What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[DTMdan]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

you bought the bolt on versions and not the weld on ones?

I guess that would work if thats the case, good luck and let me know how it comes out! I'm going in next week!

No, I bought the weld on version. IMO it'd be stupid to weld them on after realizing you will not be able to take off your rear bumper.

[Ricky Bobby]

I'll have to look at my truck I'm confused. Is there enough room if you loosen the hanger to get that bumper bolt out?

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by DTMdan

No, I bought the weld on version. IMO it'd be stupid to weld them on after realizing you will not be able to take off your rear bumper.

If you remove the exhaust from the hanger, drop it down some, and use an angle ratchet to remove the two screws, would it still not work.

[DTMdan]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

If you remove the exhaust from the hanger, drop it down some, and use an angle ratchet to remove the two screws, would it still not work.

Possibly

It is an extremely long screw though. From the bottom of the bracket (#3 on diagram: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/w/m/82.png) to the top of the Ractive tip, the screw only came down about 2 inches. I'll see if I can take some pics after work to explain it better, it is confusing without seeing it.

For reference, this is without trimming anything off the Ractive tip - tip sitting flush against muffler.

--

I also don't know how guys were able to weld the tips on without dropping the exhaust or removing the bumper, there's barely any room in there.

[DTMdan]

Went out for a break real quick...

[SlickGT1]

Right, but the screw is way up top no? So that 2 inch should be enough. I was pretty sure I saw body-shop guy pull of a dudes bumper without removing tips 4.8is. I remember him swearing like crazy, but he got it out. I was drinking in his shop, so I might be confused. But I was pretty sure.

[Ricky Bobby]

Dan,

tips look good.

Do they stick out at all more than you'd like? All the posts I was reading saying they need 1.5 - 2 inches trimmed off before they are welded on.

[DTMdan]

Another pic where you can see it with where the bolt actually comes down to...

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Right, but the screw is way up top no? So that 2 inch should be enough. I was pretty sure I saw body-shop guy pull of a dudes bumper without removing tips 4.8is. I remember him swearing like crazy, but he got it out. I was drinking in his shop, so I might be confused. But I was pretty sure.

I don't know about everyone else's bumpers but the reinforcement bar came off with the bumper and that bolt goes through the bottom of that bar through the bumper bracket and screws into the top, so at least on my vehicle I had to remove the bolt completely to remove the bumper. *Edit: Unless the bolt isn't supposed to be removed all the way so the bumper can pull away from the bar and only it comes off.

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Dan,

tips look good.

Do they stick out at all more than you'd like? All the posts I was reading saying they need 1.5 - 2 inches trimmed off before they are welded on.

They stick out less than I expected (which is good). Yeah I took another look at it when I got home and I think if I trim 1-3/4" off the tips it might be enough to clear. Meineke was no help btw haha, I stopped after work and they pretty much told me I'm S.O.L.

[SF2000x5]

Transmission went out so I let an auctioneer have it..

[xsx450]

New High Beam Bulbs, Fresh Wash, Installed new Cross Bars and ordered my snowboard Racks!!!