Bonnet position

[RSinclair]

jeez, the plod must love you three - i like it though

Thanks took hours to put them all on.
Didn't have any trouble.

[lofty]

If they get the practice in on yours Glenn I'll book mine in to be done as well!

This sounds good, they will be experts when I bring mine in

[ShouldveBeenAGerman]

I've removed 2 x B7 front bumpers this week.

The mounting on the bumper iron is really clever.
You slot the bumper skin into it, turn it clockwise with a long Torx key.
This initially locks the bumper skin flange into the mounting.
Keep turning and the reverse thread on the mounting which locates it into the bumper iron, unwinds itself from the iron and raises the bumper up.
I initially thought that if you were careful you could remove and refit without disturbing the setting but the bumper is locked into the mounting so the adjustment needs to be made every time it goes off and back on as unlocking it messes with the adjustment.

Thanks for that info, a real timesaver. I didn't realise the mount was a left hand thread. I took my bumper off to realign last time! it's dropped again a few mm so I tightened the torx and kept turning with bumper in situ, lo and behold up she comes. Saved me a lot of time!!

[ArthurPE]

I've removed 2 x B7 front bumpers this week.

The mounting on the bumper iron is really clever.
You slot the bumper skin into it, turn it clockwise with a long Torx key.
This initially locks the bumper skin flange into the mounting.
Keep turning and the reverse thread on the mounting which locates it into the bumper iron, unwinds itself from the iron and raises the bumper up.
I initially thought that if you were careful you could remove and refit without disturbing the setting but the bumper is locked into the mounting so the adjustment needs to be made every time it goes off and back on as unlocking it messes with the adjustment.

good info

I knew the access holes were there for a reason...

so you just turn CW to raise once the torx are tightened?
must take some oomph...what tool did you use? a ratchet with extension and torx bit? 3/8"?

[neckarsulm]

so you just turn CW to raise once the torx are tightened?
must take some oomph...what tool did you use? a ratchet with extension and torx bit? 3/8"?

Yes, clockwise would normally wind a thread inwards but the reverse thread means it comes upwards, out of the bumper iron.
It takes surprisingly little oomph but I took the strain off the thread by jamming my knee under the bumper where the aux rad grille is and giving it a bit of assistance.
On some cars the torx bolt can be very rusty so some spray lube down the hole is a good idea.
The hole is way too narrow for a socket, I used a long T30 torx tool with a T handle on the top, same tool as you would use to undo the recessed headlamp bolts (can be seen here in airbox flap DIY page http://www.volkswizard.co.uk/airbox.htm ).

[ArthurPE]

ok, you officially " da man "

I spritz it with some penetrating oil
while letting it set I got a nutdriver with a hex end, using some electrical tape jammed the torx bit into it (didn't want it falling out)
initially measured the gap ~6-7 mm
turned each side, checking after each turn til I got to ~3-4 mm (took a bit of twist, but nothing crazy)
looks perfect, took 10 minutes

thanks!

so you just turn CW to raise once the torx are tightened?
must take some oomph...what tool did you use? a ratchet with extension and torx bit? 3/8"?

Yes, clockwise would normally wind a thread inwards but the reverse thread means it comes upwards, out of the bumper iron.
It takes surprisingly little oomph but I took the strain off the thread by jamming my knee under the bumper where the aux rad grille is and giving it a bit of assistance.
On some cars the torx bolt can be very rusty so some spray lube down the hole is a good idea.
The hole is way too narrow for a socket, I used a long T30 torx tool with a T handle on the top, same tool as you would use to undo the recessed headlamp bolts (can be seen here in airbox flap DIY page http://www.volkswizard.co.uk/airbox.htm ).

['R'e'S'pect_4]

mine is just the same! lived with it for a year also.

had tweak of the 2 torx ones deep down....

...ShouldveBeenAGerman, did you adjust any other screws/ bolts ?

mines getting done soon!!!

I did mine as soon as I bought it. The bumper was sitting low and the bonnet adjusters needed a few turns. It now sits perfectly.

[neckarsulm]

The 3 bolts at the top of the grille need to be loosened.
I always do it having loosened the bolts accessible from inside the wheel arches (2 per side just below headlamps) and those near the undertray but you probably don't need to.

[KernowPete]

It looks like one side of my cars bumper is in the correct slot on the adjuster and one isn't. This is probably a stupid question, but is it possible to manoevre the bumper into the correct slot by just undoing the 3 fixings in the top of the grill? Or do you have to undo all the others in the wheel arches as well?
Ta

[ArthurPE]

I'm looking at mine from my office window and you'ld think 3mm less gap wouldn't be noticeable?
wrong, big visual difference...the gap is cut in half...

[Ice_Coffee]

I don't know if this is useful or confusing, I also have some more specific stuff on bumper removal and refitting.

[Steve_C]

Its confusing to me....but then, most things are!

[Ice_Coffee]

Its confusing to me....but then, most things are!

Thats what I thought.

I was going to post it days ago, then I was thinking it's confusing but now peeps here seem to be serious about doing this to their cars, so I thought I would give the info I have got.

[P_G]

Clear as mud but thanks for sharing.

[neckarsulm]

There is no way you can slot the bumper onto the adjusters correctly if its not on correctly unless you have the bumper released fully by undoing the wing nuts (via wheel arch) and the lower bolts near undertray.
It is really easy to slot it in too low on the adjuster which means that it wont get raised by turning the adjuster clock wise (and sit low).
If you can get it higher by turning the adjuster then you have been very lucky as it's impossible to tell if its slotted on correctly without taking bumper off virtually all the way!