Cowling/nose header panel removal

[Dash01]

What's the best way to remove the cowling/nose header panel (upper cross piece that holds the BMW roundel and kidney grills)?

I understand that it's spot welded in place. If so, can the spot welds be easily drilled out?

What's the best procedure?

Car has a golfball-sized ding on the nose just in front of the BMW roundel, so I'm wondering if it would be better to replace the part, or do bodywork.

[mauryc]

Bodywork. You really don't want to cut out the front end of your car if you don't have to. Drill the dent, put a puller on it and go to town. Sure, you'll have a little Bondo, but I bet you'll be happily surprised with the results. Mine had a smaller dent on one of the vertical slats next to he front kidney grill. You'd never know it now.

Maury

[EuroGeorge]

Don't remove the header panel...Check with some of your local dent master guys. I bet someone has a tool and can get behind and smooth that out. Removing the center and headlamp grills will allow decent access.

[alpinacsi]

Did we not just discuss this a couple of weeks ago? Do you have pictures: seem to remember that was asked previously.

Also try searching "nose" as I know this has been covered many times. Somewhere I did a thread that showed the process of replacing the nose in various stages. Removal for a small dent is generally not necessary and dent pullers often make worse problems on the nose than you start with.

[Dash01]

Did we not just discuss this a couple of weeks ago? Do you have pictures: seem to remember that was asked previously.

Also try searching "nose" as I know this has been covered many times. Somewhere I did a thread that showed the process of replacing the nose in various stages. Removal for a small dent is generally not necessary and dent pullers often make worse problems on the nose than you start with.


Yes, that was me. Been using the wrong terminology in my searches, i.e. "header panel" in Porschese translates to "upper apron" in BMWese. Per your suggestion, I've found other pertinent threads, and have made inquiries.

As of now, it seems my best bet is to remove the kidney grills, use the grill openings to work the dent out from behind, then use Bondo type product for final touches.

Thanks to all for your input.