2003 540 m sport front bumper

[tommy854runner1]

So just recently picked up this car and knew I had a check list of things to do to it. One of the first things was to replace the front bumper(torn pretty badly) and replace or refinish the hood(fairly large dent by the kidneys but my body man thinks he can fix it).

I work as a svc advisor at a GMC dealer and my body shop told me they could get an M-sport front bumper aftermarket for about $260. I told him that an M-sport was totally different and he swore it was the right one. WRONG! Now he's telling me he can only find one through the dealer for $535. I normally stick to OEM parts all the time but I don't mind using aftermarket for a bumper cover. My questions are these

1. I've found several aftermarket M5 front bumpers online for $250-300 will these bolt on pretty much??

2. does anyone know of an aftermarket vendor that sells the stock bumper at a decent price?

Thanks for the help. This forum is awesome!

One day I'll get off my arse and post some pix, Sterling Gray on black 6-speed

[WBAD530i]

Aftermarket bumper has visible fitment issues where it doesn't sit flush with the fender at the wheel arch.

the only thing special about your M-Sport is the T Bar at the bottom. This can be removed and put in a replacement bumper I think.

[mebjr12]

Thats is correct. The "tbar" ensurs that all your brake airducts are funcional. I have an aftermark m sport bumper with oem grill and tbar and it fits just fine.

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[computiNATEor]

Umnitza sells aftermarket bumpers, and they're active on the forum. They will also paint one to match and ship it.

All - and I mean all - of the aftermarket bumpers have fitment "issues." They will bolt up perfectly fine, and accept all the factory parts and mounts and whatnot, but where the fender wheel arch "circle" crosses down into the bumper, there is generally a 1/4 inch gap on either side of the bumper. Nothing you can really do about it.

[Astrocyte]

You can remove 10mm from the two crash bar mounts like I did and the aftermarket bumper will fit perfectly. Cut the horizontal tubing just behind the vertical crashbar bolt tube and weld back it up, simple. 1/2 hour fix.

[Jimmer5Guy]

I replaced my stock (silver) with umintza m5 aftermarket bumper. Was saving it in case I ever sold vehicle. I’m getting ready to sell car in the next couple of months. I would give you good price if it doesn’t go with new buyer.

[computiNATEor]

You can remove 10mm from the two crash bar mounts like I did and the aftermarket bumper will fit perfectly. Cut the horizontal tubing just behind the vertical crashbar bolt tube and weld back it up, simple. 1/2 hour fix.

I would not recommend modifying the front crash structure. That’s asking for trouble.

[Astrocyte]

If you lack skills maybe, no trouble on a 21 yr old car . What do you think auto body shops do to your car after a collision lol.

[computiNATEor]

If you lack skills maybe, no trouble on a 21 yr old car . What do you think auto body shops do to your car after a collision lol.

Body shops should replace or repair damaged parts. And with the front impact shocks, I suspect they’d be replaced.

[Astrocyte]

Ok think about this, how do you think the vertical bolt tube is attached to horizontal shock tube? Oh ya its welded. Only difference is I lose 10mm of compression on a front impact. Either way, the car will be a total loss as these cars dont have a very high book value.

[Astrocyte]

The impact shocks are only for an 8 or 5 mph crash anyways. I meant ti imply in the above reply that these parts are already welded from BMW , only difference is my welds look way better lol.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Nate, what he did is no big deal. He just cut the bar stock 10mm shorter right behind the tube that the bolts go thru to fasten the reinforcement bar to the shock struts. The front end will still have the same absorption in an impact. Only difference is, you hit the other car a couple thousandths of a second later, than if you hadn’t custom cut the tubes, and your fake sport bumper cover had the bad fit. I did what he did on my 530, it worked great. Will be doing it on my 258 wagon soon, painting my fake new Mspoort bumper next week. Good part is, I work at a very good body shop, only gonna cost me a hunnerd bucks for paint and clear coat. Some dingaling hit the corner of my stock bumper last week, now that sheeeit pisses me off

[Astrocyte]

I think its a big deal to people that have never welded before, its not like I'm modifying the space shuttle lol.

