how to remove your bumper (in progress potential FAQ)

[skabaru]

Why pay someone else thousands of dollars to remove your front bumper when YOU can do it yourself for FREE!?! Yes, it is THAT easy!

Tools you will need:
-short flat head screwdriver
-torx t25 socket (?)
-torx t35 socket (?)
-6 mm socket (or allen key, if you are at a loss for the 6mm socket)
-rachet

First, you need to get under the car and remove the pan under the engine. I used a set of Rhino Ramps and a creeper.





There are a total of 10 screws holding the pan to the underside of the car. 3 right in front, where the pan meets the bumper, 3 at the back of the pan, far under the car, and 2 in each wheel well. They are all flat head bolts that you don't need to turn much.



The pan will fall to the ground, move it away. Well, it requires a little wiggling to get it out, but it will fall out. Then you need to remove the screws in the wheel well that hold the bumper trim in, there is 1 on each side, if I remember correctly. These are torx bolts (can't remember which size).



Then, pull out the little grills next to the fog lights (if you have them) to find a 6mm allen bolt. You can use an allen key as I did, but I would REALLY suggest getting a 6mm socket, it will go much faster. I couldn't find one.





Then, reach under the bumper and unplug fog lights, again, if you have them. You can do this after you pull off the bumper, but it is easier to do now. Less risk of breaking them.

(Pic coming)

Then, reach over to the passanger side of the car, grip the bumper from the wheel well, and PULL HARD. I know, this seems bad, but think about it, if the bumper can get hit by another car, it can handle you pulling hard. Pull up (toward the sky) and out and pull hard, I used 2 people to get it off.

I suggest doing the passenger side first. Then, when that side is off, you will see that the hose for the headlight sprayers is on the driver side. Detach that. There is a 3 way hose spliter there that I unhooked (then broke later, great huh?). Once that is unhooked, pull off the driver side of the bumper, same way you did the passenger side, and you are done!



put it back together in the reverse order (way easy as you know where it all is).

As I noted, I broke that hose, so for that, and a couple other things, I will be removing my bumper again this weekend or next, so I will take the last few pics to complete this how to. Sorry the car is dirty, but it is winter time in chicago, and no chance I am going to crawl under a wet car covered in salt! So I will update this more inthe next few weeks, and probably submit it as a FAQ. Feel free to send me improvements!

[realdeal]

[larryV]

I don't know at what stage you're in but if it's still going to be a while then hopefully I get my car back when I return from DC and we can still do the install together. If you're just about done then never mind, I'm skipping town this weekend for a week.

[skabaru]

I think us audi kids took all their stock. so I have some time yet, and I know it hasn't shipped yet, so we got some time... I also haven't picked my LEDs yet either. (I have 3 sets to choose from)

so yeah, we got some time. I need the part (not to mention I need to find the time to finish soldering and whatnot)(I am thinking I am adding an on/off switch and I want to TRY a dimmer)

[DustysA4]

What is that little black rubber thing to the right of the radiator if your facing it? Does it sorta clip on to something? I backed up over a tree branch and it lodged up under the under pan and between the bumper and I think it unconnected or broke the little rubber thing. Thanks for the good post!

[larryV]

any ideas as to what parts we'll need for that?

any suggestions from mouser.com?

[skabaru]

The dimmer is going to be a BIT more chanlengeing...

here is my plan... in the ash try, which I still want to slide out like stock, I want there to be a plastic plate with an on/off switch for the gauge, the dimmer on the gauge, and a switch that controls the jumper. (There is a jumper that lets you choose whether the all the lights light up or just the one- ie 12 PSI would like up the 6 lights, or only the 6th LED)... and I want to put the turbo timer in there, with the face removed from the box and set into the plastic panel facing up.

sound good?

[BOOSTD]

remove both front wheels and wheel well liners. now you can reach the bumper clips with either a small pry bar or large flat-head screwdriver. Have someone pull on the bumper while you ease the clips out with the pry bar/screwdriver. I didn't like the amount of force required to pull the bumper loose, and this extra step only cost an extra 5 minutes.
Just a thought,
chris

[larryV]

[skabaru]

my issue was I was not able to remobe the front wheels...