If this works . . . attached is a picture story (word doc)of my my quest of Man - v - Jag bumper.

I have recently finally got the front bumper (fender on your side of the pond) off of my 2001 3.2ltr Jaguar XJ8 and such a simple ambition turned into a complete nightmare. Its such a silly way to fix the bumper/fender that I thought a set of pictures showing the actual fittings you are battling against would be helpful.

I did search this forum and other places, but could "see" anywhere a clear picture of the x2 bolt fitting holding the bumper/fender on. You are in a whole world of trouble if like me you don't really understand how its fixed, go in blind and just continue turning the bolt(s) until the threaded ferrule insert slips.

I hope the pics and tips helps anyone trying to get this job done!

Cheers Jag Folks

 

I’ve spent the last two days removing the read bumper/fender off my X308 and have had much the same problems, however….

Some PO of your car has obviously not wanted to spend the money on a proper set of mounts and has fashioned a lash up of angle iron and washers. If you’re prepared to invest a couple of hundred quid in the car, I’d suggest you buy the correct mounts to install the bumper properly, making sure you put lashes of copper slip on the long bolt when you reinstall (ask me why I say that).

 

Hi Mark . . . I know exactly why you are referencing the copper slip grease. Boy don't I just !!
I'm very interested in what you say about the mounts and can quite believe its a cobble-up job . . . . But I've been doing some more work on the bumper today and .

and I can't see how to do that. I've "reported" my own post and I'm hoping a moderator will either show me how to do what I need to do . . or a least take down the post ASAP . . . Any suggestions? . . . . Cheers

 

I've done some more work today on my bumper situation and I would like toThe reason is that although 80% of the posting about how I finally got the threaded and knurled ferrule off the bolt whist working under the chrome blade is correct . . . . my assumption that the ferrule had come free from its mounting inside the x3 washers was incorrect. It's just pure coincidence that the internal whole on the washers happens to be the same as the outside diameter (OD) of the now dead ferrule. If this ferrule breaks free and slips whilst undoing the bumper mounting bolts . . . you are in a world of trouble . . . because you you have simply got to get it off the bolt thread and you have little or no access.

Just trying to show my experience of this and what eventually what worked in this quest . . . . but I canot see how I can edit or take down my own posting!!

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Cheers

 

one cannot ignore artistic inspiration experienced by author of those charming diy mounts, he must have been die hard fanatic of mad max movies and keep his welding machine as a family pet.
After sucha discovery i would wonder what else have been hidden as a surprise for posterity

 

You should be able to edit your own post so you can go ahead and do it but, to be honest, why? I had fun reading it and I'm sure others will too.

There's an "edit" button on the bottom of each post that you have submitted - that should do the trick...

Good luck - looking forward to seeing your progress. On my back bumper I've ended up having to buy the mounting posts and a new bumper beam. Mounting posts because I'm removing an original factory tow bar that uses modified mounts, and bumper beam because the "ferule" as you call it has detached from the beam and is gripping like death to the long bolt. I guess I could put another thread in the beam but it's broken in the middle too. I bought a used replacement from Simply Performance.

 

@Dude.Day
If I delete your first post the whole thread will be deleted.
Just go ahead and add your updated info and send me a PM when it's done and I'll add a not to the original post.

 

Hi XJack. There is that thought gently swimming 'round in the rapidly reducing pool of brain cells . . . but I'm not too alarmed . . . . surprised but not yet alarmed . . . if the arm mounts turns out to be a DIY fix. The only reason I've taken the bumper off at all is in order to get to the x6 rusted to buggery METAL SCREWS AND CLIPS holding the under body panel onto the bumper. That panel has been a royal PITA and at last it's finally off the car . . . . and I pretty much managed.to keep the x6 tabs intact.

I've had x2 MOT's (in UK) and she's sailed through both with not even an "advisory" and has always run smooth as silk. We haven't always had ready www access to almost any part from somewhere in the world . . . so maybe not having the "pukka" arm mounts is just someone solving a problem a different way. I might get into putting the correct arms on . . . but either way . . . I've gotta figure out how to get a 12mm ribbed ferrule fixed into the plastic bumper . . . . when I can only access the (wrong) underside of the bumper mount panel.

Any and all ideas will be greatly appreciated. Cheers

 

Hi there . . . and thanks for the reply. I'll update the .doc note ASAP and concentrate on the eventual fix that got the troublesome ferrule out which is the real issue.

Cheers

 

when talking ferrule you mean nut that was housed in the beam but got detached?


I would get the new flanged nut, make cuts on the flange so it won't spin after dipping in glue and fix it back in place with copious amount of epoxy glue liquid metal type or such, should work, use a lot of grease cause next time it may give you even more trouble

 

To hopefully present some more HELPFUL information on the bumper/fender mounting mechanics.

