Removing front bumper - do the foglights need to come out?

[MR2Mania]

Hi all,

I'm trying to remove the front bumper on my Rev3 Mk2, but have come to a bit of a sticking point.

Do the foglights need to come out first before the bumper can come free? I've noticed a pair of plastic plugs above the foglights on each side which seem to go through the bumper, but you can't remove these it seems without first removing the foglights.

Can anyone give any decent tips?

[JohnnyC]

This may help a bit:
http://mr2.osmanu.com/bumperremoval/index.html

[DeusMR2]

Its impossible to get those two plugs out without removing the foglights im afraid mate..and in all probability the foglight screws will have rusted to bits making them a pain/impossible to remove. What I did was to simply cut through the 4 plugs with a flat screwdriver and hammer (takes ages) but be careful not to accidently hit the radiator!

[MR2Mania]

Its impossible to get those two plugs out without removing the foglights im afraid mate..and in all probability the foglight screws will have rusted to bits making them a pain/impossible to remove. What I did was to simply cut through the 4 plugs with a flat screwdriver and hammer (takes ages) but be careful not to accidently hit the radiator!

Mate, that's exactly the problem I'm having!

Out of the 4 screws holding the foglights, only ONE has come out cleanly, the rest won't budge and I've screwed up the Philips heads now, anyway.

I was thinking of doing as you suggest and severing those plugs, but if I do this, will the bumper then come straight off and if so, will it give me more access to try and sort those foglight screws out?

[Mikejc]

Hello Dino. I'm afraid those lights will have to come out mate I recently removed my own bumper to fit the C/C pre-rad. I had exactly the same problem with the bolts that your experiencing and in the end I had to drill them out! It really is amazing just how many bolts are holding that front bumper on

Mikejc

[MR2Mania]

Hello Dino. I'm afraid those lights will have to come out mate I recently removed my own bumper to fit the C/C pre-rad. I had exactly the same problem with the bolts that your experiencing and in the end I had to drill them out! It really is amazing just how many bolts are holding that front bumper on

Mikejc

Mike, I managed to get it off with the lights in place eventually. I did as DeusMR2 (cut through those plastic plugs) and then manouvred the bonnet around the foglights. Also, gives me more space to sort out those foglight screws. Before, I didn't have enough access to get a drill anywhere near those screws.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[Mikejc]

Good man. In the end I had to hammer and chissle the buggers out because my drill bit broke. This by the end broke 1 of the lamp lenses and both bulbs! Fortunately I had two spare fogs to replace them with

Mikejc