p38 rear bumper removal

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swwrob

New Member
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131
evening all, i know how the rear bumper is removed but the 2 main bolts have rounded and are not budging at all. Can the skin be removed while its attached to the car?
 
The bolts have Torx heads, if you used a normal socket I'm not surprised they rounded. If you get the correct Torx socket and whack it on there's a good chance they will undo. The skin is glued on and clipped, bloody difficult to remove.
 
What size Torx did you use? It should be an E16, although if the bolts are rusted it probably feels like a rounded E18

Give a good spray with a decent penetrating spray (i.e. not WD40), and as others say, give an E16 socket a good thump on with a hammer and you should be able to get a grip.
 
I sheared both mine off when I last removed the rear bumper. Once off, the brackets that they screw into can be removed and fairly easy job to then drill them out and retap the holes, so don't fret too much if you sheer yours.
 
looks like that there fate then, im gunna try a set of rounded nut removers, if no joy out comes the drill
 
looks like that there fate then, im gunna try a set of rounded nut removers, if no joy out comes the drill
Old thread I know , same issues with mine, both bolt head profiles totally rusted away and Irwin bolt extractor won't grip either, not even with a good hammering.
 
Old thread I know , same issues with mine, both bolt head profiles totally rusted away and Irwin bolt extractor won't grip either, not even with a good hammering.
Same when I tried to remove mine. Got irwins just for this job and they did nowt. The problem is way too much exposed thread at the other end which corrodes badly.
I you search my thread 'Duchess is in the garage!' I covered bumper removal there, not pretty but it worked. Front bumper bolts are the same to gauge socket size and are usually less rusty. I replaced them all with well copperslipped stainless steel bolts.
They are a pita, can't use heat, can't get in there to weld nuts on or any of the usual tricks.
 
With the front bumper I fitted new brass knurled rivnuts and stainless bolts. Looks like you've done most of the same jobs that i've had to do on mine, new discs, backplates, calipers & hoses, front balljoints, front abs sensors, front cv joints, stainless screws around windscreen trim, cabin filter cover reseal, replace plenum foam with fine stainless mesh, rocker gaskets, ht leads, hevac strip, aircon condensor & dryer etc. By the way, the steelwork behind my rear bumper is totally shot anyway, yours was mint compared to mine. £600 for a new one but at least they are still available to order.
 
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