E46 Coupe - removing rear bumper - tips?

[oktapod]

I have a spot of rust under the strip which runs immediately below the tailgate of my 330Ci. It's not terrible but I'd like to get it sorted out, and my local bodyshop will do it. However, to do it properly will require the removal of the rear bumper, and I'm not sure how this would be done. My plan would be to find out what needs to be done so that I can get any replacement clips/etc. ahead of time. Also, it has parking sensors and they work fine right now but I'm concerned that the wiring loom behind might be fragile (no reason to suspect so, just cautious) so any pics/tips of how that wires up would be useful too.

The bodyshop reckons an hour to remove the bumper and one to re-fit it, plus perhaps an hour's labour in total for the rust removal, treat, prime, base and clear-coat (though not all at once) making roughly three hours plus cost of paint. Having done a few favours for the owner recently I'm hoping I can get a good price but nonetheless an hour to remove a rear spoiler seems quite a lot and I wanted to double check on that.

Thanks,

John

[oktapod]

Anyone?

[sjj84]

Have you got the bmw workshop manual, I'd imagine it would be on there, however haven't checked.

[paoloh]

A good bodyshop will get that bumper of in 15 minutes.

Have you thought about a paint warranty claim?

[oktapod]

Car too old (51 plate) and I just know that it wouldn't get anywhere...

[bimmer_87]

might be a common one, noticed some bubbling in the same spot

[Haslam01]

very easy job to remove rear bumper. wont need any new parts.wireing will be fine unless someone been in before! sensor wires sometimes bit hard to clip back in if old and dirty but just need some wd40. the bodyshop will put down an hours labour as they have to make their living somehow. certainly should be lot more than an hours to prep and paint though