E39 rear parking sensors

[pincher]

I have changed the outer sensors in the black rub strips before but it looks like one of the inner (painted) sensors has now given up the ghost - looking around, it seems like it is a complete bumper off job to change it

Has anyone managed to change one without taking the bumper off? Seems a bit of a stupid design if that is the only way?

[Quinten]

From what I can remember when fitting a towbar is that yes, it is a bumper off job as the sensors sit between the crashbar and you cant get to it with your hands.

TIS has good instructions though: http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/01/37/40

[pincher]

That doesn't look too bad

Thanks for the link - very useful

[Fox-]

You can do it without removing the bumper entirely. If you remove the bolts that hold the crashbarthingy on either side of the boot interior, and remove the pop-rivet-thingies from the wheel arch linings you can begin to slide the bumper off its mounting until you can get your hand in the gap and reach the sensors.

[pincher]

Nice one - will try that first