2007 R56 hatchback standard, no mods.

There are two black grilles on the front of the car: One is the main grille that is very obvious from the front. The other is a smaller grill mounted below the bumper, partially behind and under the license plate.

I noticed today that the bottom of the lower grille seems to have popped out of the tabs holding it in place -- facing the car, on the bottom of the lower grille, passenger side-- are three red tabs. On the driver's side, the tabs are not visible and the grill is sitting ever so slightly forward. This tells me the passenger side lower edge has popped out of the clips. I lay down on the floor to examine things and discovered several of the tabs along the top of the black plastic grill are not seated -- the grille is behind the tabs; looks to me as though the tabs should be behind the grille.

A quick google search turns up some articles but everything seems to say remove the bumper -- which is tedious and I don't want to do that.

Anyone know of a way to set this lower grille into the tabs without removing the front bumper?

Thanks.

 

I know that on my 2011 MCS, I have seen the lower grille kinda pushed in a bit, and off it's mounting tabs. It is lowered, and I live on dirt roads, so I guess the lower "chin" part of the bumper cover must be hitting the ground at some point, knocking the lower grille off the tabs. I have simply grabbed the lower grille by poking my fingers through the mesh grille and pulling it forward while holding the bumper cover/chin area and that snaps the tabs back into the grille. I apologize if this isn't the same issue you are having, as I am not 100% positive that the lower grilles are attached in the same way from 2007-2011.

 

Thanks!!! That's exactly what mine is doing except it's pushed in because the driver sometimes pulls into a parking space and runs into the curb!! From looking at it close-up it appears as though you have the solution. I'm working in the garden tomorrow, so, after I'm good an dirty, I'll crawl around on the garage floor in front of Cooper.

Thanks.