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18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
Got in a very minor accident.
Hey all. I was sitting at a red light and a young guy lightly ran into the back of me. Talking about barely event felt it. So the damage is the bumper covers. They have to be replaced. Being the do it yourselfer I have the directions off WIS on how to remove the bumper BUT my question is if anyone has removed the bumpers without removing the bumper itself. Wondering if I remove the rear pan I can reach up and remove the fasteners that hold them on.
I know the insurance will fix this BUT if I can remove the bumpers then there I dont have to rely in the shop messing anything up.
Attached is a picture. The paint is cracked. The other one has a tiny chip.
Hi Katie - sorry to hear this, but looks to be pretty minor. What a lousy way to start out 2021. I think you're on a path the same of which I'd take. Get it off the car so it isn't tied up in some body shop.
Last edited by Acta_Non_Verba; 01-02-2021 at 07:14 AM.
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
Crap you could be onto something. I looking the part numbers up in EPC and looked at the diagram. I did see a fastener but it appears to hold on the foam crush pad that sits behind the cover. I could not make up if then covers are snap in like your saying but you know that would make sense.
I will probably remove the lower pan cover (did this when I serviced the transmission) and see if I can reach up in there to gain access to them. I just wondered if anyone already had the knowledge.
Crap you could be onto something. I looking the part numbers up in EPC and looked at the diagram. I did see a fastener but it appears to hold on the foam crush pad that sits behind the cover. I could not make up if then covers are snap in like your saying but you know that would make sense.
I will probably remove the lower pan cover (did this when I serviced the transmission) and see if I can reach up in there to gain access to them. I just wondered if anyone already had the knowledge.
Katie
I gave the ones on my car a good yank and there was no movement at all. If this was a snap in part with pins molded to the bumper pad, they often will yield slightly. These are so solid it indicates hardware mounting from the backside. All the best with it.
I believe these bumperettes are mounted to something behind the bumper, so they absorb low speed impacts w/o damage to the bumper. They are specifically there due the 5 mph impact regulation in the USA and are required with certain rear bumper designs and heights. They are usually absent from sedans, and only present on coupe body styles with certain bumper heights on various brands. Somewhat ugly, but they do save the rear bumper from being damaged in a situation like this.
These are held in by four bolts each. There's no way to remove it without removing the bumper. The good news is that removing the bumper isn't too difficult.
Last month I had a speeding car blow a stale red and I just managed to slam the brakes in my gt s and saw the super shocked face on the passenger as they flew past the front end of my car almost brushing it
so lucky I didn’t get t-boned at my drivers door - game over
if you haven't already removed your bumper, it's not as easy as it looks. The clips at the top don't come apart with a tug and the clearance to get to them is almost nil.
I'm a do it yourselfer too and managed to rip the bumper by thinking they would come apart with the right pressure, like most others do. A thousand bucks later for a repair...lesson learned. I took it to my friends shop who showed me a special tool they purchased for a GT they had worked on previously.
To remove the bumperets you HAVE to completly dismount the bumper cover. It is not that hard.
You need to remove both tail lights, and part of the rear splash guards.
Then you will find out 4 plastic screws on each bumperete. For sure it will look much better with out it. But You will need plastic caps to cover the holes, big holes to cover.
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
Jam I hear you on that but it was not my fault and I am not going to pay for that. I do however have documentation to prove the extent of the damage is nothing more than a bumperette and 600 something dollars to repair.
If that diminishes the value of my car if I go to sell it in the eyes of a buyer that is totally fine. I am positive I can find a buyer that can read the receipts and understand that the car is not damaged like other accidents.
I had the same happen to my GTC, same exact spot. Had the bumperrette repainted after I was told removing it would require a bit more work and several holes needing filled. Did it through insurance at a local shop that I trust. Interestingly it never showed up on carfax.