Rear bumperette/bracket removal cover?
 

I want to remove ther rear bumperettes and brackets. Has anyone done this? I have a 99 Boxster. I have the bumper off and the brackets are riveted to the bumper brace so I was going to drill out the rivets. The bumper has the cutouts for the bumperettes so wondering has anyone done this and what have you done to cover the bumper holes. I am looking for a low cost option. I have read some have taken the bumper to autobody shop to Plastic weld a pieced over where the holes are where the license plate goes but this seems costly. I also found a company that sells an aluminum plate to fit but its $200. Not going to pay $200 for a piece of aluminum. I was thinking some aluminum mesh maybe black to accent the area and maybe putting a cople of rectanglar brake lights where the bumperettes were. I was also thinking of aluminum flashing with the black mesh over aluminum?

Personally, I think the mesh will look exactly like what it is -- a cheap and quick cover-up. This will not enhance the appearance or value of your Boxster, IMO.

If you're going to go to the trouble, why not do it right? You should be able to find a shop to make you a plate that will fit across the whole space, or do it yourself with some simple tools -- a bandsaw or hacksaw and a file. Paint it body color, or black, and it will look professional and finished.

I remember seeing this done somewhere, probably here on the forum, but I can't give you a link.

Perhaps, I found some pieces of sheet plastic. I think Black would contrast with the silver nicely. I was looking at the Gambella rear bumper for the Boxster. Not that it is an option but the mesh on the back bumper with the exhaust exiting looks real cool.

here is what I did once I removed bumperettes.Thoughts?
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1395883719.jpg

looks pretty good... would honestly make for a good front end as well haha. I wonder how hard it would be to route the exhaust out the back.......

I was thinking about going to the bumperette-less look but got scared off with thought of what car insurance company tried to avoid covering some of the costs associated with rear end damage. Anyone have any thoughts on that aspect? I know insurers are always looking for angles to reject claims or part of claims. You know the old saying "Insurance is great, until you need it":rolleyes:

next thing is a removeable front plate bracket. thinking about one where the plate folds down and slides under the front bumper. the manual one not the powered one. I have paid enough for parts.

I was rear-ended two weeks ago and the bumperettes took all of the impact. Still waiting for the results of my mechanic's final inspection, but only visible damage is a couple of cracks in the paint of the bumper cover. The Lexus who hit me lost the whole front end. Seeing their effectiveness at absorbing an impact has cured me of my evil bumperette removal thoughts.

That turned out well, judging by the photo!

Are you still happy with your mod? I'm thinking about doing something like this to mine or maybe go for the spec cut out look.

I like the look and I like the black with the Arctic silver.

A few years ago, I lightly backed into a tree (and I still can't believe I did that) but was lucky enough that one bumperette took the full impact. The bumperette incurred only only a few scratches, but most importantly, the painted bumper cover incurred no damage at all.

The bumperettes do serve an important purpose.

Why mess with perfection???

I have a backup camera and besides I am gearhead and enjoy working on the car almost as much as driving it.

More importantly the bumperettes are part of the equation in rear end collision protection. No backup camera in the world is gonna help you there...

I prefer the European look without the bumperettes. It's on my to do list. :)

I do like the look without the bumperettes.....but will never take them off as they simply serve too great a purpose. Easier and far cheaper to replace a damaged bumperette than the whole bumper. Accidents happen.

I was at a self serve gas station and some ahole barreled in and tapped my rear bumperettes. sad thing was he had no clue what he had done and there was no damage. but you know what? I still like the clean euro look without the bumperettes. Sick and tired of people trying to pass laws because the common USA citizen is to stupid to know what is going on around them. I took the bumperettes off and glad I did I like the look, its clean, if someone hits me I will fix/get a new bumper and put it back on. Not trying to start a riot on this forum but opinions are like ****************************s everybody has one and I don't care about yours!

If bumperettes are so important, then why aren't they on the front too? It's not that I despise them. They just stick out too much for my tastes. They remind me of impact bumpers from the 70's.

I had a Fiat X 1/9 with front and rear bumpers that stood out from the body on little shock absorber type attachments... I know what you mean...

X1/9? WOW! I had a 78 always lots of maintenance but a blast to drive!

You're not trying to start a riot...then why act like a ******* yourself? If you don't care about others opinions, that's fine. You don't have to be a ******* about it yourself. Just smile and nod and go about your day.

How did you get that plastic to stick on the car? looks great. would really like to do that mod. thx

I did the delete about a month ago. The plastic stays on by virtue of the license plate holder. Plastic part goes on... plate holder on top... the screws... it's secured.

my delete plate is 3mm thick, so I put some doubkle sided tape on the back... to help it adhere. Didn't work for me because of the slight curve of the bumper cover. I'm going to give it a second look today.

So... just a couple license plate bracket screws... you'll be set.

Edit: The plate in the pic from your post is the exact one I installed on mine. Thanks, again, Mikesz.

Thanks for the info. Mine is going in next week and that back bumper has to come off for exhaust so I am going to get started. I am assuming those silver metal bumps that are hidden by the bumperettes just unscrew from the long metal " bumper " and leave the square area to be covered by the new back plate? Did you just cut out 3mm plastic to fit the opening? That might be a little above my pay grade , might have to have someone make it for me:)

Those silver metal bumps... that are hidden behind the plastic bumperatte covers... are affixed with rivets. I was going to drill them out... then learned that they can be pounded out. I took a nail punch and hammer... positioned on top of each respective rivet... gave a swift pound... and they popped right off.

The 3mm plastic delete panel I purchased from a member who had made his own outline then outsourcing the cutting of the actual plastic delete panel to a glass shop. I imagine you'd have to have a steady hand to draw and cutout a template.

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I went euro bumper cover. Not cheap at all but it's done.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1595523121.jpg

Consider going grilled and designing it such that it looks good. Black on back works to hide imperfections. You may have to repaint after cutting.....this is the main issue with this. You will have to get the beam behind the grill painted drilled out to make it look good and get cooling happening. Cutting down heat shield for air flow out is another task along with plate mounting

The Euro bumper is the same as the US bumper with the exception of the cut outs to accomodate the bumperettes. The upside to having the "Euro" version is that you don't need the delete plate.

Now... if you want to do some cutting... some mesh... some cooling...

Figure out how to run two exhaust pipes side-by-side the license plate. ;)