Tragedy has struck... need advice on fixing my A2

hey guys, sorry I've been away... fighting off a chest infection... argh...

if it isn't raining tomorrow I'll try and see if the mounting bits for the headlight are ok...
 
so my chest infection got worse and I've been really sick...

finally starting to feel better...

and getting tired of looking at my smooshed in plastic cover thingy (I think the brits call this the bumper?) and was thinking I'd love to take it off so you can see the "crash bar" and other under bits... is this ok? will the police pull me over?

I reckon I'd need to fix the license plate to the crash bar or can I not have the front license plate? I think in some countries you just need the rear plate?

just until I can get the replacement plastic bit unless I end up really liking the Mad Max look....
 
Glad to hear you are finally feeling a bit better. Please do not drive the car without the bumper, all the sharp edges that would be exposed can injure pedestrians and the police take a hard stand on this. As others have said remove the headlights, bumper and lower crash beam. All these parts are quite easy to replace. Once off you will then be able to see if further damage has ocured. Nothing has come off the end of the crash beam it does look like that. For second hand parts that do not cost the earth speak to @A2Steve or look in the spares section of the market.
 
ok, I put a replacement headlight in... it was a reasonably sunny day and then as soon as I got the broken light off it started drizzling so it was a race against time... luckily in the end it didn't go full downpour but it was enough to stress me out...

the crease in the bumper plastic just pokes into the edge of the headlight area so taken the broken light out was pretty easy but getting the new one in was more complicated... I could have used brute force but might have cracked the light so I poured a boiled kettle onto the plastic and it softened it and I pushed the light in easily...

so, in the rush to finish before the inevitable downpour I thought was coming - the large bolt on the lower inside edge of the light wasn't grabbing into the hole/nut thingy... sometimes the nut is held in place by a clip or is in a plastic chamber but if falls out... I couldn't get my hand under it to see... so I thought I'll push the light over and see if in can just put the bolt in without the light and turn it and see if it grabs and goes in... well, the bolt slips and falls into the inside of the bumper through a very small slot in the edge of the plastic...

argh... it seems the. only way to replace the nut/clip that the bolt holding the light on is to remove the plastic bumper...

anyway, light is still held in securely with the top bolt the the pressure the engine hood puts on the rubber seal...

I really wish I could drive the car without the plastic bumper like we can do in America...

anyone know where I can get a replacement long bolt (and nut/clip with nut) for the light?

MOT is this Monday so will see how it goes....
 
Sorry to say but unless things have changed since the photographs at the start of this thread, I don't think the secure mounting of the headlight is the real problem you're facing. The MOT will object if the metal crash bar is poking through the plastic bumper shell or there are any sharp-ish edges around the cracked bit. I'd say you're going to need to get the bumper off to replace it, not just to retrieve the dropped bolt.
 
really?

I gotta replace the plastic too?

yikes...

I guess it would help to have one with me when it goes to MOT or replace it before hand?




Sorry to say but unless things have changed since the photographs at the start of this thread, I don't think the secure mounting of the headlight is the real problem you're facing. The MOT will object if the metal crash bar is poking through the plastic bumper shell or there are any sharp-ish edges around the cracked bit. I'd say you're going to need to get the bumper off to replace it, not just to retrieve the dropped bolt.
 
what if I was to use the "boiling kettle" trick to soften the plastic and then pull it out the bit that got smushed and ten taped it up on the seam were edge of crash bar can be seen?

not sure I can get a replacement bumper in time... MOT expires on 25th so I suppose I can reshedule my Monday appointment


Sorry to say but unless things have changed since the photographs at the start of this thread, I don't think the secure mounting of the headlight is the real problem you're facing. The MOT will object if the metal crash bar is poking through the plastic bumper shell or there are any sharp-ish edges around the cracked bit. I'd say you're going to need to get the bumper off to replace it, not just to retrieve the dropped bolt.
 
You need to replace it beforehand, unless you are having the garage do the work before they run the MOT test. Should the car's MOT expire before you can acquire a replacement, leave it insured but keep it off road. Book an MOT appointment once you have the new bumper shell in hand and when that day comes, drive it directly there. If you aren't going to fit it yourself, you will need to use a garage that does work as well as MOTs, rather than just take it to an MOT test centre.
 
