US Rear Bumper Removal.

[Sev]

I took my front bumper out, and it looked much better, and i also tried taking the rear out, but after removing all the plastic, i look further, i noticed that its not big screws like the front ones, perhaps factory pressed clamps, or similar. My current option is to take a machine and start grinding all 3 from rear.

Is there an Easier way?

thank you
Sevada

[T.Hanson]

https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/main/057en/index.htm

Rotten photos but the instructions can make sense if you are persistent and look for the fasteners described.

[Mike W.]

It's 3 big bolts going in from the top from inside the trunk. 22MM heads? Being large they tend to be tight, but if it's a So Cal car it shouldn't be a problem. The little 10MM head ones on the rubber trim take much longer for me with bad angles and things falling in my face.

[wkohler]

I hate the 10mm ones. Canada Karl had a post recently about the same thing and I think if you look down the list a bit you will find it. I know I went into more detail there. The right side bolt next to the fuel tank was designed by a sadist. This is where it's obvious these cars were designed with Euro bumpers.

[Sev]

So i finally removed that hideous thing in the rear too.




Yea my exhaust is low, im sick of buying the hangers, keeps falling off. And the trunk is primered ish. As soon as im done with the drive train, the blue beauty will be painted again.

[wkohler]

You must not have the hanger in the front of the muffler. Its what does the real work.

[Sev]

there are 2 hangers at the end of the muffler where the bracket is mounted on top, those are the only 2 i can put, and the whole exhaust is on 1 right now.

[wkohler]

At the front of the muffler at the top, there is a hanger. That hanger not being there is why you are breaking so many rear hangers.

[Mike W.]

At the front of the muffler at the top, there is a hanger. That hanger not being there is why you are breaking so many rear hangers.

Along with a couple of plastic strain reliefs. Chris is right, it's the front one that does the work, it's fabric reinforced and flat not a doughnut, a figure 8 of sorts.

[Lenny D.]

Nos. 2 & 3.

Also a good reason they may be missing is the mount they attach to way up by the subframe could be missing/broken as well. It was just welded onto the body.

Or, the PO could have ditched the whole thing.

But it's important as the above comments state, it supports the main weight of the exhaust system.

[Sev]

I have number 6 and i also have the brackets on my muffler. For some peculiar reason, they constantly fall. Those are the only hangers i have. Thats why im just thinking of straight piping the whole thing, New brackets, new pipes, and some e12 awareness

[wkohler]

So, have you given any thought in maybe getting your self into a 2 & 3? I wouldn't use one without the other and it could prove to be a fruitful relationship.

[Sev]

Which would you recommend? Where i would simultaneously have noise and back pressure.