Rear diffuser

[Mazzyh]

Has anyone removed the rear diffuser from the bumper? I need to do repairs and I've tried removing it but it won't budge. There are 3 screws on each side (after you've removed the fog lights) but these hold the chrome trim. So all I can find are these plastic clips but it send to not budge when when I pinch them to go through the locator holes.

Because the bumper is so badly damaged, I can't leave it in situ, so I have no voice but to get out out. Can't find anything on this forum nor on the internet.

 

[Alb]

Have you already removed the bumper from the car?

 

[Mazzyh]

Yes

 

[MG Clive]

I don't know if this is the right one for your vehicle @Mazzyh, but if you look for one on ebay, it should show you where all the clips etc are located, like this one. > MG5 diffuser.

 

[Mazzyh]

Thank you and yes it's the right one. However I can see all the clips on mine because the bumper is off but they didn't seem to release the diffuser. I'm not aware that they use glue (like they do for the spoiler) but someone may have glued this as it ain't budging!

I've got a fairly chunky repair to do to the bumper and got myself a plastic welder kit. I've just got to get this thing off first.

If and when I do, I'll reply here so anyone else have with it in the future can see.

Here goes - a bit of brute force and ignorance may work...

 

[MG Clive]

Here goes - a bit of brute force and ignorance may work...

Sounds like a plan.

 

[Mazzyh]

Today turned out well but not exactly how I planned it!

The bumper was split all over the place and basically was a write-off however I thought I'd get a plastic welding kit and see if I could repair it (and the diffuser which still refused to come out).

Total success! I'm amazed. What was a shattered cracked and in many pieces bumper, is now solid and looks pretty good. I need to do a spot of filling and then spray it but even now it looks incredible compared to what it was. I even repaired the diffuser, so it can sit there forever now.

Just waiting for the replacement crash bar and the car is finished.

Very happy

 

[MG Clive]

Some pictures would be really useful here @Mazzyh

 

[Mazzyh]

Here are midway through pictures. I've completely stitched it together but haven't cut the staples yet so you can see more clearly. I've also put foil tape on the joints so glue won't seep through but it also shows just how broken it was. The shape was also all over the place but the heat gun helped me reshape it and take out some of the big dents and bumps.

It's very solid but all the stitching makes it look a bit of a Frankenbumper!

 

[MG Clive]

That's a big repair job @Mazzyh, good job though.

 

[Mazzyh]

Thanks! Yes, it was basically a shattered bumper that has had a rear impact that was bad enough to concave the tailgate. I wanted to see if I could do it rather than getting a second hand bumper. So far, buying the welder and some glue, I'm up to £22. I think that's not too bad and although there was a lot to do, it was kind of cathartic.

I'll give some more photos later. I hope to have it finished and back on the car by the weekend. I'm just waiting for the crash bar to arrive.

 

[Mazzyh]

The reinforcement is now done. Just fettling to do. I used glass fibre jointing tape and lots of epoxy. Crash bar has arrived but so has evening, so my work for the day is done.

Here's the finished underneath reinforcement.

 

[Mazzyh]

And now all fitted. Just a fog light to source on the driver's side - cracked one fitted for now. It will need fettling and getting rid of edges etc but I'll do all of that when I'm ready to paint the tailgate.

I'm really pleased. Think I've got myself a nice car in the end.

 

[MG Clive]

Spot on @Mazzyh,