So I went to repaint my silver grille into black. Figured out a way to remove them but install looks as it will be very dificult without bumper removal . Anyone got a clever way to put lower and upper grille back in?

 

They won’t go back in the same way that you removed them?

 

No ,you can take it out by pushing the clip with a screwdriver and get the grille out but puting it back in is a different story since clips needs to slip back on unto tab on the grill, has to be done from inside of the grille , unless maybe some special tools could be used.

 

Unless you’ve got a mesh grill, I’d think something like a screwdriver with a 90 degree bend in it might work.
Hook it through the grill near the clip, put the end on the clip, and then pull to seat it.

 

dont see how I can do it with a screwdriver

 

So the clip goes on the backside of that vertical tab that hangs down in the first picture? The grill has a horizontal tab that pokes through the vertical tab?
Will the clip fit through the grill? If not, maybe trim the clip narrower so it will?
Since I haven't taken that apart, I'm trying to visualize how it fits together.
What I'm thinking, is if the clip will fit through the grill, you could hold it in place over its tab with something like a forceps, then using an 'L' shaped tool (like a bent screwdriver), put pressure on the back of the clip (by pulling forward) to press it onto the grill's tab (all the while, holding the grill in place). Just gotta grow a third arm.
And since you can't see what you're doing back there, you're working blind, and have to go by feel.

 

yes clip goes on the tab that goes through to the other side. Il give it a try . Another option I thought about was drill small holes and screw the grill in from the front

 

Pulling the bumper is not that hard, I’ve done it 4
or 5 times. Someone here did the clips
from underneath, by dropping the undertray and reaching up that way. The clips take some
force to replace.

 

Jahummer Any links or directions on removing the bumper would be apriciated!

 

You guys are wild with these screwdrivers and drilling holes ... just remove the bumper, it takes 20 minutes. Do it right!

- Remove wheel and tire
- Remove undertray
- Remove or pull back wheel arch liner
- Disconnect electrical harness
- Remove a few screws
- Remove a few plastic clips from top of bumper
- Pull off

Removing the grille will become obvious when the bumper is off

 

I agree with Jahummer and gkubrak, pulling the bumper is easy.... Just an added note you don't even have to pull the wheels or the undertray....

 

Yes figured it out , bumper isn't too difficult to remove. I will say the clips for the grill are from the 😈 , easy to take off but a pain to put back on , no way would be able to put them back on from the front without bumper removal.

 

That looks pretty straight forward

 

might as well change yer air filters....

 

Red growler next.

 

So that's what they look like without the Pedestrian Protection System rubbish we have to have in Europe.

Interesting to see you didn't remove the undertray. I've always removed it. How easy was it to refit the bumper with the undertray in place?

Graham

 

GGG, I have removed front bumper 2-3 times and never removed undertray. You just have to align it with the bottom of the bumper before you start reinstalling bolts...

 

Are you going to paint the fog light cover grill to match?? I did that with mine in silver and it looks great.

The black looks nice too, good job.

 

I'm thinking painting the mesh only part in the covers. You went with silver grille and covers? Pics?

 

Yeah that's what I meant. Just have to carefully mask off the surrounding areas. Red growler is the way to go too!