4-Hours Later Z4 06+ Bumper Unremovable

B

BimmerZealot

Member
Hey guys, so it all started with repainting my blackout grills, all was going well till I tried to install them. My passenger side grill popped all the way in past the opening in the grill. Confused thinking I missed the latches I tried 2 more times. Finally I looked inside and the plastic piece which has the tabs on it was DETACHED from the bumper grill holes (problem found). Not being able to see behind the grill holes to put the pieces back on I decided to attempt the bumper removal. Following the various guides, little did I know it was not possible.

I removed the 4 push pins (dropped in as planned) and removed the expanding rivets. Removed the 7 screws under the bumper and the 7 in the engine bay. Ready to pull off the bumper from the side right? WRONG, it doesn't pull off no matter how hard I try, I think I cracked plastic of the reflector along the way. I read the guides over and over finally realized none of the guides had front reflectors. Attempted removing the square nut holding the reflector for another hour to no avail. Ended up removing the radiator cover and reaching in from in front of the radiator to install my passenger grill and call it a night.

MORE PROBLEMS: The expanding push pins on the 06+ aren't the same as the pre-06 they have a mushroom shaped cap on one side of each pin. Making the "put the rivets in and push the pins in" impossible since the pins can only be inserted from inside the bumper. So totally lost, I ended up just putting in the expanding rivets and popping in the push pins. Holds but now I have nipples in my fender well and no way to push them back through to remove my bumper.

So now, my bumper is misaligned on the passenger side, my expanding rivets are half assed and my grill isn't impermanently fixed.

But being 12:30AM I needed to call it a night and attack it another day.

IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME!!!! PLEASE POST!!!
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I've removed several front ends pre and post face lift and they are all exactly the same. You seem to have the right locations to undo:
Torx bolts along the leading edge of the hood (leave 1 loose fitted so the cover does not fall off
push out the pins in the fender clips and remove the expanding rivets. I think 6 each side
Undo the bolts on the lower edge/ spoiler and don't forget to undo the corner location clips if they are holding it

You make no mention of unclipping the fenfer to cover clamps !! You need to pull the side outwards where the clear reflector and bumper cover meets the fender. You can lever it from inside to release the clamp or just pull it apart. No need whatsoever to remove the reflector it has no part in securing the bumper cover.

The bumper cover will then just pull straight forward of the car

Disconnect fog lights and washers before you move it more than a few inches away

Does this help?
 
Not sure what you mean by "fenfer to cover clamps" but I definitely removed all the necessary clips and bolts. Its the pulling part that doesn't make sense to me, it literally felt like I was flexing and destroying my bumper. I even heard plastic cracking somewhere behind the bumper.

What is the "corner location clip" do you mean the 7 screws under the bumper? If so I removed all of this

I think it may be US Spec vs Euro Spec 06+ Z4?
 
Damn - I typed a detailed response and then it failed to post...

fenfer meant fender - my typo

OK you seem to have everything, but I assume it's the side clamp between the end of the headlight and the wheel, where metal wing/fender meets plastic bumper cover. Its a clamp that I find easiest to place a thumb on the metal wing for support and fingers around the back to presss and pop it off. BMW advocate a lever from the rear but I never understood that one nor needed it.

Rivets. Simply push the pin all the way out so it drops inside the bumper cover. Collect the pins up later. Refitting is push the mushroom rivet in as normal and press the pin back in from the outside.

BTW - I removed a bumper cover yesterday in well under 15 mins and refitted in the same time inc. adjustment. One that had not been off for a long time.

There are no tricks or model variations as all models and years afe fully interchangeable and I doubt anything different UK to US, but if any US board member has different opinion please chip in quick
 
cj10jeeper is 100% correct. I've removed the front bumpers on my '04 3.0i and '06 Z4M many times. They're installed the exact same way.
 
Hi Guys, i am about to remove my front bumper cover next week. i purchased a new and unpainted (except ofr primer) bumper for my 04 Z4 for £70 from fleebay. my reconning was that the labour required to prepare my old stone chipped beyond belief front bumper was going to be more than the £70 it cost me. least wise i will have an undamaged one to sell. might even start a paint and return scheme for other users and colours!!!!

is there a how to on this subject with photos of pictorial information?

it would help given the amount of agro this poor chap has endured.

Dario
 
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