Rear Bumper Sag - Retaining Clip

[nwGTS]

Google found this thread for me and just wanted to say thank you.

One note... whether or not you have the stud for parts 51127896161 + 51127896162 or if you do not and need 51124015053 x2 is NOT delineated by pre or post facelift.

Cars built after or in June 2002 will have the studs and will need 51127896161 + 51127896162.

My car is a pre facelift 2003 manufactured in Sept 2002 and has the studs. Easiest method is to just stick your hand under the wheel well and feel for them

[Tbonem3]

Good job finding the date of change!

[ZHPizza]

There's a plastic bracket on either side that the bumper slides onto and bears the full weight. This bracket eventually starts sagging with age, so you can either replace it or shim it up a bit. I did the latter a few years ago and haven't had any sag since.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?19536-ZHPizza-s-red-car&p=516493#post516493

[Tbonem3]

BUMP - anybody of pics of how the clips work on the earlier cars?

The clip that I posted earlier in the thread, that are listed as being correct for earlier cars per realOEM do NOT FIT. I can't figure it out for the life of me.

However, the clip (51124015053) posted initially by Royalflushness, that isn't an E46 M3 part, DOE look like it'll work, and someone on instagram told me that they used them on their 2001.

I've ordered 2 51124015053 from FCPeuro, so when I get them, I'll try them and take pics.

Begs the question, what are 51127164686 for?

[RoyalFlushness]

BUMP - anybody of pics of how the clips work on the earlier cars?

The clip that I posted earlier in the thread, that are listed as being correct for earlier cars per realOEM do NOT FIT. I can't figure it out for the life of me.

However, the clip (51124015053) posted initially by Royalflushness, that isn't an E46 M3 part, DOE look like it'll work, and someone on instagram told me that they used them on their 2001.

I've ordered 2 51124015053 from FCPeuro, so when I get them, I'll try them and take pics.

Begs the question, what are 51127164686 for?

Do you have an earlier car you are doing this to or on your 04? I just let the bumper stay sagged lol unfortunately dont have an update

[Tbonem3]

I also have a 02/2002 that doesn't have the studs. There are little silver clips listed in realoem that do not fit and then the darker metal clips you posted, that aren't listed for e46 m3, but seem like they will work. We'll see. Still wouldn't mind seeing pics of other people's.

[Casa de Mesa]

I bought the Trinity Graphics NC (EDIT: corrected the company name) bumper hangers/mounts after seeing them on robgill build thread. I haven't installed them yet, but I'm hopeful they will help. This post:

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...9081#post69081

[Tbonem3]

That's for front bumper.

This thread is about rear bumper, pre-facelift specifically.

[Casa de Mesa]

That's for front bumper.

This thread is about rear bumper, pre-facelift specifically.

They make one for the rear bumper. I bought both front and rear.

[Casa de Mesa]

Here is the link to the rears:

https://trinitygraphicsnc.com/collections/frontpage/products/

And from their description:

These brackets are designed to solve the problem of the E46 rear bumpers that dont match up well at the wheel well and lower quarter panel. These offer up to 6mm of adjustment (see pics), to get that rear bumper cover where it needs to be, and keep it there! The OEM brackets are NOT adjustable. These brackets have a larger mounting tab to hold the bumper in place. They are are also built far stronger than the OEM brackets. Comes with a new stainless steel screw for the inner fender liner, throw away the rusty OEM one.

[Tbonem3]

Worth it for the FJB sticker alone

anyway, the convo is still about fender/bumper clips

Anyone get pics? Prefacelift, the little clips at front most part of bumper to fender.

[Casa de Mesa]

Worth it for the FJB sticker alone

anyway, the convo is still about fender/bumper clips

Whether it's a clip, a hanger or some duct tape and bailing twine, isn't the underlying question, "how do I fix bumper sag?"

This is a different mouse trap.

[AWE46M3]

BUMP - anybody of pics of how the clips work on the earlier cars?

The clip that I posted earlier in the thread, that are listed as being correct for earlier cars per realOEM do NOT FIT. I can't figure it out for the life of me.

However, the clip (51124015053) posted initially by Royalflushness, that isn't an E46 M3 part, DOE look like it'll work, and someone on instagram told me that they used them on their 2001.

I've ordered 2 51124015053 from FCPeuro, so when I get them, I'll try them and take pics.

Begs the question, what are 51127164686 for?

Bump! Tbonem3 I could have sworn I saw pictures of you fixing this gap on your car. Maybe it was in a series of posts on your Instagram earlier this year? I checked your posts and can’t find those pics anywhere. My 02 is missing the post. Any info you have for your solution would be appreciated.

[Tbonem3]

Not sure if this is an update, but I can confirm that part # 51124015053 (need 2) works for the earlier cars. I have no idea why 51127164686 was listed - I couldn't get them to work after much effort. Even 51124015053 are difficult to install and I found that they would pop off if not pushed on very hard. You have to really close the gap with one hand, then insert 51124015053 just in the right place where it can grab enough of the bumper edge and the fender. I found (well, my 02 was very dirty from sitting outside) that I had to clean the inside fender - there was too much dirt and that prohibited 51124015053 from grabbing well.

A little trick I did to help, I used pliers to bend the "teeth" of 51124015053 out a little farther so it would grab better.

I think it would be smart to order like 3 or 4 of 51124015053, since they're so cheap, because you may very well lose 1 or 2 over time. They're just not very secure. The later model solution is much better.

AWE46M3

[AWE46M3]

Not sure if this is an update, but I can confirm that part # 51124015053 (need 2) works for the earlier cars. I have no idea why 51127164686 was listed - I couldn't get them to work after much effort. Even 51124015053 are difficult to install and I found that they would pop off if not pushed on very hard. You have to really close the gap with one hand, then insert 51124015053 just in the right place where it can grab enough of the bumper edge and the fender. I found (well, my 02 was very dirty from sitting outside) that I had to clean the inside fender - there was too much dirt and that prohibited 51124015053 from grabbing well.

A little trick I did to help, I used pliers to bend the "teeth" of 51124015053 out a little farther so it would grab better.

I think it would be smart to order like 3 or 4 of 51124015053, since they're so cheap, because you may very well lose 1 or 2 over time. They're just not very secure. The later model solution is much better.

AWE46M3

Tbonem3 Thank you for your input - this is really helpful. I recall seeing you fix the bumper sag on the Steelgrey Refurb and clicked through your IG highlight but did not see those pics. Wish my 02 had the post for the hook clip but I'll play around with these guys to see if I can get it 90% there. Thanks for circling back.