Cooper

Hello. Could anyone halp me out and tell me how easy or otherwise it is to remove the rear right bumper from my C4, the part that wraps around the corner. I know thee are some bolts in view, but am worried it is more tricky than that.
Help appreciated. <img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" />

Jeff Curtis

Actually, it's not too bad...but you do have to remove the WHOLE bumper, because of access to the bolts that hold the corners to the center section.

Start by removing the three bolts (on each side) that sandwich the bumper corners w/rubber strip to the quarter panels.

Remove the covers to your license plate lights and push the rubber gaskets through...go underneath car and attempt to tug on wire to pull the rubber gaskets out from underneath the heat shielding.

If I remember correctly, there is an easier way to do this, I believe there is a quick-disconnect for the license plate lights??

OH!! ...forgot to mention that removing your exhaust makes this MUCH easier!

Once you have the license plate wiring harness out of the bumper assembly and the corners detached from the quarter panels...remove the two LARGE allen bolts that actually hold the aluminum bumper reinforcement to the bumper shocks/body.

Lower the entire bumper assembly onto an old used blanket/comforter, etc.

Drill out the rivets holding the aluminum bumper reinforcement to the center section and remove the phillips head screws that secure the lower part of the mid-section to the aluminum reinforcement.

OOPS again!! <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" />

You MAY want to remove the heat shielding once you have the whole assembly OFF the car. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Once you drill out the rivets and remove the screws, you will at that point be able to separate the aluminum reinforcement from the three plastic bumper sections...therefor revealing WHY you had to take all that stuff apart to get to the bolts that hold the bumper corners to the mid/center section.

It's kind of a BI***...but you'll have another "notch" in your belt and be able to share your WONDERFUL experience with family and friends. <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Cooper

Thanks for the prompt and extremely thorough reply. More to it than expected, but given a sunny day, I might just have a dabble. Cheers mate! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

robmug

Jeff, this may be self explanatory when the bumper is off...do the rivets holding the aluminum bumper reinforcement to the center section need to be replaced when refitting the bumper?

Jeff Curtis

Cooper...no problem, just went through it...quite fun STRIPPING my entire car. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Rob - YES, I have to send the rear bumper back in for a respray because one of the corners was painted with a different "batch" than the rest of the bumper when I had the car painted this Winter and it's a bit "brighter" white than the rest...so I considered not using the rivets while I had it back together because I knew it was going back.

Truth is, the rivets do a lot for supporting the assembly and holding it's alignment with the reflector/taillight assembly.

A rivet gun is only about $15 here in the states and the rivet is a COMMON size, nothing special.

robmug

Thanks Jeff; Is there anything you haven't taken off your car?!