Technical Anyone changed the front bumper trim on a 4x4?

[SiloSean]

Dear All,

I have just ordered a new bumper trim and a fog light for my 63 plate panda after my eldest hit a parked car. To my surprise the black plastic that the fog light sits in is a separate part of the bumper, but I am not sure how it comes off and how I am going to fit the new part. Has anyone on here done this before and if so is there anything that I need to know before I start?

Many thanks

 

[lunchbeers]

It looks like it clips on to the front (number plate) edge and is fixed to the side of the bumper with a screw into the wheelarch edge and with plastic rivets underneath

I didn’t take mine fully off, but did remove the fixings after a bump.

 

[SiloSean]

It looks like it clips on to the front (number plate) edge and is fixed to the side of the bumper with a screw into the wheelarch edge and with plastic rivets underneath

I didn’t take mine fully off, but did remove the fixings after a bump.

Thanks for the reply.

I will admit, I've only had a quick look at it to assess the damage. Guessed it was clipped (which I assume will be a pig to undo), but I didn't notice any rivets, only the screws on the edge of the wheel arch. Will have a closer look when the part arrives as I don't have any plastic rivets, will have sort some out.

Will try to get some photos if I remember as I change it, there's next to no info on the web, so might be of interest to someone here. Even if I end up with a don't do that guide.

 

[lunchbeers]

Similar to these: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/t...halfords-trim-panel-rivets-hfx364-208371.html

Think only 2 required for the corner

 

[SiloSean]

Similar to these: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/t...halfords-trim-panel-rivets-hfx364-208371.html

Think only 2 required for the corner

Again, many thanks. I will check it when I have the part, should be able to pick them up locally, got Euro Car Parts within 5 minutes walking distance of work and Halfords not far away.

 

[SiloSean]

Well, what can I say? Started trying to change the trim this morning, hit a major snag, all the clips and tabs have been plastic welded in place. Thus I can't just unclip it and not sure how to remove it. Might be a bodtshop job!

 

[Panda IIs]

Well, what can I say? Started trying to change the trim this morning, hit a major snag, all the clips and tabs have been plastic welded in place. Thus I can't just unclip it and not sure how to remove it. Might be a bodtshop job!View attachment 413154

Ha, that's very interesting (to me at least!). The silver trim on my 4x4 rear bumper has detached in a couple of places where I found these "welded" tabs. I had thought this was a repair shop "bodge" but it looks like OEM! So, your new trim has a hole for the tab I guess? Judicious use of a (fairly) powerful soldering iron might allow a reshape of the melted tab and springing the damaged trim over, it but going back to my earlier post I would take the bumper off first (maybe you have?).

 

[SiloSean]

Ha, that's very interesting (to me at least!). The silver trim on my 4x4 rear bumper has detached in a couple of places where I found these "welded" tabs. I had thought this was a repair shop "bodge" but it looks like OEM! So, your new trim has a hole for the tab I guess? Judicious use of a (fairly) powerful soldering iron might allow a reshape of the melted tab and springing the damaged trim over, it but going back to my earlier post I would take the bumper off first (maybe you have?).

I have not removed the bumper yet, the thought being that the trim would unclip relatively easily and could be done in position. The fact that it has been welded means that will be an impossible task as you simply can't get to all the tabs without removing it. At the moment my eldest is using the car to get to uni three days a week, so I need to be certain that I can get the bumper off, melt the welds, remove the trim and replace it in a day or maybe a whole weekend.

The bit that has annoyed me is the fact that I removed the small trim on the bumper to be able to get to the screw holding the part that needs changing, which will now need to be repaired or replaced. I do have access to a plastic welder, but the hot air type rather than hot wire. On the plus side I have some PP filler rod at work, so may be able to repair it at not extra cost provided I can do it without damaging the original surface.

When I get it done I will try to post some pictures of the process, as it maybe of use to someone. It is certainly an unknown as far as I was concerned, would not have started had I realised it was welded, at least not without having everything to hand and plenty of time.

 

[lunchbeers]

You can cut the welds with a small craft knife easily enough, unsure how easy it is in situ, all that will happen is the tab will need to be welded to the bumper plastic which can be done with a small heat gun or a flat soldering iron, you shouldn't need any filler material.

Or just Araldite it in place, I’ve done this with pdc sensor carriers which have popped their welds and its worked fine.

 

[SiloSean]

You can cut the welds with a small craft knife easily enough, unsure how easy it is in situ, all that will happen is the tab will need to be welded to the bumper plastic which can be done with a small heat gun or a flat soldering iron, you shouldn't need any filler material.

Or just Araldite it in place, I’ve done this with pdc sensor carriers which have popped their welds and its worked fine.

