Do I need a new front bumper? '11 SE

[<=M=>]

Sup all //

So this sucks. Taking my wife out for date night tonight, on our way to dinner, idiot driver in front of me clips the snow bank causing a HUGE snow/ice buger to come in the middle of the road. Traffic is on the right side of me so I can't move over to avoid it. Regardless of having the car lowered, I clip it on the left side. My heart sank as soon as I heard the noise. I honestly thought I cracked or damaged the body of the bumper.

LUCKY! I didn't, however after tonight when I got home I closely examined the front lip and now noticed that it's "not right". It's looser than the right which has ZERO wiggle, the left ... has a slight shift.

I can pull the seem about 1/2" from the rest of the body. I also noticed that it looks like either a clip or plug snapped off, thus the reason for the wiggle. See pictures below

Can this be fixed? Or because it's plastic, is there no "clean" way of attaching the clip, or whatever I think snapped off.

Oh, and yes -- it's been a week since I've washed the road off my car, freak'n MN winters.

Fig. (a) looks like where a clip would be, to insert into Fig. (b) slot ... correct?

[SumairM]

i dont think you need a new bumper, i think you would be able to maybe get some heavy duty think double sided tape and replace em where the clips would be

[<=M=>]

So it is indeed a clip that busted?

You guys think jb-weld or something similar would hold a glued clip?

I have to get over the fact that it's "just" a car .. but that thing is only 8 months old.

Originally Posted by SumairM

i dont think you need a new bumper, i think you would be able to maybe get some heavy duty think double sided tape and replace em where the clips would be

[<=M=>]

So I'm full of questions tonight, is / was this clip permanently attached? Or does it lock/slide into a slot, than push into the hole. Like this:

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Toy...p_p/a21016.htm

[GT-R]

[<=M=>]

^^ GTR!!!!

LOL oh man ...

I had the exact freakin thought if I can't get this clip thing to work. Nice schematic btw.

[GT-R]

Yea that screw will hold better than any double tape for sure. I don't think the clips are replaceable, cause someone had the same problem before and I think you'll need to buy a new front lip. One of the design flaw I think.

[<=M=>]

Yea, I'm still wondering if that clip was permanently attached at the factory, or if it locks/slides into a slot some how, than clips through the hole on the body.

If that's the case than I'm good, but I doubt it. Thought of maybe liquid nails or jbwelding the clip to the loose bumper, however ... I agree a screw/bolt would hold it better than any plastic clips. Secondly I hate the idea of driving a screw into the car to hold a loose bumper, but I guess I'll do what I need to do.

Originally Posted by GT-R

Yea that screw will hold better than any double tape for sure. I don't think the clips are replaceable, cause someone had the same problem before and I think you'll need to buy a new front lip. One of the design flaw I think.

[GT-R]

That's what they use to hold the rear mudguards on NON-SE models, you have to screw it to the rear bumper, same method.

Just get black screws and do the other side too so it won't happen again, nobody will notice it.


I know how you feel.. I'd feel the same way if it happens to my car, prolly my heart will stop altogether.

Originally Posted by GT-R

yeah i did the same to my car. hit a pothole and front lip popped out. did the same like above and still work for me good stuff GTR

[Pawel062]

Yep I'd just screw it in. Also popped my left side one day pulling into advanced auto. Blue clips go into these hooks that go into the bumper. There's also a filler panel at the edges. Take some pics from a bit of a distance when car is cleaner n I'll see if u have everything n if not I'll find u the part numbers. But id just screw it in like gtr said and be done with it.

[theslowone]

tabs are molded into the lip from the factory, they fit through holes in the bumper, then on the inside of the bumper i had blue clip that slide into the tab that hold it tight.

[<=M=>]

Thanks Pawel—Going to take care of this Saturday, wish I had a heated garage though, hate dealing with plastic in the bitter cold. Guess a garage is better than no garage.

I'll wash the car up, take a look at what I'm dealing with and than go from there.

Originally Posted by Pawel062

Yep I'd just screw it in. Also popped my left side one day pulling into advanced auto. Blue clips go into these hooks that go into the bumper. There's also a filler panel at the edges. Take some pics from a bit of a distance when car is cleaner n I'll see if u have everything n if not I'll find u the part numbers. But id just screw it in like gtr said and be done with it.

[<=M=>]

So, that molded tab that broke off—no way or regluing or connecting? Best option is to screw it like GTR said.

Contacted my dealership today, they have the clips available for $7.50 and said they'd put it on for free—but I'm wondering if that's the source of my troubles since your now saying the clip is molded into the lip.

Originally Posted by theslowone

tabs are molded into the lip from the factory, they fit through holes in the bumper, then on the inside of the bumper i had blue clip that slide into the tab that hold it tight.

[theslowone]

Someone hit my bumper (hit and run) in a parking lot. It broke the clips from the front lip. Clip and tab were still in there but broke them off. I used a couple layers of double sided moulding tape.

But there is not a way to reattach the tabs. Untried jb weld but didn't hold up.
There prolly laying on your splash shields.