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6 minute read
Front bumper removal and fog light replacement
Compliments of tspot @ forums.swedespeed.com
7-30-2011
What you will need:
8mm socket
10mm socket
Extension to reach bolts behind trim
Bone tool/butter knife
T25 torx bit
When I bought my car it had a broken fog light which I told the dealership they would have to replace. I had the trim around the fog light off because I was trying to get in there without taking off the bumper but this is not nessecary.
Finally almost 6 weeks later (not becuase of Volvo but because of the dealership not giving a $#!& about their customers after they get paid, it was a Kia dealer) my new fog light is in my possession.
The first step is to get the headlight wipers off. Flip open the plastic cap at the base of the wiper arm to reveal the 8mm bolt. Remove this bolt and then remove the wiper by wiggling it back and forth a bit while pulling. I found mine were a little stuck on but came off with some patient wiggling. Disconnect the washer fluid hose by pulling it off the fitting.
Next open the hood and remove the 6 plastic plug holding the bumper down by depressing the middle section then lifting the whole thing up.
Next remove the trim piece by prying it up gently with a butter knife or a bone tool. Start from the middle and work your way out.
Next look inside the hole in the bumper that was behind the trim peice you just took off. There is a 10mm bolt inside. Remove it. Be careful that you do not drop the bolt it can be a PITA to retrieve form inside this hole.
Now pick which side of the car you want to work on first and turn the wheels to full lock the opposite direction. You are looking for a T25 Torx screw inside the wheel well towards the front of the car.
Back this screw out a few turns. You do not want to remove it but simply loosen it enough that you can pull back and outward on the bumper far enough to unhook it from the piece of plastic that it holds in it place. The second picture shows the piece of plastic that slides back and forth as you turn the torx screw. It is the standart lefty loosey/righty tighty.
The bumper is now unbolted from the car. If you were wokring alone like me at this point you should put something on the ground under the bumper so it doesnt fall and get scratched on your driveway. One side at a time push on the bumper just infront of the wheel well about 10" forward and the bumper will come away from the car. Set the first side down and repeat on the other side. Your car should now look something liek this.
There are also these clips at each corner of the bumper that you will need to remove if you wish to completely remove the bumper from the car. I found I did not need to do this to remove the fog light so I left them in place.
Also dont forget to disconnect the fog lights. Pull the connection up out of its holder and seperate them by pushing in on the metal bar.
Now you have access to the fog light. Simply remove the 2 T25 Torx screws. Hang on to the light when you take out the second one or it will fall.
Now all you need to do is reverse all these steps to install the new light and get the bumper back on the car. I found that working by myself it worked well to lift it into place and then put the two 10mm bolts in the front of the bumper in loosely so that it is held in place but can still be moved around. Next I replaced the 6 plastic plugs by pushing the middle sections up then inserting in holes and then pushing the middle section flush again. Then I closed the hood so I could make sure everything was aligned properly before tightening the bumper down. There are 2 peices that need to be slotted together on each side of the bumper then hook it around the piece of plastic controled by the torx screw in the wheel well and tighten. I guess you might want to check and make sure everything works before tighening it down too. I didnt but it all worked out 
