M-sport front bumper upgrade

T

Timmyboybunter

Senior member
 Bristol/Bath
My car has been in a scrape at some point down the left hand side - it's obviously had some kind of bodge job paint thinly applied over the scratches just to mask them, as following a polish and wax session at the weekend the previously fairly subtle scratches now stick out like a sore thumb and are far 'whiter' (car is saphire black) than they were!

Wasn't planning a bumper upgrade, but given the majority of damage is on the bumper I think swapping it out will be the preferred solution to getting it repaired and painted.

Question: assuming a 2nd hand M-Sport bumper comes with the lower grills present (the lower center, left and right) which I know are different to the standard bumper, is it simply a case of swapping the 2 bumpers over? No other parts required?

I know upgrading the rear bumper to M-Sport (which I'm not looking to do) involves changing the mounting brackets too from previous reading, hence the question.
 
Timmyboybunter said:
My car has been in a scrape at some point down the left hand side - it's obviously had some kind of bodge job paint thinly applied over the scratches just to mask them, as following a polish and wax session at the weekend the previously fairly subtle scratches now stick out like a sore thumb and are far 'whiter' (car is saphire black) than they were!

Wasn't planning a bumper upgrade, but given the majority of damage is on the bumper I think swapping it out will be the preferred solution to getting it repaired and painted.

Question: assuming a 2nd hand M-Sport bumper comes with the lower grills present (the lower center, left and right) which I know are different to the standard bumper, is it simply a case of swapping the 2 bumpers over? No other parts required?

I know upgrading the rear bumper to M-Sport (which I'm not looking to do) involves changing the mounting brackets too from previous reading, hence the question.
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It has been done, I think “maniac” from here changed over to an M front bumper? He’s got a 35i though so would have an oil cooler behind there somewhere to contend with i think :?
Rob
 
Ive been looking into this also, I think (and correct me if Im wrong) the air duct is different. Ive found this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXwh3CxddA&t=92s
 
i have mine changed to m performance a few months ago, it is a directly replacement. bumper + left/center/right lower grills will do it nicely. kidneys and tow-hook cover are the same.

as Rob said, 35i has one side of grill (iirc right hand side) which is not blocked for feeding air to oil cooler.
 
Smartbear said:
It has been done, I think “maniac” from here changed over to an M front bumper? He’s got a 35i though so would have an oil cooler behind there somewhere to contend with i think :?
Rob
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Thanks Rob - I'll maybe drop him a PM, I think I found one of this posts when I was looking a couple of days ago.
As you say, it looks like the 35i/35is models have additional coolers and duct work behind the bumper which complicate the upgrade on those models - I'm hoping to find nothing sitting behind the lower grills on mine.

Zed Baron said:
Ive been looking into this also, I think (and correct me if Im wrong) the air duct is different. Ive found this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXwh3CxddA&t=92s
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Useful, thanks - looks fairly straightforward. He doesn't say how the washer nozzle caps come off the bumper but I know on the E85 they just push on the top of the nozzles. I wonder if they are also transferable between M and non M bumper.

engine killer said:
i have mine changed to m performance a few months ago, it is a directly replacement. bumper + left/center/right lower grills will do it nicely. kidneys and tow-hook cover are the same.
as Rob said, 35i has one side of grill (iirc right hand side) which is not blocked for feeding air to oil cooler.
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Thanks, that's what I was hoping for - I've read other posts that mention the part numbers are different for the towing eye cover and the PDC sensors mounting brackets so I'll probably check in with TIS and see what the exact part numbers are for my 30i model to compare M-Sport to non M-Sport. Did yours have PDC sensors and headlight washers?
 
I saw one on ebay yesterday at £99 so a fairly cheapish mod making a huge difference. Go for it Tim
 
Number5 said:
I saw one on ebay yesterday at £99 so a fairly cheapish mod making a huge difference. Go for it Tim
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Cheers Alan - I have been keeping an eye on Ebay over the past few months, but it's only now the scratches are so bad on mine it spurred me into action.

The tricky bit is bumper condition and extra bits; most of the ones available need some kind of repair in addition to a respray, and the additional bits required to complete the upgrade (the lower 3 grills for example) are often missing and would cost a fortune to source. Total cost to sort would be pricey.

