Has Anyone Pulled Their Front Bumper?

[Killa200]

If i wanted to just replace the upper grill with GT version on my 2.0 youre basically saying i would have to pull the whole front bumper off? There is no alternative way to do it that you can see?

Correct

 

[Reignman98115]

thanks

Correct

 

[Yellow Jacket]

Thank you for this! Doesn't look nearly as complicated as I thought. Guess I'll go ahead and get them Big Mouths! lol

 

[DanielN]

The bumper cover is easy... 10-15 minutes.

 

[Bryan3.3]

Thank you for this! Doesn't look nearly as complicated as I thought. Guess I'll go ahead and get them Big Mouths! lol

I just installed one on my car. Very simple install for even a beginner like myself.

 

[C-Hatt]

Lord yes please keep us updated! I'm going to have to embark on this endeavor shortly, as I've got to replace an upper grill on my GT1 (it met a deer this morning, and I'm excited that is all I'm going to have to deal with!)

I just met the same fate with hitting a deer on my way to work. The most damage was to the grill piece, but got a tiny nick in the hood too. Where did you order your replacement grille from? Also, did you sustain any damage to your adaptive cruise camera?

 

[Killa200]

Got lucky and found my replacement grill out of a damaged bumper on ebay. Parts are probably a little easier to find now that the Stinger has been out a bit longer.

No damage to any of the sensors, just the grill.

 

[thomas5986]

Alright, so I finally got my front upper grill in, so I snapped some pictures. The triangles that are being referring two are in the first four pictures. I did not capture a few steps (three clips in the fender wells + a screw. 6 pop up clips under the bumper that attach it to the skid pan.)

Right hand side triangle, this pulls straight up, and is held in by a single body clip and two plastic ears that mate with the bumper
View attachment 5126
Right hand side triangle removed
View attachment 5127
Left hand side triangle, this pulls straight up, and is held in by a single body clip and two plastic ears that mate with the bumper
View attachment 5128
Left hand side triangle removed
View attachment 5129
Top bumper cover. This stays attached to the bumper. Removed the 5 yellow circled clips. They are pop up clips and not Christmas trees.
View attachment 5130
Single bolt under the right and left fender lips that were covered by the triangle trim pieces, 10mm. Would be best to use a swivel if you have it for these.
View attachment 5131
Front view of car, bumper removed. Yellow boxed items are places the bumper clips into by pressure. Blue boxes indicate notches on the front plastic frame that the bumper sits onto. Red box is the harness connection (DO NOT remove bumper quickly once you get it off the car, this harness is short)
View attachment 5132
Inside view of bumper. Yellow boxed items are places the bumper clips into by pressure. Blue boxes indicate the spots that rest in the front frame notches. Red box is the harness connection.
View attachment 5133

Also attaching the disassembly instructions for the front bumper.

That was a big help, thank you for the very detailed instructions. I will add that if anyone is doing this on a 21 there are 12 push pins instead of the 6 stated here.

 

[redtiger]

That was a big help, thank you for the very detailed instructions. I will add that if anyone is doing this on a 21 there are 12 push pins instead of the 6 stated here.

Thanks, guys, for this info. I need to replace the top grill on my brand new 21 GT2 (I tried to polish out a scratch on the dark chrome and went through the "chrome" even with very careful rubbing - the scratch (that I cannot even pick up on with my nail) is still there. Conveniently, Kia does not sell touch up paint for it, so I have to buy a whole new grille, for a pinkie nail sized spot on the dark chrome. That thing should not be on the outside of a car. It is a pretty looking disaster waiting for the first piece of gravel or anything that comes at it.

Could you tell me how easy it is to take the bumper off, once you removed all the bolts and pins? Does it come straight off, or you need to pull on the areas where it snaps in by pressure (the areas indicated in yellow)? The car has 200 km and I am freaked that I am going to do more damage to it, but trying to fix an expensive polishing mistake. How do the push pins come out or pop up? Also, my car has a camera in the middle plate (GT2 model). Does all that get connected to the main body through the same connector shown in the instructions shown in this chain?

Sorry for all these questions, but I have never done any body work/removal of this sort. Thanks for all the help you may provide.

 

[Pooske]

great write up

 

[ChaneRZ]

While the bumper is out, do everything you want to do. Intercooler, big mouth, etc.

 

[StingerJefferson]

Thanks, guys, for this info. I need to replace the top grill on my brand new 21 GT2 (I tried to polish out a scratch on the dark chrome and went through the "chrome" even with very careful rubbing - the scratch (that I cannot even pick up on with my nail) is still there. Conveniently, Kia does not sell touch up paint for it, so I have to buy a whole new grille, for a pinkie nail sized spot on the dark chrome. That thing should not be on the outside of a car. It is a pretty looking disaster waiting for the first piece of gravel or anything that comes at it.

Could you tell me how easy it is to take the bumper off, once you removed all the bolts and pins? Does it come straight off, or you need to pull on the areas where it snaps in by pressure (the areas indicated in yellow)? The car has 200 km and I am freaked that I am going to do more damage to it, but trying to fix an expensive polishing mistake. How do the push pins come out or pop up? Also, my car has a camera in the middle plate (GT2 model). Does all that get connected to the main body through the same connector shown in the instructions shown in this chain?

Sorry for all these questions, but I have never done any body work/removal of this sort. Thanks for all the help you may provide.

