Bumper removal & fitting new headlights

HI All

On this wonderful sunny Friday I decided to fit my new, mist free, headlights to my 2004 TF. Just thought I would list the problems I found, if others need to do the same in the future.

Follow CJJ excellent bumper removal instruction:

Front Bumper Removal - How To

The first problem you will probably find (as with most MG maintenance). If there are 4 screws one will always be locked with rust. The wheel arch nearest to door fixing screw for inner wheel liner rusted solid, and had to be drilled out (both wheel arches). Three plastic trim crosshead screws tend to just pull out without unscrewing. Once the liner is out you will be amazed at the amount of crub in the recess of the door side wheel arch.

So if you intend to remove the bumper:

1. Ensure you spray all screws (especially wheel arch steel screws) a number of times a few days before intending to remove. On re-fitting use new S/S screw. The plastic trim screw can be difficult to re-fix. I found wrapping a thin strip of masking tape around the legs, made it easy to reinsert.

2. Clean crud out of body recess, rust treat and when dry, fill with Silicone sealant. You need to shape it so that any water flows out without collecting. Also when fitting the inner liner do not tuck the liner into the body recess, which you will now have filled with silicone, leave the liner over the recess, and once secured with a S/S screw, seal body and liner edges once again with silicone. This will stop crud ingress and not restrict removal if you need to remove the bumper again..

Now to the headlights. Removal is easy; two top screws and two bottom screws. There should just slide out once the electrical socket is unplugged.

1. Again I found one of the lower screws locked. Penetrating and a cup of tea. Finally got it to move. You will find that because of the effort you will need to unscrew the bolt the body location bracket will twist. So clamp with mole grips to eliminate excessive twisting. Ensure you reposition when fitting the new headlights.

2. I also found that to remove the headlamp electrical plug a pain. Again they seem to lock up with corrosion on the pins. Try a good spray of switch cleaner and waggle away, but it is difficult to grip. It will eventually separate. I then cleaned the inside of the plug with switch cleaner.

New headlights onto car no problems. Just for information, each headlight is fixed to an adjustable bracket, which you may need to fiddle with until the headlight sits properly to the bodywork. Just remember to tighten up before you put bumper back. I didn't! But pulling back the inner liner, you can just get a spanner onto the bolts

I found that re-aligning the bumper can be a little painful, in my case that is. You may be OK. But do not tighten any of the bumper screws till the body panels align. Once it looks ok. Lock them all up.

That's about it. Just ensure you have sufficient S/S screws, new or salvaged plastic trim screws for the re-assembly.

The whole job took approx. 3 hours including a number of tea stops! Probably an experience mechanic can do it in 1 to 2 hours.

Rob

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Bumper removal & fitting new headlights