Below are some pics of the "knurled flat rivet nut" and my chosen instrument of death. To be clear . . . THIS KNURLED FLAT RIVET NUT IS LOCATED IN AN INTERNAL PLASTIC SHELF ABOUT 12mm UNDER THE CHROME BLADE THAT YOU CANNOT GET OFF whilst its on the car. If this knurled flat rivet nut gives up its grip and slips whilst you are taking off the mounting bolts from underneath . . . you have a world of trouble.

Mine did (only one side thank god!) and I HAD TO prise up the front of the chrome bade, whilst praying vigorously as I didn't know how it was fixed to get various size clamping pliers (grips) onto it. Not being able to get enough grip to either tighten (will help to start loosening stuck nuts up) or loosen the bolt . . . . as I was cursin' like a good 'un and ready to give my beautiful Jilly the Jag . . . "A Damn Good Thrashing".

However . . . I had one more instrument of death. RIP you bas&*£d . . . . little knurled flat rivet nut.


The knurled flat rivet nut that eventually died a dogs death . . . No offence to any pooch's intended . . . you can still see that the ribbing is crudded with plastic where its twisted free!!


Very careful, precision preparation for the imminent demise



Finally . . . one very dead parrot!! My initial intention was to just use the nut splitter to give extra grip. But turning the bolt head from underneath caused sufficient stress to crack it . . job done

 

Hi again XJack. Yeah . . . Thats now my Plan A. The bumper/fender is back on the car now with just the one bolt on and I'll settle for it being a 1 - 1 draw at this point. Its not great, but she's my daily drive and I've got to get to a hospital appointment tomorrow and I don't want to test the "laugh it off level" of our local police. 'll update the thread if I come across a suitable replacement. Cheers

 

OK . . . this is the second time I've written this post update . . . . Mr Moderators . . . did you know that if you reply to a posting on a PC without PRIOR UPDATING OF YOUR PAGE . . . . you don't get any chance to save your prose just a prompt to page backwards. If you do that, your carefully crafted prose disappears into ether space. Any chance you could give us a fighting chance in the emerging Man - v - Tech battle?

Hi XJack, markdpeter and other Jag Folk . . . I've just ordered x2 replacement correct front bumper/fender mounts and will have them "in stock" for if and when I get to replacing them. At this stage, I just want to address how to get a working replacement of the now dead "knurled flat rivet nut" into the plastic shelf it has got to be fixed into.

At the moment, I'm focusing on getting a replacement fixed into position from the bottom of the plastic shelf and NOT try any further work under the chrome blades. Now before you all jump in and state the obvious "just take the blades off" which is clearly the next logical step, I've got to take on and win the next challenge of "remove the 3 or 6 rusted to buggery small poxidrive screw heads in a narrow plastic channel on a bloomin' awkward to hold and get force on plastic monstrosity that is the front bumper". This (mis)adventure has only come about by a simple need to get the x6 bleedin' rusted to buggery METAL screws holding the PLASTIC under radiator/front of engine tray off of the x6 PLASTIC under bumper tabs they fix to!!!

Although I will eventually prevail in this next stage of quest of Man - v - little screw heads . . . this plucky warrior is getting war weary and will take a quick fix if its available . . . . . watch this space . . .





First left I think - Probably the "best" of the x6 I'd need to get off to take both blades off

Second left I think. The reason I'm only gonna try of the "left" side is that this is the blade that I lifted and where the new fixing had got to go . . . AND . . . I can at least get some spay release onto the rusted screw threads via nozzle under the chrome blades

State of one on the screws on the right side now . . not gonna go there as the knurled flat rivet but is still where is should be

 

Your difficult journey with the bumper removal gives me reason to understand
why....the engineers at Jaguar implemented the various fasteners such as they are.
It seems unreasonable to have to go through what you have already.

 

Hi RandyS . . . Thanks for your understanding.

I love this car and Jaguars to bits, but more often than not is the really straight-forward things like "take the x3 pozirive screws off to remove the blades" that should more realistically state "then waste hours of blood sweat and tears whilst skinning you knuckles and inventing numerous new curses whilst you stubbornly continuing to 'round the screw heads to the point you stand no chance of getting 'em out !!" . . . that should be carefully evaluated before hitting launch!

I'm hoping to get my steam powered camera into the 12-15mm gap that I dared (had to) force the chrome blade front edge up to show the state of the x3 screw threads in the void under the blades. I think when folk see them, you'll all agree my chance of getting 'em out cleanly is vanishingly small !!

Cheers . . . Jag Folks

 

I don't think you do it in correct order
Put the blades on bumper while it is off, and after that fasten bumper back to the car
As long as you did fix the top screws to beam with the glue and they won't turn you don't need any access to them and blades can stay on the bumper

 

I'm afraid Jag Folks . . . I'm gonna have to give up on this thread. I've just wasted another half hour typing a reply to Xjack only to be told . . . you're a dick who didn't re-fresh your screen before typing . . . your message has been trashed!!

Why is this Jag Forum the only site that does this. Every other page on every other site I use and leave open does not do this? Why?