I'm stupid and I drive like a girl - help needed

[sprevett]

In a hurry to get my 350i out the garage I have managed to rip off the front bumper completely by catching the corner on a brick wall....yep, stupid huh?

So..has anyone any advice for re-fitting? it seems that it has three (rather tidgy) bolts holding it on through the fibreglass body - are they easy to get at to replace? or do you have to remove the headlight pods, engine, dashboard and offside rear wheel first?

yours, a big girly driver etc......steve

[KTiM]

oooh, I feel your pain! Bet it made a horrible noise when you did it!

Sorry, can't help re the fittings.

[jvaughan]

also feeling your pain .. I too cannot help, but years ago, i ripped the n/s/ wing mirror off my 400SE when reversing out of my garage ... also ripped the drainpipe off the wall in the same manouver

[wedg1e]

As I recall, there are three bolts (as you say ) - one behind each indicator and one behind the number plate. You normally find that taking the pods out gives better access to the nuts of the outer bolts, but if you're putting new bolts (I bet the old ones are rusted to hell) in you may be able to get a hand through the holes underneath that access the motor manual winding knobs.
The GRP of the bodyshell is probably thicker than that of the bumper so if you're lucky the only damage will be to the bumper. If the edges of the bolt holes are raggy and splintered you'll probably need to lay up some fresh mat and resin to reinforce the area, then redrill the holes and refit to car.

If the holes in the shell have torn then you may well be into removing the pods, hands like a paedophile etc. to get access to repair.

Don't panic, it's easy enough

[rev-erend]

The front bumber should be available from TET mouldings
01253 892342

[gsx600]

I found on the 350 the front bumpers were merely throwaway items, and seem to be a lot lower than the 400 ?
Any way on the first time I damaged mine,
I replaced the 3 bolts with spring masonary fittings (where a bolt passes the hole and then 2 levers open up) along with raw knuckles this then made it easier to take on and off for various AA tows, spins, roundabout mishaps etc Always managed to get the spoiler home but not always in one peice

Mind you now I only hit the undertray on the 400 - which so far has been 3 times on the same corner and yes it is now attached in a similar easy way to remove

[uglymug]

hi steve, I too know what its like, but I did not do too much damage, only a slight chip. Not so much to the car but to the MOT station. Ripped off the roller shutter door frame, was so bad that he had to get a new one. Funny that I took my car to a new tester the next year tho.......... TVR 1 / MOT 0...

ps ...feels good to get one back on the bar stewards

UG.

[tvrleigh]

Just a Quick reminder, when raising the pods with the knob, Remove the relay, or disconnect the battery else they will fly back down again once they reach the top.

[sprevett]

Thanks guys - really useful info and comiserations acknowledged! And at least I'm not the only one to smack a garage wall! I like the masonary fixing idea - that's cool. will give it a go!

[leorest]

I've done it twice now though much more glancing blows. #1 flipped the lens off of the indicator repeater and #2 filed 2mm off of the passenger door mirror pod. Hope you get it sorted OK

[adam quantrill]

gsx600 said:

I replaced the 3 bolts with spring masonry fittings (where a bolt passes the hole and then 2 levers open up)

That's a really good idea, with I had thought of that. While you're at it replace the M4 or M6 bolts with hex-head stainless ones, they will be much easier to remove if necessary. Only one other thing to add - while you have the spoiler off, get some strips of aly and fiberglass and rivet them on the inside of the spoiler. When they are fixed in place, drill the holes for the fasteners and grind off the rivets. The aly strips will spread the load preventing localised stress fractures etc.