Front Bumper Removal Tips

[Compo1]

Hey up Lads.

Taking my FR front bumper off this weekend, now ive seen the excellent guides on here thanks to those members, but one part of this process is giving me sleepless nights.

Detaching the bumper from the wings ! Any tip on doing this without breaking anything.

Any tips on doing the whole job ?

 

[Mr Pig]

It should all be straightforward, just screws and clips. I've had rear bumpers off many times, no the front, but it should be similar.

Get under the arches and the front lip and take the screws out. That should let you see the clips/screws next to the wheel arch. Once all the screws are out, if it won't came away from the car, you've missed some ;0)

I think there I a plastic piece on the inside/bottom of the bumper which stays attached when you take the bumper off?

Rem unplug the fog lights before you lift the bumper away. And rem plug them back in again once you're done!

 

[Compo1]

Removing it from the wing releasing it from the clips. Would i be pulling downwards and forward or upwards and forward or just forwards ?

 

[RUM4MO]

@Compo1 , there should be a link to the official workshop manual somewhere on this site, I found it once and downloaded for future use, it will give you a very good idea of how to take the front bumper cover off.

 

[RUM4MO]

Like here:- https://www.seatcupra.net/forums/resources/front-bumper-removal-mk3-leon.31/ and also look for the workshop manual which is probably in there as well, ie go to home page > resources > apply filter for the car model you are looking for, sorted!

Edit:- and here for front bumper again:- https://www.seatcupra.net/forums/resources/video-guide-front-bumper-removal.74/

Another Edit:- and finally the link to the actual proper workshop manual which you really should download:- https://www.seatcupra.net/forums/resources/leon-mk3-official-seat-workshop-manuals-link.24/

 

[RUM4MO]

@Compo1 , I've added an extra link after you read this!

 

[Compo1]

Well job done bumper back on.

If i had to do it again 30 mins job. But it took me 2 hours due to freaking out how much force it needed to release from beneath the headlamps.

For anyone reading this needing to remove their front bumper it really is a brute force job to release it from the headlamp area and when it does go you will instantly think you've broke something but you haven't.

Scary job the first time.

 

[RUM4MO]

I have this coming on a similar aged VW Polo and I'd think I'll find the same clicking method under the headlights!! My 2011 Audi S4 seems to have been a lot easier to take the front off.

 

[Mr Pig]

You should use a plastic pry tool or similar to release these type of clip rather than just pulling them as you can break some of them. I broke one of the ones holding the sides of the rear bumper the first time I took it off because I didn't know how they worked.

 

[RUM4MO]

I got some superficial marking sorted out on my 2011 Audi S4 maybe 7 years ago, when I collected it I pointed out that the front edge of the rear bumper was not sitting quite right, ie sticking out every so slightly - all I got from the manager was a gruff "that is how they all are" - so I just grabbed the car and drove off. That has always annoyed me when I wash the car and when I walk past that area as it is not right.

I attempted to remove the rear bumper today really just to treat and repaint a very small area where that badly fitting bumper area had caused maybe chaffing between the end of the bumper and the rear wing metalwork. I removed all the necessary screws nylon lock pins and nuts - and pulled the "nasty side" out, left that area for my wife to keep clear of the body while I released the other side from its retaining clips - I would have snapped off the end of the bumper before getting that side to release from its mounting clips, so gave up on that and just supported the one freed side. When examining the bumper of the side that I released and had been sticking out slightly, I discovered why it was like that after its visit to an official VW Group - 3 of the 4 bumper side "clip on" areas have been broken, so I'll have to try to glue them together AND apply some silicon lub to the body side bumper mounting bracket - but at last I can see what the issue was. That body shop would never have replaced that bumper that they caused that damage on FOC as they were working for me, so just tough luck I'd guess!!

 

[Compo1]

You should use a plastic pry tool or similar to release these type of clip rather than just pulling them as you can break some of them. I broke one of the ones holding the sides of the rear bumper the first time I took it off because I didn't know how they worked.

You would not get a pry tool in anywhere around the Headlights.

 

[Mr Pig]

You would not get a pry tool in anywhere around the Headlights.

I've never tried. I'm talking about the thin plastic ones?

 

[Mr Pig]

I got some superficial marking sorted out on my 2011 Audi S4 maybe 7 years ago, when I collected it I pointed out that the front edge of the rear bumper was not sitting quite right, ie sticking out every so slightly

I had this on my car. I knew how the clips worked from taking the bumper off our other car so I unclipped it and pulled that side out. I was more fortunate in that the clip was not broken but was bent out of shape. It wouldn't hold but thankfully the two either side of it were still good and were enough to keep the edge of the bumper in the correct position.

My experience is that VW cars are worse than Seat ones as they use more clips and use ones that are harder to get off.