not sure where to post this one .... hoping someone had the same experience
I was putting on my new plates ... one of the license plate screws was forced into the mount when the original plate was put on the back ... This made removing the screw hard ... as I took out the screw the mount fell behind the bumper. Anyone know how to access the rear to find it and put it back? tried reaching behind the bumper ... no luck ... looks like the trunk mechanism may have to be removed to get to the mount point?

 

I'm sorry to tell you, but I do know the answer. When I bought my 8, I got the first one the dealer ever got in. Someone had mistakenly used the wrong screws to fasten the rear license plate frame and they had managed to strip out the screw holders. Neither I nor the dealer was able to unscrew the frame to put on my license plate when it arrived. The only solution they could find was to order a new rear bumper assembly; apparently there's no way to fix this once they're stripped.

Sorry...

 

Ole Spiff

Thanks for the info.
That's what I was afraid of since I couldn't find an easy way thru the trunk.
I take it to my dealer on thurs.

 

I had to replace my entire rear bumper because some ******* hit the back of my car in the ez pass lane.

You do not have to buy an entire rear bumper. What you do need to do is remove your rear bumper to access those holes.

What the screws actually screw into are 2 tiny metal plates that are only held in with compression and 2 tiny black tabs of plastic that are on the rear bumper. See if any of the vendors can get you just those 2 screw holders, then you have to take off your rear bumper andinstall those on.

Don't worry, I thought the rear bumper would be a nightmare but by myself I took it off and replaced it in about 45 minutes. That is with hand tools and being very careful.

Just take the taillights off, the rear wheel liner, 3 tabs that hold the rear bumper and some screws inside the trunk where the trunk and bumper meet. Then pull out from the sides and lift up. Thats it.

Good luck, you DO NOT NEED TO REPLACE YOUR ENTIRE BUMPER!

 

You shouldn't need to replace the bumper. One of mine was missing from my 8. I don't know how long it was gone as i only discovered it when putting my real plate on. There was only 1 screw Took it to the dealer, the removed the bumper, took one of those black fastener things from another 8 and put it on mine. And put the bumper back on. That was a strange thing to have happen but it was no problem getting it done.

 

Thanks for the info Folks!!!

As usual this forum proves informative!


forgot to update.....

The dealer had to order the mounts.

It is necessary to remove the rear bumper to replace the mount.

Make sure they tighten the fastners for the bumper on both sides so that the bumper is flush to the rear panels and re-connect all the connectors for the brake lights ect.

all under warranty

 

My bumper was in exactly the same condition -- the dealer had held the metal bolt (threaded receiver?) in place with a sheet metal screw. They promised they'd fix it when the plates came in. Sometime before the end of June 2004.

The problem appeared to be that a lip molded into the screw-holes in the plastic bumper got broken off, so it seemed like they'd have to replace the bumper.

I'm glad to hear 1) I'm not the only one and 2) there's a repair not involving total bumper replacement.