Cutting the welds might be easier than melting, at least you can do it without damaging the bumper. The problem that I will have is in repairing the small trim, photos attached, as the inserts have already been melted back. These will need to be cleaned up to go through the bumper and I guess extended, hence using some filler rod. We have a Leister hot air plastic welder at work, used to fabricate 6mm polypropylene in the past. I may end up using a soldering iron as it will be more accurate, the leister welder is a bit to fierce and melts quite a large area. A new trim (part 51880638) is about £30.95, which is expensive compared to the £26 I paid for much larger bumper trim (part 735547674). Will give a try, worst case I have to pay for a new trim and wait 2 weeks.

 

[Panda IIs]

Cutting the welds might be easier than melting, at least you can do it without damaging the bumper. The problem that I will have is in repairing the small trim, photos attached, as the inserts have already been melted back. These will need to be cleaned up to go through the bumper and I guess extended, hence using some filler rod. We have a Leister hot air plastic welder at work, used to fabricate 6mm polypropylene in the past. I may end up using a soldering iron as it will be more accurate, the leister welder is a bit to fierce and melts quite a large area. A new trim (part 51880638) is about £30.95, which is expensive compared to the £26 I paid for much larger bumper trim (part 735547674). Will give a try, worst case I have to pay for a new trim and wait 2 weeks.

Thats interesting (again). I had to replace my rear wheel arch trim and those "inserts" were essentially plastic rods or spikes that you put spire nuts or spring clips over - I sourced some stainless ones. Maybe yours has seen a body shop in a previous life?

 

[SiloSean]

Thats interesting (again). I had to replace my rear wheel arch trim and those "inserts" were essentially plastic rods or spikes that you put spire nuts or spring clips over - I sourced some stainless ones. Maybe yours has seen a body shop in a previous life?

I did wonder if it had been bodged, will have a look at the trims later to see if they are all the same. That said they have been neatly done, so could be factory fit.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I have cut the (rear) bumper on mine for a towbar and it does cut easily with a stanley knife. I was surprised how soft the material is.

 

[SiloSean]

I have cut the (rear) bumper on mine for a towbar and it does cut easily with a stanley knife. I was surprised how soft the material is.

I haven't had the chance to do the job yet, work and family getting in the way, so didn't get any time over the weekend. I don't think it will be too bad once the bumper is removed, just got to be careful when cutting, as don't want to wreck the bumper or loose any fingers.

 

[A3jeroen]

A hot knife (lighter) works better. Masking tape helps too.

gr J

 

[SiloSean]

A hot knife (lighter) works better. Masking tape helps too.

gr J

I will try a combination, stanley or craft knife, soldering iron and I also have access to a hot air plastic welder (Leister Triac). One way or another the job will get done, I just need some spare time to be able to get on with it!

 

[The Panda Nut]

I would also consider drilling some tiny holes with a hand drill and tying the panel in its place with some soft wire or even cable ties to help prevent it shaking loose with care this could help. Also get some double sided trim fixing tape.

 

[SiloSean]

I would also consider drilling some tiny holes with a hand drill and tying the panel in its place with some soft wire or even cable ties to help prevent it shaking loose with care this could help. Also get some double sided trim fixing tape.

I have the correct "welding rod" for want of a better term. The more I have thought about it the more I think it will be just as strong as the original welds. I just need the spare time to do it, wife had surgery recently, I've moved my two youngest kids to university and my eldest is driving the panda to finish off his degree. I have found as I get older I have less and less time to get my own stuff done. That said the damage was caused by my eldest son, so guess I'm still sorting someone else's problem, even if it's my car.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I have the correct "welding rod" for want of a better term. The more I have thought about it the more I think it will be just as strong as the original welds. I just need the spare time to do it, wife had surgery recently, I've moved my two youngest kids to university and my eldest is driving the panda to finish off his degree. I have found as I get older I have less and less time to get my own stuff done. That said the damage was caused by my eldest son, so guess I'm still sorting someone else's problem, even if it's my car.

AH your troubles are just starting... Wait till they have a house.... and kids.... I very much hope your wie recovers quickly to full healt too Then you stand a chance of making headway! Im retired but still struggle to find the time to get stuff done.

 

[SiloSean]

Well at long last I have got round to changing the trim on the front bumper, actually did it at the end of July, with a little help from my sons.

I will start by saying that this was a pain to do, you definitely need more than one pair of hands, a reasonable space to work, a soldering iron and an old quilt. The hardest thing was to get the bumper off in the first place, thought it would break before it came off, so much for the "gentle" tug, you have to yank it out. The other issue was the fact that the part I wanted to change is tucked behind another trim. We tried a stanley knife, a carbide burr on a drill and finally the soldering iron to release the old trim. The soldering iron was the way to go, melt the existing welds and pull the old trim away, then clean up the slots in the bumper with both soldering iron and the carbide burr.

Fitting the new trim was not easy, it would not tuck behind the large centre piece that easily and we did not want to release to many welds. You need to give enough play to get everything in place before you start re-welding. You also need another pair of hands to hold the parts in place whilst you melt the tabs to form the weld. We added some prolyprop welding rod as well for good measure. The corner trim went quite well, but the trim over the wheel arch sticks out a bit, it really needed a new one but we reused the original.