Afternoon all,

I need to swap my slam panel over, as the headlight fixings on the one currently fitted are damaged. I thought it would be easier to swap the slam panel, rather than repair the threads on the existing one.

Now, I've read on here that the slam panel can be removed with the bumper, lights etc all still attached, just by undoing the slam panel bolts (2 by the wings, 2 by the bumper fixing points, is that all of them?).

Doing it this way would allow me to get better access to the headlight fixings so that I can remove them, some have rounded and others have snapped.

Is it as simple as that though? Or is there more to it?

I realise I'd need to unplug the lights, but is there anything I'm missing?

Having never removed the slam panel before I thought it would be best to check before I start.

If someone could talk me through the various steps then that would be appreciated.

I have searched on here but I couldn't find a comprehensive guide as to what's involved, people just talk about it being simple and straightforward, but I've attempted so called straightforward jobs in the past and they were anything but.

There are the 2 fixings at the top by the wings (13mm), and 2 on each end of the slam panel which the bumper inner support joins to. They are at 3 and 9 o clock.

There is an attachment at the sides (10mm) which needs to be loosened in order for the bumper to slide forwards. You only need to loosen enough to slide the bumper from the bracket, not undo. You need to remove the arch liners to do this. The foglights attach to the front part of the arch liner at the bottom.

Don't forget there are 3 fixing tabs that join to the lower cross member where the power steering steering cooler and wiring loom passes. These need to be undone from under the car and then something like a large screwdriver, or pliers to hold the clip on the top to stop it spinning. You may not have all of these in tact anyway, as they are brittle plus any light knock to the front would snap them.

I wish you the best of luck!

You need either 3 arms, or child like hands to do it without swearing.

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Senior Test Automation Engineer for the 306GTi6 Owners Club Forum

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So I sat there with a 10mm trying to get my shovel hands in for nothing

On the 6 I broke, the front lower section of arch liner/bumper liner (often missing) was attached to the bottom of the fog light.

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Senior Test Automation Engineer for the 306GTi6 Owners Club Forum

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I can't see it speeding the job up much doing it this way Stu. follow the conventional imo.

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I'm Si btw

Night Blue VW Golf GTD
Bianca LBSC Rallye - Track/Road Slag Project Thread
Sparkling Silver Mini Cooper D - Super Dooper - (The other half's wheels)

If you do it the convential way make sure you avoid whale face when refitting the bumper.

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Black X Reg PIII.VGTi 6 A4212 pt 1 A4212 pt 2 Searching the streets of Bristol for 1.36p/day.

Joint Kent Leader