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How To: Front Bumper and Headlight Removal

Discussion in 'Model S' started by ucsbwsr, Apr 3, 2016.

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  1. Dborn

    Dborn Confirmed

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    Just pulled mine off again today. Not having done this for a while I forgot about a couple of points on reinstallation. There are tabs on the rear of chin section which need to fit into slots in the under body fairings. So, it is a two person job. Tilt the bar so that the top is further away from the car than the bottom, have someone down there to check that the tabs slide into their sockets, then rotate the bar backwards to its seated position and redo all the fixings, the 10 mm bolts and wheel well screws etc.
     
  2. ucsbwsr

    ucsbwsr Banned

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    The process should be exactly the same for facelifted cars.
    Ok, it sounds like you just upgraded to the higher end fogs with the additional lighting. The "Gen 1" and "Gen 2" was a bit confusing as it sounded like a facelifted upgrade but the fog lights as you described them have been around since inception but getting the LED fog + corner light was dependant of your Model S spec, not build date as Gen 1/2 would suggest.
     
  3. rknp85plus

    rknp85plus Member

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    Evan,

    Please check your messages/email.

    Thanks,
    Richmond
     
  4. WATTS-UP

    WATTS-UP Member

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    Thanks for the picture and documentation on head light removal. I'm going to to do my as soon as the weather breaks.
     
  5. pitiso

    pitiso New Member

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    Los Angeles
    I stumbled across this old but very useful post - thanks for the detailed instructions. Any idea how the chrome ring on the nose cone is attached/can be removed once the bumper is off the car? Anybody tried to wrap that chrome ring and can comment on the process and end results? Pics would be awesome of course. Thank you!
     
  6. Del Schier

    Del Schier Member

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  7. Del Schier

    Del Schier Member

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    I just replaced a LED headlight assy. on my 2016 facelift S. It was about the same procedure but I did not have to take the entire bumper cover off and there is no extra nose piece on the bottom. I did loosen the to front corner fender bolts to get make it easier. The connector was a puzzle on the headlight. After removing the frunk I was able to see that you have to push in with a screwdriver from the side, not the back of the connector.

    The reason I wanted to replace it was the DRL/accent light had turned yellow in the bottom inside corner. Out of warranty Tesla wanted over $1500 to fix it so I found a new one on eBay for $150 shipped with a tab broken off the bottom. I fabricated an aluminum tab held in with pop rivets and JB Weld.

    The problem now is the new one is a brighter white than the good left one. LOL
     
  8. Natecocco

    Natecocco New Member

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    Clearwater, FL
    I just parked and my bumper was pulled off from the parking stopper thing. It broke my bumper bracket mount. Is that a separate piece or is it connected to something much bigger?
     

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  9. Natecocco

    Natecocco New Member

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    I think this is the broken piece. Any help would be great.
     

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  10. Dborn

    Dborn Confirmed

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    There is also a small screw at the top rearmost edge in the wheel well. I assume the bumper will have ripped there as well. This screw is common to most makes of cars and joins the plastic bumper to the metal of the fender. ?No.4 or 5 in the parts diagram.
     
  11. ubercharged

    ubercharged New Member

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    San Mateo
    Great thread! Any possibility this thread exists somewhere with the images all intact?
     
  12. r1200gs4ok

    r1200gs4ok Active Member

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    is there a similar write-up for rear bumper / cover removal?
     

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