How to remove front bumper for TL ES

[Kaldek]

OK Mal is gonna laugh at me for asking, but how do you get the ****ing bumper off the front of a TL Magna? I need to get it off so I can swap out the headlight assemblies but the Mitsubishi service manual is really obtuse on how to get the plastic off. So far all I have removed is the bolts from the wheel arches, the stupid plastic screws at the top and the 10mm bolts holding the plastic slider guard on.

The bumper wiggles, but won't move beyond that.

Any help is much appreciated.

[MadMax]

Plastic off? Try looking at the frame or reinforcing bar in the bumper, it comes off as a unit. Don't try to take the plastic off, remove the whole bumper. It needs to slide forward just a bit to get clearance for the lights. Look for 14 mm bolts holding the bumper on.

(I'm assuming the TL bumper is similar to the TJ one. Mal can flame me if this is bullshyte. )

[Kaldek]

I only noticed two big-ass bolts in the middle of the car which looked to go through a crossmember that runs down the length of the car. Pretty sure I'm not meant to touch those!

The manual seems to point to those two 14mm bolts as being on the far edges of the car. I can't see how I get to those though, unless you stick your hand in the hole where the grill goes?

I'd remove the grill but even after removing the two clips (on each side) I couldn't wiggle the thing loose. I'm great with motorbikes but with cars I still scratch my head when it comes to lots of things.

[Kaldek]

Hmmm looks like those two 14mm bolts hold the whole assembly onto the chassis of the car - it looks like box steel that slides over, or into it. Am I right?

[Madmagna]

Max...max...max, again you try and I respect you for that but again wrong.

Under the skin are a couple scrivits, along top and on each side underneath along bottom of the guard are 3 bolts

[Madmagna]

Btw reo stays on the car

[MagnaP.I]

So the reo cannot be removed?

The TJ's and prior models had removable reo bars the front.

[Madmagna]

Of course it can but no need to

[Kaldek]

Max...max...max, again you try and I respect you for that but again wrong.

Under the skin are a couple scrivits, along top and on each side underneath along bottom of the guard are 3 bolts

Alright I've called Malcolm. Attempt #2 will kick off this weekend, and I'll video the darned thing so everything else can avoid the pain too. :-)

Mal's gonna accuse me of taking business away from him soon! :-P

[MagnaP.I]

Good idea to video it - there aren't many people who know how to remove the L/W series bumpers and the associated service manuals are hard to find so it'll be good for a reference. Maybe post it up in the DIY section

I always found it easier to remove the bumper with the reo. I always seem to break scrivets.