Front Bumper Early 1972 Install

[Guest Anonymous]

Anyone can point me in the right direction to install this front bumper, someone had removed the bumper and I have no idea how to put it back, I noticed two slots for the bracket I dont see what bolt to use and how to insert them in the slots. Thanks for any help.

[eastsidebimmer]

It's a rather interesting experience. Loosely assemble the three bumper pieces, get a friend. You'll need new Saucer-head screws (carriage bolts) M8X20 2 on each side and Hex nut with plate, M8 plus wave washers. They slip into keyhole slots in the body, the carriage bolts go in head first. not very fun work, you'll need a friend, some good music and a 6er. Study the parts diagram and order new bolts, washers and nuts for everything, including the bumper. Make sure you have the aluminium spacer blocks (#15) to mount the bumper to the bumper bars, they are handed. If you want chrome carriage bolts for the top of your bumper they are NLA but bluedevils or ebay may have some. They will arrive yellow plated otherwise but you only need 2 for the tops. Your dealer will be able to order everything else and it's nice to have the correct length bolts. You can sub Hardware store parts but they don't really save any money.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=ST12&mospid=47140&btnr=51_3323&hg=51&fg=15

[Guest Anonymous]

My issue is that there is a one slot on one side of the bracket holder, the other side is not open. So what ever bolts you put in there would be locked from one side with the other side inside the frame.

[eastsidebimmer]

My issue is that there is a one slot on one side of the bracket holder, the other side is not open. So what ever bolts you put in there would be locked from one side with the other side inside the frame.

Not sure, maybe post some pictures of what you have and others can chime in too. The bumper I installed was on a 68, not sure if the 72 is possibly different and I don't want to confuse you.

[Guest Anonymous]

pretty sure you need to attach the bolt to the bracket and slide the head of the bolt into the slot in the frame. The slot keeps it from turning while you tighten the nut.

[LeMoMo]

(nt)I attached the pics, on the other side there is no hole or anywhere to tight anything

[BillWilliams]

Place the carriage like bolts in the slots, put the bracket on, the washer and nut. You may need to apply pressure on the bracket towards you, to keep the bolt from spinning as you tighten.

And on install, use masking tape on the any part of the body that the bumper may come near. it saves some scratching.

_________________

If all that fails, drill through the frame and just put a big butted bolt through.

[Mike Self]

It's much easier to install the bumper brackets alone--one at a time than try to do the brackets whiile they're attached to the bumper blades.

That way you can put sideways pressure on the brackets to hold the carriage bolt heads in place while you run up the nuts. Leave the brackets slightly loose so you can assemble the three bumper blade pieces, and level the whole thing--level the bumper with the lower edge of the grille, not with the ground; otherwise it'll look crooked.

Also suggest using stainless steel carriage bolts for the brackets, so they'll come out in a few years when you want to remove the bumper.

cheers

mike

[LeMoMo]

My question where those carriage bolt thread to as their is no opening on the other side of the rail, or they just lock in the slot.

I am totally confused.

[John_in_VA]

The carriage bolt head slides into the slot to hold the bracket in place, as stated several times above.

You can attach the brackets to the bumper, and slide the brackets through the holes in the nose panel, placing the bumper where you like it, then drill completely through the rail and then connect the brackets with bolts. Not the way it was done originally, but it will work.

[LeMoMo]

I understand now, it just hold the bracket in position. Thanks all for taking your times to explain. Have a safe weekend.

[BillWilliams]

The carriage bolts slide into the key hole slot. The piece of metal behind the slot serves to hold the bolt in place as you tighten it. Sometimes the pressure to hold the head of the bolt is not enough and this is when you put the bolt into the keyhole slot, but the bracket over the bolt, then the nut and pull out on the bracket as you tighten it. The pressure of you pulling will cause enough friction between the head of the bolt and the frame rail, it will hold as you tighten.

[LeMoMo]

Bill, mine doesn t have a hole through the frame, I only have the slot, there is no place to put a nut.

[BillWilliams]

The nut goes on the bolt that goes through the bracket

[LeMoMo]

Remember there is no hole on the other side of the frame, that'why someone said if else fail drill the frame. If you look at the pic from Real OEM the bolt goes thru the bracket and the frame you put the nut on the other side. It is not like that in mine.