 months

Monday 31st January 2005
quotequote all
I think you could find that it is deceptively difficult.

You may have a really superb car, but I guess if you're dealing with stone chips that is not the case. I suppose you may have bought a really superb (<2k miles) car and you aim to keep it that way......

The big problem is that many of the fixings that hold the valances and the filler pieces to the wings are just self tapping screws that close the returns on each or the panels. Basically they are like a s**t magnet, and being that they are self tapping screws they are just asking to rot.

As you undo the screws you may find the returns (the folds on the edges of the panels) falling apart. This is a real pain, because these are the bits where you need the strength to be. (That is in fact why they fail, see my previous post on stress concentrations!)

It's pants because you have the majority of a panel, but the bit that the screw goes through is gone! In reality these things don't affect the structure of the car, but they can be unsightly.

The actual panels aren't that expensive, but if you're going for a respray reckon on having to replace them. If you don't end up needing to replace them, buy your girlie a new dress instead.

The biggest fear is that the rot has got into the front wings. This is the point at which you have to ask if you can work some overtime!!!!!!

s,one

Original Poster:

4,587 posts

239 months

Monday 31st January 2005
quotequote all
Yes just basic stone chips etc. Hopefully it wont be to bad, I do know the bumper was off the car just 6 months or so ago. Thanks for the quick response, at least you dont have to remove the chasis or something equally complicated.

Cheers

Steve

rubystone

11,254 posts

260 months

Monday 31st January 2005
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replace all the self tappers etc with new ones if you can - stainless are a good option if you can source them. A mate did this with his SC 10 years ago and the car has passed through several hands since and the last owner removed the bumper with no problems.

ninemeister

1,146 posts

259 months

Tuesday 1st February 2005
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1. Remove the 8mm nuts that hold the back end of the bellows onto the rubber spoiler. Pull the bellows out of the spoiler.
2. Remove the headlights, unplug indicator wires (2 wire grey sheath)
3. Remove the front rubber rubbing strip. One screw either end, peel off plastic backing strip.
4. Undo 13mm hexagon nuts holding bumper onto shock absorbers. Pull bumper forward to gain access, gently feed bellows away from wing.
5. Feed indicator wires through hole in headlight bowl
6. Disconnect headlight washer pipe at tee (this may be the hardest part of the job!) and pull away bumper.
7. Pat yourself on the back.

Once the bumper is of I suggest that you also remove the rubber smile section that simply screws onto the underside of the wings and the front valence to allow your bodyshop to paint under the edge of the wings which is a known rust point. Also take the time out to clean th mud from the bumper mounting brackets on the inner wings, these are notorious for filling up then rotting the inner wing due to the moisture.