Hi Kev,

thanks for your advise. Makes sense of course - yes. How much work is it to remove the front bumper? My plan is to drive to Split / Croatia next week (~1000km one way) - and I want to have that plate on of course :rolleyes:

I agree. Read my posts on this very thread. You HAVE to bolt it with nuts at the back if you want it to stay on. Mine is SOLID right now, it can't move at all. Those rubber fixers are terrible!

No worries Helmuth, glad to help.

I'm going to take my bumper off today to replace the mesh (was all cracked), one PDC is faulty, and of course secure the Skid plate properly.

I'll take some photos of the procedure.

You could possibly avoid taking off the bumper if you use long enough bolts that you can reach from underneath, and get a nut and washer on. The holes are in a bit of a recessed part of the bumper so its awkward. I could reach through the hole in the mesh (hence replacing it), but it could maybe be reached also from underneath. Give it a try, put a thin screwdriver through to see if you can make contact from the other side....

Failing that, getting the bumper off is quite easy - but a 2-man job to avoid scratching it. All the plumbing for the washers can stay intact if you support it, right jo?

Correct Kev :thumbup:

I didn't have a 2nd man so laid a sheet on the drive and then set up objects (tool boxes I think, with wood on top, and blanket on top of that) to support the bumper so I did not need to detach the washer hoses.

To take it off is an easy job if you have an electric screwdriver/drill/driver. There are 19 bolts holding it on, including the 5 that hold the skid plate on at the bottom. They are a mix of 8mm or 10mm. Here is a link that I used when I did mine:

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...r-removal.html

When I put it back on, some of the bolts wouldn't go back on (about 3 of them). Not sure why, wasn't that bothered - there are still 16 holding it in place :rofl:

I tried this and as you say, the location of the holes is so awkward that it would have been very difficult.

When you take off the 5 bolts that secure the bottom of the skid plate, you will see that you can force your hand up behind the bumper but its extremely tight, expect to stop circulation to your wrist if you keep it there. Then to top it off, where you need to be is so high up the bumper that its very hard to reach. I am 6'7 with very long arms, hands & fingers and I gave up trying - it was quicker to remove the other 14 bolts holding the bumper on (first 5 were already off anyway) and get full access.

When you get your nuts & bolts, get some big washers - the plastic on the bumper is very soft and without a washer, your nut could easily cut into the plastic when you tighten it. I also put washers on the skid pan side to avoid the same sort of damage.

Lastly, protect your skid plate with an old sheet or similar while securing it to the bumper - I scratched it and had to repair the paint finish.

Hope that all helps you both. And remember, once you have done this, you will have something far greater than the scratched knuckles and back ache you will have picked up along the way - you will have piece of mind that your skid plate is not going any where ;)

Spot on mate ;) Actually I was only able to get bolts on the LH an RH holes, but not the middle one as the holes had already been made for the rubber bungs and there was no way to force a longer bolt in there so I stayed with the bung for that one. Luckily it was the perfect size so when torqued up enough (but not too much) it's very tight.

It's bloody awkward getting the longer M5 bolts in. Naturally they follow the line of the bungs and that takes them into a recess which you cant get to so you need to coax them downwards from inside.

Getting the bumper off takes 20 minutes (really).

Get a mate to help of you can.

Get a box ready to rest it on (about 40mm from the ground)

undo the 2 x 8mm bolts in the wheel well ...

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_1560.jpg

Then the 6 x 8mm underneath

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_1561.jpg

Couple of 10mm bolts in by the foglamps (prise out the covers)

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_1549-1.jpg

two more 10mm under the bonnet (either side of the radiator)

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_1550-1.jpg

These two were basteds for me, as the nut retainer clip dropped down inside the car when the bolts were undone so be careful.

Then, last of all, the ones under the towhooks...

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_1558.jpg

The bumper will then just slide forward.

Then get your 20mm x 5mm bolts in, and add 2 x nuts and 2 x washers for good measure

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...rd/photo-1.jpg


The picture only shows one nut and bolt - i added another one to avoid vibration shaking it loose.

By using the longer bolts, the direction will be slightly off centre, but the caps still fit on nicely.

The end result in Silver was nice.

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...rd/after-1.jpg

Job done !

ps. The only reason for all this hassle is the crap design of the expanding bungs supplied by BMW. If the collar was reinforced with a metal washer it would work. The problem is, once it's over tightened, the flange disappears inside the hole and makes the bung useless. Make the flange metal and the problem would be solved :thumbup:

Damn Kev,

you always show an Italian X and you are in London.... how does that work? :thumbup::thumbup: Hahahaha......

Thank you for the writeup which I will save local in my DIY X5 folder but you know what: since I believe that BMW techs are not stupid and I have never seen a skid plate lying around on an (Italian) highway I will stay with the original rubber things :cool:.

When you pull the rubber mounts out and tighten them a little bit you get a feeling how much it needs that they can do their work. With too high torque they cannot hold the plate but if they are fitted right I believe they can.

When you find my plate between Udine and Trieste or afterwards between Trieste and Split I was wrong. The test starts this friday :wow:

Let's see.

Have fun guys - I will (as long as my skid plate stays in place)

You're right in a way. On the last car the skid plate didnt move a bit with the standard fixings after 2 years of being fitted. That said, seeing one disappear in the rear-view recently was enough for me :rolleyes:

Actually, I reckon the holes were spot on as it was really hard to get the bungs in when I tested it yesterday. Maybe its just that half turn too much - dunno - anyway, I'm happier now, and the bumper had to come off anyway for the new PDC sensor and grille.

Safe travels mate ! Kev.

ps. Updated the profile with my new hometown ;) - looking at the news I did well to get out of London when I did :(

All,

came back right now and after 2500 km of driving during the holidays - the plate is still where it should be. Also did some off-roading - of course only light but I will post some pics when I have all set.

So I believe I was able to proof that the original rubber mountings work :-)

Have a great day,

Helmuth

I have one on my X. It was on when i bought it. come take it off and it yours lol. friggen thing is a pain in the butt when you want to work on the vehicle.