Bumper upgrade

[ilovehoops]

So I ran my 540 into a ditch a few days ago. I completely wrecked my cooling system, fog lights and bumper. I have gathered up all the part numbers I need to rebuild my cooling system. I want to upgrade my bumper to an M5 bumper. I broke everything. Brake air ducts, the whole 9. Can anyone tell me what exactly I will to order to replace my broken stuff with new stuff. Been checking out the real oem page, but I’m not sure what I need!! Please help!!

[StephenVA]

see this link for "everything" you need

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...1112498507kt2/

[ilovehoops]

see this link for "everything" you need

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...1112498507kt2/

Sweet! thanks! do not think i will be buying this, but the list of parts needed is perfect.

[kouks]

I would first go to a local JY and see if you can pull a complete front bumper in good condition. That will have all the parts you need. Even if its the wrong color, a paint job is about $200 or less at cheap places. To upgrade to an M bumper you can scour JYs and eBay to find an OEM one, but good luck, they are usually taken from the JY cars right away, or a fortune on eBay. You can also get an aftermarket M bumper from many locations, including eBay or ECS Tuning. Even if you go down the route of getting a knock off bumper, still get a replacement from a JY since it will have everything with it, and it will only be about $100. I got a rear OE M-Sport bumper for $50, it was beat up, but no cracks or deep scratches, got it repainted for $150. So for $200 got a new looking M_Sport rear bumper with all the parts....Hold on, I also ordered new bumper strips for it and a new diffuser, so the price was actually closer to $400.

[ilovehoops]

I would first go to a local JY and see if you can pull a complete front bumper in good condition. That will have all the parts you need. Even if its the wrong color, a paint job is about $200 or less at cheap places. To upgrade to an M bumper you can scour JYs and eBay to find an OEM one, but good luck, they are usually taken from the JY cars right away, or a fortune on eBay. You can also get an aftermarket M bumper from many locations, including eBay or ECS Tuning. Even if you go down the route of getting a knock off bumper, still get a replacement from a JY since it will have everything with it, and it will only be about $100. I got a rear OE M-Sport bumper for $50, it was beat up, but no cracks or deep scratches, got it repainted for $150. So for $200 got a new looking M_Sport rear bumper with all the parts....Hold on, I also ordered new bumper strips for it and a new diffuser, so the price was actually closer to $400.

I have scoured the local JY and came up empty handed. I think I will be buying the one from Imnitza next week.

[kouks]

I have scoured the local JY and came up empty handed. I think I will be buying the one from Imnitza next week.

Here's my recommendation for installing. This is the one from Latvia, link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/173455131109?ul_noapp=true

I think the Umnitza is the same one, but not sure. You will need to order extra plastic rivets for the bumper (you are going to break the old ones)

1. Remove headlights (four bolts, unplug connections, swing out from the center grill first then remove), The headlights will interfere with the rubber seal on the top edge of the bumper.
2. Remove old bumper and remove the metal reinforcement
3. Install the metal back on the car, bolts only finger tight, with the metal pushed back as far as possible
4. Build up the new rep bumper with the fog lights, grill mesh, headlight washers (if installed)
5. Slide on new bumper to metal reinforcement and play around with it to fit it as close to the perfect position as possible.
6. Install the plastic rivets only now to hold the bumper cover in the correct position, pushing back on the bumper to make sure the rivets have no play at all. (re-do step 5 and 6 until the fit is near perfect, I did it twice)
7. Remove bumper assembly, now install the rubber seal on the top edge of the bumper and the hoses for the headlight washers (if installed) or PDC sensor wires
8. install bumper assembly, insuring it is pushed back as far as possible, tighten bumper bolts
9. Install lights

I think the key is to install the metal and the plastic in two steps, and get the lights out of the way since they interfere with the plastic seal on top of the bumper. Here is my driver/passenger side fitting.

Driver side fit near perfect:


Passenger side almost perfect, not noticeable to the casual viewer or even the BMW person from a few feet away.

[ilovehoops]

Here's my recommendation for installing. This is the one from Latvia, link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/173455131109?ul_noapp=true

I think the Umnitza is the same one, but not sure. You will need to order extra plastic rivets for the bumper (you are going to break the old ones)

1. Remove headlights (four bolts, unplug connections, swing out from the center grill first then remove), The headlights will interfere with the rubber seal on the top edge of the bumper.
2. Remove old bumper and remove the metal reinforcement
3. Install the metal back on the car, bolts only finger tight, with the metal pushed back as far as possible
4. Build up the new rep bumper with the fog lights, grill mesh, headlight washers (if installed)
5. Slide on new bumper to metal reinforcement and play around with it to fit it as close to the perfect position as possible.
6. Install the plastic rivets only now to hold the bumper cover in the correct position, pushing back on the bumper to make sure the rivets have no play at all. (re-do step 5 and 6 until the fit is near perfect, I did it twice)
7. Remove bumper assembly, now install the rubber seal on the top edge of the bumper and the hoses for the headlight washers (if installed) or PDC sensor wires
8. install bumper assembly, insuring it is pushed back as far as possible, tighten bumper bolts
9. Install lights

I think the key is to install the metal and the plastic in two steps, and get the lights out of the way since they interfere with the plastic seal on top of the bumper. Here is my driver/passenger side fitting.

Driver side fit near perfect:


Passenger side almost perfect, not noticeable to the casual viewer or even the BMW person from a few feet away.

Sweet! Thanks for the info. Looks pretty good! https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E39-M5-...4383.l4275.c10 I am thinking about buying these. What pork chops fo you run?

[kouks]

Here's the ones I ordered, they did not come with any hardware though, I went to autozone to get the bolts and fast nuts.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323788605436

[ilovehoops]

Here's the ones I ordered, they did not come with any hardware though, I went to autozone to get the bolts and fast nuts.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323788605436

Looks like those are the same ones that I am going to pick up. How are they?

[kouks]

Looks like those are the same ones that I am going to pick up. How are they?

Cheap ABS plastic, but they fit OK with a bit of moving them around. Most of the holes lined up. I had to get my own hardware at Autozone since mine did not come with any and the old trim pieces were destroyed by a PO at some time.