You need to replace it beforehand, unless you are having the garage do the work before they run the MOT test. Should the car's MOT expire before you can acquire a replacement, leave it insured but keep it off road. Book an MOT appointment once you have the new bumper shell in hand and when that day comes, drive it directly there. If you aren't going to fit it yourself, you will need to use a garage that does work as well as MOTs, rather than just take it to an MOT test centre.

ok thanks, the MOT place does repairs so I'll ring him and let him know... I guess I just gotta find the plastic bumper real quick...
 
what if I was to use the "boiling kettle" trick to soften the plastic and then pull it out the bit that got smushed and ten taped it up on the seam were edge of crash bar can be seen?

not sure I can get a replacement bumper in time... MOT expires on 25th so I suppose I can reshedule my Monday appointment

You could try I suppose ... as you should really replace the bumper in the long term, you could use a heat gun instead, it doesn't have to be pretty, just functional and no sharp edges.

Edit: looking at the photos again you'd most likely have to access the bumper from the inside to persuade that lot to come out. Maybe you could get away with drilling holes in the crease and pulling it out with hooks once you've softened the plastic.
 
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You might get lucky and be able to retrieve the lost bolt from inside the bumper, by putting it on ramps at the front and undoing the front of the undertray, only 3 screws I think.
 
Hi,

just seen this thread, I recognise your car from my way home from work so you must live close to me. I remember the bumper :(

Let me know if you need any help or advice.

The nut in the panel is a captive "rivnut". It cannot fall out, there is a flange on the top and expands below to hold in place during installation. They are designed to be fitted into panels from the outside face where the other side is inaccessible.
However, the headlight bolts quite often rust and break off so the original fixing may have been drilled out in the past and replaced by something else.

regards

Andrew
 
Hi,

just seen this thread, I recognise your car from my way home from work so you must live close to me. I remember the bumper :(

Let me know if you need any help or advice.

The nut in the panel is a captive "rivnut". It cannot fall out, there is a flange on the top and expands below to hold in place during installation. They are designed to be fitted into panels from the outside face where the other side is inaccessible.
However, the headlight bolts quite often rust and break off so the original fixing may have been drilled out in the past and replaced by something else.

regards

Andrew


Hi Andrew, I've seen a few A2s around here... um, can I borrow your front bumper for an afternoon? ha ha just kidding...

gerard
 
That's duct tape, in terms from 'over the pond'. I'm not sure you're going to be able to get the current bumper to a state where you can apply it though ...

I edited my post above but only after the next posts had gone on, so it's probably worth saying again here:

Looking at the photos again you'd most likely have to access the bumper from the inside to persuade that lot to come out. Maybe you could get away with drilling holes in the crease and pulling it out with hooks once you've softened the plastic.

I wish you luck, but I do think your best bet is the bumper that @sciroccorrado has offered you.
 
That's duct tape, in terms from 'over the pond'. I'm not sure you're going to be able to get the current bumper to a state where you can apply it though ...

I edited my post above but only after the next posts had gone on, so it's probably worth saying again here:

Looking at the photos again you'd most likely have to access the bumper from the inside to persuade that lot to come out. Maybe you could get away with drilling holes in the crease and pulling it out with hooks once you've softened the plastic.

I wish you luck, but I do think your best bet is the bumper that @sciroccorrado has offered you.

I think you are right.... just trying to get as much info I can and I'll swing by garage Friday... if he says duct tape will get through MOT then I'll do it though might need 4 rolls ha ha... admittedly it is probably a slim chance of happening...
 
Hi Andrew, I've seen a few A2s around here... um, can I borrow your front bumper for an afternoon? ha ha just kidding...

gerard
Ive a su
I think you are right.... just trying to get as much info I can and I'll swing by garage Friday... if he says duct tape will get through MOT then I'll do it though might need 4 rolls ha ha... admittedly it is probably a slim chance of happening...
Or alternatively revisit a2 Steve quote for replacement parts which looks an absolute bargain imho.
 
Ive a su

Or alternatively revisit a2 Steve quote for replacement parts which looks an absolute bargain imho.

Ok, I’ve spoken to the mechanic and he said it will be fine not to worry about it... so I guess the heat is off but I still need to replace it...

In this case I’m not going to argue with the guy...

I was looking at the photos I posted originally and the plastic must have return back to its previous shape to some degree because it doesn’t look as bad... I’ll still get some duct tape just in case...

I know we’ve all heard of different garages interpreting mot things differently...

I guess I waited so long to fix it because I’ve been sick and didn’t have time and the girlfriend who did the damage never actually coughed up the cash to fix it...

Thanks for all your help guys
 
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