So, it's not that hard. Once the bolts and pins are out, you do need to pull pretty hard, go to the other side, pull pretty hard, etc. And don't pull too far before unsnapping the connector at the bottom. Takes some strength, but it's not difficult.

That said... if you're pulling the bumper for the first time to replace the entire grill for a small scratch, you might want to get a local shop to do it for you. I don't think I added any scratches or anything to mine, but I'm less previous about my exterior than most, and I was willing to take the risk as a learning effort.

I'd guess a shop could do it in 15 minutes, and they'd have all the proper tools, too.

 

[redtiger]

So, it's not that hard. Once the bolts and pins are out, you do need to pull pretty hard, go to the other side, pull pretty hard, etc. And don't pull too far before unsnapping the connector at the bottom. Takes some strength, but it's not difficult.

That said... if you're pulling the bumper for the first time to replace the entire grill for a small scratch, you might want to get a local shop to do it for you. I don't think I added any scratches or anything to mine, but I'm less previous about my exterior than most, and I was willing to take the risk as a learning effort.

I'd guess a shop could do it in 15 minutes, and they'd have all the proper tools, too.

Thank you for your help and input into the matter.

 

[perfpump]

Alright, so I finally got my front upper grill in, so I snapped some pictures. The triangles that are being referring two are in the first four pictures. I did not capture a few steps (three clips in the fender wells + a screw. 6 pop up clips under the bumper that attach it to the skid pan.)

Right hand side triangle, this pulls straight up, and is held in by a single body clip and two plastic ears that mate with the bumper
View attachment 5126
Right hand side triangle removed
View attachment 5127
Left hand side triangle, this pulls straight up, and is held in by a single body clip and two plastic ears that mate with the bumper
View attachment 5128
Left hand side triangle removed
View attachment 5129
Top bumper cover. This stays attached to the bumper. Removed the 5 yellow circled clips. They are pop up clips and not Christmas trees.
View attachment 5130
Single bolt under the right and left fender lips that were covered by the triangle trim pieces, 10mm. Would be best to use a swivel if you have it for these.
View attachment 5131
Front view of car, bumper removed. Yellow boxed items are places the bumper clips into by pressure. Blue boxes indicate notches on the front plastic frame that the bumper sits onto. Red box is the harness connection (DO NOT remove bumper quickly once you get it off the car, this harness is short)
View attachment 5132
Inside view of bumper. Yellow boxed items are places the bumper clips into by pressure. Blue boxes indicate the spots that rest in the front frame notches. Red box is the harness connection.
View attachment 5133

Also attaching the disassembly instructions for the front bumper.

Thank you,I followed these directions and it turned out great! The hardest part was disconnecting the sensor module. The swing latch has a couple of ridges on the rearward-facing side of the module...push these ridges in and the latch will swing out and away.

 

[perfpump]

Did the sides by driving up a set of camper blocks. Gave enough clearance to get under there comfortably to clean, position, and use a cordless torque driver.

 

[Terrorz75]

Hi there,

Does anyone have a good photo of the driver side front bumper removed? I tried looking for one but it's either unclear or not the right angle. I'm looking for a close view of the bumper removed that shows how the bumper cover is held to the body of the car.
My wife nudged the step up to a gas pump and the round retainer clips popped off but also the bumper cover under the driver side head light also shifter and I can't pop it back into place. The attached is the best I can find but it doesn't enlarge to a clear view. I'm afraid to take my bumper off right not knowing if I can get it back on.
The photo with the reflection of my balding head =P is how my bumper looks but that's after me pushing it back in. It'll pop back out after I drive it.

Let me know what you guys think.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Got lucky and found my replacement grill out of a damaged bumper on ebay. Parts are probably a little easier to find now that the Stinger has been out a bit longer.

This did not age well lol

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hi there,

Does anyone have a good photo of the driver side front bumper removed? I tried looking for one but it's either unclear or not the right angle. I'm looking for a close view of the bumper removed that shows how the bumper cover is held to the body of the car.
My wife nudged the step up to a gas pump and the round retainer clips popped off but also the bumper cover under the driver side head light also shifter and I can't pop it back into place. The attached is the best I can find but it doesn't enlarge to a clear view. I'm afraid to take my bumper off right not knowing if I can get it back on.
The photo with the reflection of my balding head =P is how my bumper looks but that's after me pushing it back in. It'll pop back out after I drive it.

Let me know what you guys think.

Calling @General_Vodka he's had his bumper off and on more than anybody I know of.

 

[AtomicGTL]

yes with a ditch

 

[General_Vodka]

Hi there,

Does anyone have a good photo of the driver side front bumper removed? I tried looking for one but it's either unclear or not the right angle. I'm looking for a close view of the bumper removed that shows how the bumper cover is held to the body of the car.
My wife nudged the step up to a gas pump and the round retainer clips popped off but also the bumper cover under the driver side head light also shifter and I can't pop it back into place. The attached is the best I can find but it doesn't enlarge to a clear view. I'm afraid to take my bumper off right not knowing if I can get it back on.
The photo with the reflection of my balding head =P is how my bumper looks but that's after me pushing it back in. It'll pop back out after I drive it.

Let me know what you guys think.

Sucks bro. Yeah if the bumper is removed improperly (like when you hit something) then the plastic end tabs can get damaged. It rarely damages the actual mounting bracket on the fender but you should check that as well. Your best bet at this point is to use I guess a heat gun to get the bumper tabs warm enough so that they are flexible. Then put the bumper in and hold it there for a coupe seconds.