I bought what looks to be a decent condition (i.e. no repairs or spray required) black bumper yesterday including the lower grills, for £200 which seemed like a reasonable amount. It is in Kidderminster however so a bit of a pain to collect and can't progress until the travel restrictions are lifted.

There are a couple of options on Ebay with basically everything available (including kidney grills/front badge/towing hook etc) but they are up around the £350 to £400 mark.
 
Timmyboybunter said:
I bought what looks to be a decent condition (i.e. no repairs or spray required) black bumper yesterday including the lower grills, for £200 which seemed like a reasonable amount. It is in Kidderminster however so a bit of a pain to collect and can't progress until the travel restrictions are lifted.
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Perhaps you can get it couriered?
 
I did send my usual courier guy a message but he's self isolating - don't want to go down the commercial route really as it would need wrapping by the seller etc etc and I don't want to put them out. I guess shiply is possible, have used this service a few times.

No huge hurry really. Still working full time (albeit at home!) so don't have a lot of time to fill!
 
Timmyboybunter said:
There are a couple of options on Ebay with basically everything available (including kidney grills/front badge/towing hook etc) but they are up around the £350 to £400 mark.
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if i recall correctly, all three grills from ebay are under 100 quid.
 
£200 with all the bits seems a reasonable price. The one I saw for £99 didnt have the grilles in, I dont think
 
engine killer said:
it is a directly replacement. bumper + left/center/right lower grills will do it nicely. kidneys and tow-hook cover are the same.
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Well, having now tried and failed to fit the bumper - I have a bit more experience to share :)

Washer jet covers - same.

Tow hook cover - different, will not fit. M-Sport p/n is 51118048042, standard is 51117228111.

PDC mounts - completely different, but I assume compatible. They are plastic welded (to a fashion) in mine and aren't listed as a seperate part number - so in hindsight, shouldn't really have come off (I assumed at the time I could just securely mounth them behind the M-Sport bumper - but the holes are a different size as the standard bumper has little body coloured rings which stick THROUGH the bumper and sit flush with the PDC sensors).

For the M-Sport bumper, you need part number 51117844395 which is a set of 4. Note the PDC sensors themselves are the same, but the way the mounts actually sit on the bumper differs. For whatever reason, my replacement bumper had the 4 mounting sensors removed - otherwise I'm fairly sure I could have just unplugged from one and plugged into the other.

Will now order a set of the M-Sport mounts (which come with a sticky mount to just push onto the inside of the bumper) to prove the theory.
 
Timmyboybunter said:
Tow hook cover - different, will not fit. M-Sport p/n is 51118048042, standard is 51117228111.

PDC mounts - completely different, but I assume compatible. They are plastic welded (to a fashion) in mine and aren't listed as a seperate part number - so in hindsight, shouldn't really have come off (I assumed at the time I could just securely mounth them behind the M-Sport bumper - but the holes are a different size as the standard bumper has little body coloured rings which stick THROUGH the bumper and sit flush with the PDC sensors).

For the M-Sport bumper, you need part number 51117844395 which is a set of 4. Note the PDC sensors themselves are the same, but the way the mounts actually sit on the bumper differs. For whatever reason, my replacement bumper had the 4 mounting sensors removed - otherwise I'm fairly sure I could have just unplugged from one and plugged into the other.

Will now order a set of the M-Sport mounts (which come with a sticky mount to just push onto the inside of the bumper) to prove the theory.
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i am sorry i might have mis-lead you. i bought a complete bumper but no extra pdc sensor, i use the old pdc sensors and they fit. anyway hope you will have yours done without serious issue.
 
engine killer said:
i am sorry i might have mis-lead you. i bought a complete bumper but no extra pdc sensor, i use the old pdc sensors and they fit. anyway hope you will have yours done without serious issue.
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Ha, no worries :) - you are correct, the sensors should just swap over if your new bumper already has holders fitted. I'm just a bit unlucky mine were missing. The towing eye cover is the only pain.

Just waiting for delivery for the pdc mounts and hopefully it will all mount smoothly.
 
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