[vien]

You can remove 10mm from the two crash bar mounts like I did and the aftermarket bumper will fit perfectly. Cut the horizontal tubing just behind the vertical crashbar bolt tube and weld back it up, simple. 1/2 hour fix.

would you mind PM me where this is, im having same issue and would like to get my bumper to sit right lol.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

If you can’t figure out what we were talking about, maybe this might be a little over your head. As Dirty Harry used to say: “Man needs to know his limitations...”

[computiNATEor]

If you can’t figure out what we were talking about, maybe this might be a little over your head. As Dirty Harry used to say: “Man needs to know his limitations...”

True. And why I don’t recommend this for most people. If you can weld effectively, more power to ya. I can’t, and am jealous.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Welding is fun, anybody can be a good welder, all you have to do is get a good welder, welding gloves, a good welding helmet, if you are spending less than $400, you’re getting a crappy one. Common sense helps, make sure nothing nearby will catch fire from a flying cherryball, when done, if welding on a car, stick around for at least 15 mins, in case something will catch fire, you will be there to put it out.
Practice, the more you get it, the better you get. Pick up scrap metal, different thicknesses will teach you volumes about proper penetration.

[douglawrence42]

Welding is fun, anybody can be a good welder, all you have to do is get a good welder, welding gloves, a good welding helmet, if you are spending less than $400, you’re getting a crappy one. Common sense helps, make sure nothing nearby will catch fire from a flying cherryball, when done, if welding on a car, stick around for at least 15 mins, in case something will catch fire, you will be there to put it out.
Practice, the more you get it, the better you get. Pick up scrap metal, different thicknesses will teach you volumes about proper penetration.

This is a really good point. A decent mig gun is like a metal glue gun. You can become proficient very quickly. And steel is the way to go for at home shop fabrication. I get 1” x 1/16” wall square tube for less per foot than I can get soft as hell warped 2x4’s at Lowe’s. And you can slap together a table or a shelf or whatever far quicker, and you end up with something stronger and lighter. $700 - $1000 for an entry level mig setup is a tough pill to swallow, but I wish I had done it years before I did. Of course like anything else, the mig gun will make you realize you need a chop saw, then a tig rig, then a plasma torch, then a mill then a lathe....


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[cnsorial]

Someone should modify these bumper supports and sell them. I’d buy one.


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[computiNATEor]

Someone should modify these bumper supports and sell them. I’d buy one.


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That is a great idea, especially as they're bolt on.

[Astrocyte]

The only reason I mentioned cutting and welding ,is that the OP said he worked at shop and I figured he could tell bodyshop how to make a repop bumper cover fit properly. I have an OEM rear M5 bumper but my fake front cover fits better than the back, doing the weld mod. The real trick is making the non M5 brake ducts fit, but that is another story.

[toybreaker]

This is a really good point. A decent mig gun is like a metal glue gun. You can become proficient very quickly. And steel is the way to go for at home shop fabrication. I get 1” x 1/16” wall square tube for less per foot than I can get soft as hell warped 2x4’s at Lowe’s. And you can slap together a table or a shelf or whatever far quicker, and you end up with something stronger and lighter. $700 - $1000 for an entry level mig setup is a tough pill to swallow, but I wish I had done it years before I did. Of course like anything else, the mig gun will make you realize you need a chop saw, then a tig rig, then a plasma torch, then a mill then a lathe....
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So i went about it backwards?
I got a drill press, the mill, a surface grinder, then the lathe, then a mig welder, and a stick welder..... Now I WANT a Tig machine.... and a good plasma cutter....

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Should have started with the TIG, harder to learn after figuring out MIG welding...

[cnsorial]

Nobody wants to make me those modified shocks, huh? Haha


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[douglawrence42]

Nobody wants to make me those modified shocks, huh? Haha


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A local machine shop should be able to do the pair for $100 or less (usually $60-$80 an hour for manual work), should be less than an hours work. It’s definitely not worth my time to compete with that.


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