4.8is rear bumper removal

[spadge]

I know how to remove the rear bumper in theory (know where the bolts are aso) but how the hell do I remove the bumper on the 4.8 with it's big exhaust tips? Do I really have to remove both end mufflers before I can remove the bumper?

Want to fit a tow hitch

[Clockwork]

I believe you are supposed to. It's a pain but doing it other wise is insanity. I was able to do a rear bumper removal with my 4.4i dual tips mufflers still on but it was soooo finicky I should have just dropped the exhaust

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[tmv]

There was no short cut that I know of. I have Dinan dual tips on my iS so I only need to loosen the muffler mounts

[cmbenedict]

I know it doesn't answer question but I had difficulty trying to remove the bumper a few years back for same reason - add a tow hitch. Ended up having dealer install it as the service advisor gave me a break on the labor rate. Easiest mod I ever did!

[bhennrich]

Remove the 4 screws in the inner rear fender well plastic. Then open the rear hatch of the X5 and remove the spare tire cover and the two removable side panels. Get the spare out of the way. Use a 10mm to take the plastic covers off the bottom on either side of where the spare goes. Disconnect your pdc sensors under passenger side tail light. Look under where the plastic covers were and you will see 3 nuts on each side on the very back wall of the X. Look under your X and where the center of the bumper attaches by the rear diff, and remove the screws I think there are 3. Take those 6 total nuts off and the entire rear bumper with the shocks will slide right out. The little plastic trims on the top edge of the bumper will have to bend out of the way so you will feel some tension. Make sure you have a buddy with you to help you not scratch the bumper on its way out or back in. I have done this on mine and two other friends. NO REMOVAL OF EXHAUST AT ALL! 20 min once you know where all the fasteners are. These instructions are for rear bumper without OEM hitch. If you have an OEM genuine BMW hitch you only need to remove the two outward and inward nuts in the back. But follow all other steps I have said...

[blackbeast]

Originally Posted by bhennrich

Remove the 4 screws in the inner rear fender well plastic. Then open the rear hatch of the X5 and remove the spare tire cover and the two removable side panels. Get the spare out of the way. Use a 10mm to take the plastic covers off the bottom on either side of where the spare goes. Disconnect your pdc sensors under passenger side tail light. Look under where the plastic covers were and you will see 3 nuts on each side on the very back wall of the X. Look under your X and where the center of the bumper attaches by the rear diff, and remove the screws I think there are 3. Take those 6 total nuts off and the entire rear bumper with the shocks will slide right out. The little plastic trims on the top edge of the bumper will have to bend out of the way so you will feel some tension. Make sure you have a buddy with you to help you not scratch the bumper on its way out or back in. I have done this on mine and two other friends. NO REMOVAL OF EXHAUST AT ALL! 20 min once you know where all the fasteners are. These instructions are for rear bumper without OEM hitch. If you have an OEM genuine BMW hitch you only need to remove the two outward and inward nuts in the back. But follow all other steps I have said...

+1

Way easier to do it this way.

I was able to remove and reinstall my rear bumper by myself using this method in the parking lot of a muffler shop when I got my tips welded on.

[spadge]

Sorry for my late reply, was quite a little bit busy last days
Thank you very much for all your replys.

@bhennrich: sounds really godd, I will try to follow your instruction and post my results here. Currently there is no hitch installed but I will install the european OEM one.

[bhennrich]

spadge, did you ever have any luck getting your bumper off?

[spadge]

No, unfortunately not - I had not enough time to try as you suggested, hopefully next weekend.

[spadge]

Had success following your procedure, it was really easy this way...

Thank you very much