[Tinkerbell]

Mikey, we created a magnificant screwdriver-recovery-device... consists of 1 x garden bamboo cane with an Oidz magnet taped to it. Poke it down the inside of the bumper and voila, one screwdriver recovered! I dread to think what the neighbours made of that

[Paul]

You can by telescopic magnet "things" to rescue metallic parts, I had one (but lost it doh!) and it was very useful for my classic Mini engine bay!

[Hat]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini

LOL
Updates needed for my site;
Sell stubby screwdrivers with elastic strap (like those gloves you used to have as a kid)
Free plaster with each set

damn good idea. while i was doing it i was thinking "i should really tie a strap around this screwdriver before i dro..." bugger

there's a perfect, screwdriver-sized cavity behind the fog lamp which mine was hiding in. after taking all the bumper fittings except the 2x 8mm bolts which i didn't have a socket for (my smallest was 10mm) & having a good look with a torch i was convinced the screwdriver must be somewhere else & started looking around on the floor. a quick visit to the local car accesory shop & 1x 8mm socket later i found it. taking the bumper off really is simplicity itself & shouldn't put anyone off - as long as you've got:
a cross-head screwdriver
a 10mm spanner or socket
a flat blade screwdriver for the torx screws
a 8mm socket

no pics this morning, the car is currently dissapearing under a blanket of snow

[Damo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hat

damn good idea. while i was doing it i was thinking "i should really tie a strap around this screwdriver before i dro..." bugger

Oh how you gate those situations, everything seems to go into to slow motion...

...last week was at GF's dads and was just thinking I realy should get up and move that picture before the cat knocks it over and knocks the scalding hot tea over the fancy dresser...

...needless to say picture didn't get moved in time and they now have a nice tea stained dresser

[Hat]

its like in certain situations you have the ability to see into the future but with no ability to change the outcome

[MarkW19]

I'm doing mine shortly (despite a blizzard!!) and I'm gonna fasten my screwdriver to my wrist...somehow.

Learn from others' mistakes

[MarkW19]

As I don't have a torx bit, I can't undo the bumper screw, and I'm having trouble actually fitting the halo unit inside the hole!!

The old white unit came out with a bit of a fuss, but I don't seem to be able to get the halo in the space at all.

Any advice?

[Tinkerbell]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

As I don't have a torx bit, I can't undo the bumper screw, and I'm having trouble actually fitting the halo unit inside the hole!!

The old white unit came out with a bit of a fuss, but I don't seem to be able to get the halo in the space at all.

Any advice?

TBH Mark we found that loosening the torx screw on the bumper didn't make that much difference. The new light unit does go in but with some gentle persuasion (and some grazed knuckles), it's a tight fit. From reading other's accounts, it's far easier to take the bumper off. Good luck

[MarkW19]

Cheers tinkerbell...can you advise me which way round and what angle to put it in at?

I seem to have tried it all ways, and also bending the bumper back a bit but I was scared of snapping it!

[MarkW19]

Just had another go and still can't do it, can anyone help??

[Hat]

i definately got the new light unit into the hole, more or less in the position & direction its meant to fit. i didn't find loosening just the torx screws much help either - try removing the 3 screws & 2 bolts from under the bottom of the bumper - this gives you much more play. i would probably have stopped here & not taken the bumper fully off if if hadnt had to retreive my screwdriver.

[MarkW19]

Thanks Hat, I'll give it another shot then...

Do you think I definitely need to remove the 3 screws and bolts to be able to do it? I don't really want to mess about with the bumper if I can avoid it!

[Damo]

Dont you mean 3 bolts and 2 screws

[Damo]

Did this for Mark who has the Old Cooper bumper, the S bumper is basicly the same but make sure you don't unscrew the screws further forward as the S bumper has an extra piece between lip and car...



...using the above diagram as ref:

1st) Remove the bottom bolts first.

2nd)There are 4 screws (2 each side). You only need to undo 1 eaxch side, as the other 2 hold the 2 pieces of plastic together.

3rd)Undo the bolts inside of the archs (if you have big wheels put your wheels on full lock), you'll see inside the front of the arch a little hole. the bolt is at the top of the hole. And is vertical in relation to the ground and unscrews down.

4th)Then the 2 torx.

5th)Now be careful when removing as there is a temperature sensor attached to the grill and will need disconnecting by an extra person during the next stage.

6th)Pull the bottom of the bumper away from the car first to unlatch the op of the bumper from the metal between the 2 torx screw points. And then llift away from the car.

Reverse to re attach.

[Tinkerbell]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Just had another go and still can't do it, can anyone help??

Mark, at first we were convinced the fitting wouldn't fit. It did go in pretty much in the direction it's fitted but the hardest bit was fitting light and hand in the tiny gap. Hopefully by now you've sorted it.

[Tinkerbell]

Excellent work Damo

[MarkW19]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

Mark, at first we were convinced the fitting wouldn't fit. It did go in pretty much in the direction it's fitted but the hardest bit was fitting light and hand in the tiny gap. Hopefully by now you've sorted it.

It's just the two tabs (where the screws go into) that I can't get past!!

[MarkW19]

Tinkerbell I just PM'd you.

[Damo]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

It's just the two tabs (where the screws go into) that I can't get past!!

Those tabs will stick out the hole anyway so why do you need them to go through it

[Hat]

i've got images of mark outside in the snow & dark still trying to fit these lights