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So I've had quite a few people ask me to post up pictures and some details on how I made my bumpers on my e28. I've been too lazy to do so until now. I know it woulda been better to explain and post pictures as I was building them but its ok. Im sure most of you already figured out how to make your own bumpers already anyways
You will need the moldings and blinkers off your currenty bumpers and will require that you have extra moldings off another set of e28 bumpers.
You will also need a drill
Some sheet metal cuters(atleast thats what I used)
And a tool sharpener(again you can probably use a grinder or whatever)
First, you will have to disassemble your current bumpers and take the moldings off of them. You will notice that the moldings are screwed down to the bumpers with a nut. You will need to save those cause that is how you will be attaching it to the body of your car.
Second, The piece that covers the top of the bumper you will have to cut with the sheetmetal cutters. You will have to place just one of the moldings on the valence so you would get an Idea of how much to cut.
Once you have done that you can screw it on and then you will know how high you will have to bolt the moldings on to the valence.
Third. You will have to do a mock up of the moldings and place them on the valence and make sure everything lines up with the top of the bumper and that it sits symmetrically and evenly. You will notice that the threads on the back of the moldings will press up against the valence and not allow it to sit. This part you will have to apply pressure by all the threads so that it will leave markings on the valence so you would know where to drill the holes. Make sure you pick the right diameter drill bit aswell.
Once you have drilled the holes you can now bolt the moldings to the body.
And then also attach the license plate holder by just screwing it down to the valence.
Its not a good picture but you will figure it out
This is where the extra moldings will come in aswell. You will have to cut the extra extension from the face molding to the fender well. After you cut it you will have to mock it up again and line it up with the face moldings and the body lines and then make the indent from the thread to drill the hole. Do this with both sides.
Fourth. Its time to install the blinkers. You will have to cut a hole out in your valence to fit in the blinker housing. This is where the grinder or whatever you have comes it. you will have to grind off some places of the housing so that the blinker will sit properly in the valence. I dont have good pictures of it but you will figure out what needs to be grinded off when your doing this.
(I didnt do the cleanest job cutting out the holes either)
Now your front bumper is basically done. The rears are alot easier to do
You remove everthing the bumpers and remove the molding, You will notice that the rear molding is being held by pins this time. You will have to remove them. Then you will place the face molding on the body and line it up with the body lines and drill holes where you will screw the molding down. Once you do that you can basically screw the molding down again just like for the front ones you will have to measure and cut the side extensions from the face molding to the fender well. You have to sorta cut them diagnally to match up with the shape of the wheel well. Then you will do the same by drilling them and screwing them down. And that pretty much completes the rear bumpers
And for finishing touches if you have extra license plate holders you can shave off the edges on them and use them to cover up the gaps between the face moldings and the extensions.
Im gonna run some chrome stripings that can be purchased at Napa or any other auto store down the center down the center groves to give them a nice finishing touch and to cover up the screw holes on the rear bumper. If you do this make sure you do it first before glueing the piece that covers the gaps between the face molding and side extensions.
Get it. Got it. Good.
You will need the moldings and blinkers off your currenty bumpers and will require that you have extra moldings off another set of e28 bumpers.
You will also need a drill
Some sheet metal cuters(atleast thats what I used)
And a tool sharpener(again you can probably use a grinder or whatever)
First, you will have to disassemble your current bumpers and take the moldings off of them. You will notice that the moldings are screwed down to the bumpers with a nut. You will need to save those cause that is how you will be attaching it to the body of your car.
Second, The piece that covers the top of the bumper you will have to cut with the sheetmetal cutters. You will have to place just one of the moldings on the valence so you would get an Idea of how much to cut.
Once you have done that you can screw it on and then you will know how high you will have to bolt the moldings on to the valence.
Third. You will have to do a mock up of the moldings and place them on the valence and make sure everything lines up with the top of the bumper and that it sits symmetrically and evenly. You will notice that the threads on the back of the moldings will press up against the valence and not allow it to sit. This part you will have to apply pressure by all the threads so that it will leave markings on the valence so you would know where to drill the holes. Make sure you pick the right diameter drill bit aswell.
Once you have drilled the holes you can now bolt the moldings to the body.
And then also attach the license plate holder by just screwing it down to the valence.
Its not a good picture but you will figure it out
This is where the extra moldings will come in aswell. You will have to cut the extra extension from the face molding to the fender well. After you cut it you will have to mock it up again and line it up with the face moldings and the body lines and then make the indent from the thread to drill the hole. Do this with both sides.
Fourth. Its time to install the blinkers. You will have to cut a hole out in your valence to fit in the blinker housing. This is where the grinder or whatever you have comes it. you will have to grind off some places of the housing so that the blinker will sit properly in the valence. I dont have good pictures of it but you will figure out what needs to be grinded off when your doing this.
(I didnt do the cleanest job cutting out the holes either)
Now your front bumper is basically done. The rears are alot easier to do
You remove everthing the bumpers and remove the molding, You will notice that the rear molding is being held by pins this time. You will have to remove them. Then you will place the face molding on the body and line it up with the body lines and drill holes where you will screw the molding down. Once you do that you can basically screw the molding down again just like for the front ones you will have to measure and cut the side extensions from the face molding to the fender well. You have to sorta cut them diagnally to match up with the shape of the wheel well. Then you will do the same by drilling them and screwing them down. And that pretty much completes the rear bumpers
And for finishing touches if you have extra license plate holders you can shave off the edges on them and use them to cover up the gaps between the face moldings and the extensions.
Im gonna run some chrome stripings that can be purchased at Napa or any other auto store down the center down the center groves to give them a nice finishing touch and to cover up the screw holes on the rear bumper. If you do this make sure you do it first before glueing the piece that covers the gaps between the face molding and side extensions.
Get it. Got it. Good.
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