To read the original full thread and post questions/comments on this topic, please go to HOW-TO: Remove the rear bumper fascia
My right rear bumper cap had to be replaced after gouging it at the stupid dimly-lit and cramped parking garage near my work. I ordered a replacement cap from Matt at trdsource.com (sweet discount!). I was expecting it to be unpainted which would require taking it to the body shop for them to color match and install. I was pleasantly surprised when I received the part to find it pre-painted! Armed with my shiny new painted bumper cap, I decided to do this myself and take pics along the way... Hope this helps others out there who need to do the same. I would rate this a notch above the horn mod as far as difficulty goes. It's way easy.
1. Apply tape to the painted body panels just below the rear taillights. This will protect from any scratches if the side panel goes astray while removing the bumper fascia (called "bumper" from here on).
2. At the bottom of the bumper, remove the 2 screws, found near the splash guards
2a. If you have parking assist, near the screws you just removed, you'll see the connectors for the parking sensors. Press in the tab and pull away to remove them. Mine were kinda crufty with dirt, so this took some effort to remove. Be careful not to pull on the wires themselves.
3. Also at the bottom of the bumper, remove 2 bolts. You'll see more bolts there. The ones you want to remove are the ones that are attached to metal tabs on the (real) metal bumper -- not the bolts holding the silver hitch panel to the bumper fascia.
4. Open the rear door and remove the 5 bolts along the top of the bumper.
5. Remove the push clip on the inside part of the bumper panel. Just pull the inside part of the clip out, and then pull the entire clip out.
6. All that's left is to unsnap each side of the bumper. Each side is held in by 4 clips. 3 along the top edge (type A), and 1 near the wheel well (type B). Pulling from the bottom edge of the bumper (where the bottom screw was) gave enough leverage to pop out the first clip near the wheel well. From here, that opened up a big enough gap to run my fingers up to the top. Just pull the panel out to unseat the clips. There will be a lot of resistance and it might feel like it's going to break, but it won't.
Repeat for the other side of the bumper.
7. Carefully remove the bumper and place it on the ground. It is okay to laugh at the piece of styrofoam sitting on top of the real bumper.
8. The bumper cap is held in by 5 clips. Just press in the tabs and pull them out.
8a. If you have parking assist, there will be one more clip you will need to remove. Use pliers to squeeze in the top part of the clip and pull it out from the bottom.
9. The bumper cap is now free to remove and replace
10. Follow these steps in reverse. Once you're complete, admire the work you just did and the money you saved by doing this yourself. Go buy your lady something nice.
