Bumper kidney inserts

[RenoRaines]

Hi,
just bought an Z4M bumper. I noticed the inner kidney part which is attached to inner side of the bumper is cracked. It still sits in place more or less. I'm curious can you replace that part or is it part of the bumper? Cause it looks like round holders are kinda hot pressed into the plastic tabs.

 

[Bumpy]

My Z4M Bumper had similar damage.

Front View of Damaged Kidney mount


Back view - I reattached what was left of the kidney mount first


And I couldn't discover any rear plastic part that I could use to replace it.
So I did the next best thing and decided to use the materials from the bumper repair kit I bought from an auto parts store and parts from my doner bumper I retriever from the Ford Dealer Dumpster. You can also use epoxy.

Bumper plastic is easily manipulated with a heat gun, so you can modify your repair bits and pieces. Actually the M Bumper had a twist in it and I used the heat gun, with the bumper fangs clamped to a board to persuade the thing back into proper position.

So if you repair what you can, of the kidney frame and use your creativity to modify what you can't repair, you should be OK. I believe there are about 5 'snap' clips on the kidney grill that holds it in place. You can get away with less than 5 repaired. I know I have had no issues since and that's been over a year now.

You can also consider using velcro strips you can locate at any sewing / fabric store.
That was going to be my Plan B but I didn't need it.

Cheers and Best of Luck.
The results are a definite improvement


Bumpy

 

[RenoRaines]

Overall the bumper is in pretty good condition. Looks straight. Probably I could get away only with polishing. I have a slight, minimal bend in upper mounting lip where the top mounting "plank" sits. So I think that shouldn't be a problem as the "plank" flattens it. It has a few mesh clips missing - 4 in different places so I think that wouldn't pose a problem. The only thing that I would like to fix is this:

Looks like it's a part of bumper.
And I will use your advice on heating the plastic to get a minor dent flat in between the kidneys The rest will be solved by body shop I think.

 

[Bumpy]

Looks like your damage is minor compared to mine.
The best part is that all of the repair will be hidden.
I think you would have no trouble gluing the support bracket back to where it was originally.
And if it has snapped in the corner, I would just reinforce that area with epoxy.

Here is a link I used to do my bumper. Plus I added my experience to show you can get great results with minimal cost.
http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825125

My only regret was the $200 I wasted on custom mixed paint in spray cans that were a total waste. I ended up taking the primered and sanded bumper to a body shop for final spray.

One more thing
Be cautious with the heat gun.
Gentle and less is better than too much.
The bumper responds with minimal encouragement.

Bumpy

 

[RenoRaines]

I will do a test fit today to see what kind of trimming wheel well liner needs. I like to do the work myself. Body shop will only repair the bumper and respray it. And you did yours excellent.
One final thing. I see you flushed the xenon spray caps. I will probably leave mine on in case I will sell the bumper some day. So I am scratching my head how to attached the caps not to damage the paint work? Glue it lightly?

 

[Bumpy]

mmm....
(That's me thinking )
I know that there was some clearance between the hard plastic reinforcement below the spray port.
When I filled mine in I started by slipping in a piece of that expanded metal patch between the bumper skin and the hard plastic support.
There was room for it to slide in and be larger than the hole for the 'cap' .
Check to see if this is the case with your bumper.

If this is the case, I'm thinking you have a couple of options.

1. You could just slide in a piece of doner bumper material (or similar and have the body shop spray that to match
You would still see the port but it would be less obvious than the caps. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about losing or spending money on those covers.

2. If you are determined to have the stock covers in place you might consider using the base from my Option # 1 and use that as a mounting point. You could consider some of that 2 sided automotive trim tape. I used that to re-apply my Z4 trunk logo after I painted it black and it has lasted 3 years including power car washes. If you want to raise the covers to protect the bumper from any cap paint scuffs then you can use double thickness' of the tape.



Just a couple of tips from the New World.

Cheers and Good Luck
Bumpy

ps Don't forget to reduce your Hockey Pucks :



Or the Stubby