Does anyone have experience removing a "Justa" Cooper front bumper? I've read and followed instructions for removing "S" bumpers and it's very loose, even tilts forward a few inches, but will not come clear of the car. It seems to be catching on something. I've detached it completely from the wheel arches and body on the sides, removed 5 fasteners across the bottom lip and the 2 under the grill (also removed). I've also disconnected the foglights and temp sensor and daytime running lights.....
Thanks in advance!

 

I think I remember that I had to get the bottom of the bumper free first, then the top would drop off.

My car is older, I'm not sure if yours has brake ducts or anything else with the lower grille.

Mike

 

if you've removed the 2 bolts behind the grill, 1 bolt from each side behind the wheel arch, 2 push clips from each side connecting to the wheel arches from behind, and 3 push clips and 2 screws from the bottom, it should be completely disconnected. you're probably just hung up on the lip of one of the crash bars. there are 2 of them on the 2013, so you have to pull the bumper straight out, parallel to the car. it might take a little wiggling just to clear any bumps.

 

Yes, Spingq, I removed all those fasteners.
It seems to be hanging on that lower, narrower crash bar. I have been struggling with it for over an hour to no avail.
I even grabbed the bumper by the fog light openings (have already removed the assemblies with some difficulty) and pulled straight out...no dice. It's a good 2 inches forward from the car, but will not come all the way off!!!
I've finally resorted to un-snapping the center black grill in the bumper so I now have better access inside to install my fogs. I may give up trying to pull it off unless I get some inspiration and luck first thing tomorrow morning.
My arms and hands look as if I had a fight with a bunch of angry cats.

 

not sure if it will help, but heres a pic of a 2013 Cooper with the bumper off

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...bumper-off.jpg

 

Thanks, I bet it's stuck on that narrow steel beam but am hesitant to use brute force pulling it off. I texted a MINI tech friend of mine and he told me it should not need much force to come off, so I'm fearful of breaking something if I pull too hard. Hopefully I can make do with access to the inside of the bumper with that center grill off.

 

I wonder if your Justa is the same as my (Yurpeen) SD in which I found three extra fasteners, vertically upwards into that lower beam. Mine were hidden by some plastic blanking plugs and consisted to plastic-headed Philips screws into expanding plastic inserts, so at the first sign of trouble the plastic screw head recess got chewed up and the only way I got them out was by brute force and replacement. The three fasteners do not show on the parts diagram for my car but the enterprising parts guy at my dealers found replacements in the rear bumper trim.

 

I tend to agree, Angib.
I saw those 3 screws in holes at the extreme leading edge of the lip but didn't think they were the culprits since the bumper moved to and fro in that area and wasn't holding fast as I would expect something being secured by a fastener would. Since then, I gave up trying to remove it all the way since I needed to get the job done. My removal of the lower center grill gave me all the room I needed. I guess the only upside of my not being able to take it all the way off was a greatly reduced risk of scratching it during handling off the car and having to worry about wrestling it back on singlehandedly. I just finished putting the car back together (had removed headlights and cowl as well) and tested my new LED fog lights/DRLs. They look great!
Thanks everyone for your help.

 

still pretty strange you had so much trouble removing it. when i took mine off, i just jiggled it passed whatever resistance there was clearing the bars and it pulled right off no problem. those extra clips are also strange, given that there are already 5 fasteners holding the bottom to the car. unfortunately when i replaced mine with the JCW Aero II bumper, the holes no longer lined up, so I could only get a single self tapping pan head screw up through the center hole and into the plastic radiator frame. i should probably get back under and put another screw through the 2 outer holes, but the car made it through a 300 mile trip with no issues, so its not a top priority of mine.

 

Next time I need to remove the bumper I will remove those fasteners before the other 5 I already knew about. I hope they're actually holding the bumper on, and not some unseen piece I'll have a hard time reinstalling if I still can't get the bumper off for any reason! LoL

 

I just ordered 3 of these to keep as spares next time I need to remove the bumper because I have a feeling I'll be losing or destroying them when I do.
I'm pretty sure this is the part (looked up the part number myself on realoem.com):
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E38-740...4.4L/ES125485/

 

Looks like this one here: 51168197908

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51168197908/




Those blind plugs that cover it up.

07147140850

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/07147140850/



thanks

 

Well spotted - that looks like the same fastener.

And the warning is that it doesn't show on the parts diagram (RealOEM) for the bumpers - I see this part number is listed for the bonnet and rear aerokit.

 

Thanks, yea sometimes you have to dig through the ETK. Or its mistakenly only on other models, error in the realoem site.

 

Thanks! I think I need to keep a few of those on-hand for the next time I remove the bumper....I'm sure I stretched the heck out of them by pulling on it last time!

 

Welcome a trim tool helps wedge ( fork ) and put pressure o the expansion flange so it wil, not spin with the head. Wheel well expansion rivets and these are like that and hard to get out.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES517779/



or a flat head driver with a two prong wedge.