Replacing the front centre lower bumper grill ?

[Spapro]

Hi,

Need some advice and hoping you can help.

I hit a piece of tyre rubber on the motorway in my 2009 Passat R-Line 2.0 Diesel and the front lower centre grill has been smashed :(.

Click this thumbnail for a larger image:
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5989/passatrlinebumpergrille.th.jpg (http://img821.imageshack.us/i/passatrlinebumpergrille.jpg/)
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Can I change this grill section without removing the whole bumper from the car ? Any step-by-step guides would be useful.

Thanks.

[DSG4ME]

I'm not sure, best I can offer is to drop the engine shield down and hope it pushes out.

[Spapro]

I'm not sure, best I can offer is to drop the engine shield down and hope it pushes out.


Thanks DSG4ME, how is the front of the engine shield held in place ? Is it heavy once loose at the front ?


Anyone else got any ideas, or experience of removing one of these grills from the bumper ?

[g-black]

The upper grill has to be removed first. There are 6 bolts on the top of it under the bonnet, and 2 underneath it. Best way to see these two is lie down and look up.

Once it's of there is no really easy way to pull the lower grill off. There are clips all the way round it. Best bet is to he really brutal and pull. Takes alot of effort but it will give. If yours is broken anyway, then I've nothing to loose! I've just ordered a replacement for mine. £44 bit I've a funny feeling the r-line is slightly different. The chrome around the edge has a more matt finish to match the upper grill.

I'll hopefully be fitting mine on tuesday evening if I have time. I'll take some pictures if it helps.

[Spapro]

Sounds like we have both been unlucky g-black.

I have ordered the lower grill from my local dealership, your right the R-line has a sort of satin silver finish to the outer detailing - £74 inc VAT :aargh4:.

I won't get a chance to fit the new part until the weekend so any tips/pictures/advice from you would be really appreciated !

Good luck with your swap-out, I hope it goes smoothly for you.

[Spapro]

Hi,

all sorted. Picked the new grille up from VW dealership - £63.98 inc. VAT. It was clear that the clips are integral in the rear of the grill and that it should push into place and therefore it was clear the old grill should pull out of the front of the bumper.

g-blacks instructions were really useful - you can change this grille without removing the whole bumper:

1. First remove the upper grill (8 torx screws on top and 2 torx screw from underneath which you can see by lieing down and looking up). Once all screws removed the upper grill carefully pulls off, be carefull not to snap any lugs etc.

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/918/passatuppergrillremove.th.jpg (http://img816.imageshack.us/i/passatuppergrillremove.jpg/)
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2. The lower grill will now pull off, I used a small flat bladed screwdriver to carefully ease each clip along the top out and then lift and pull and bottom clips should release and your lower grill comes off.

3. New lower grill pushes easily into place

4. replace upper grill, tighten 2 lower screws whilst holding the grill in/down on either side and then tighten 8 torx screws on top.

Job done. Thanks so much to g-black for giving me the info to get me started.