Peugeot Boxer - Deformed Front Bumper

[IanFl]

My 2016 Boxer has a weird kink in the front bumper, just above the number plate. I've seen a few other vans with the same thing, but I'm pretty sure it's not how it's meant to look.

My van is an ex-delivery van, and I can tell it's had some repairs in the past. I suspect the bumper has been off before, and put back together slightly incorrectly.

My plan is to start dismantling and investigating - but before I begin - has anybody encountered and fixed this before? The route to the to the offending part is by taking the headlights out and removing the silver grill surround, so it would great if there is any experience to draw on before I begin pulling things apart.

Ian

 

[uzsnowdrop]

Cant quite see how bad it is Ian but try a heat gun on low setting first, gentle circles and finger pressure push( gloves obv) , this worked for me on a similar dink on the wheel surround

 

[IanFl]

It's this bump here:

It's bolted to the metal frame at exactly this point (you can see the vertical bracket through the gap), which is what makes me think it's an assembly error

 

[uzsnowdrop]

Oh sorry Ian, dont force it then .

 

[Phill D]

it does look as if the fixing has been located incorrectly, is there no access without a front end strip down.

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[Two on Tour]

Personally, I would leave it as is as it is central to the grille and does not really look that odd until it's pointed out to you.

 

[EML]

Are you sure it's not a feature? See this vid, paricularly around 8:20, 9:20, 13:10. It's not as pronouced as yours, but looks like it should be there.

 

[ontheroadagain]

I would guess that someone with a towbar has reversed into you.

 

[IanFl]

Are you sure it's not a feature? See this vid, paricularly around 8:20, 9:20, 13:10. It's not as pronouced as yours, but looks like it should be there.

I saw that vid - but when I look at "official" Peugeot pictures, the bump is not there. I've also been looking around and I reckon something like 25% of vans have the same bump. All leads me to the conclusion it's a common mis-assembly error.

It's one of those things that's very much on the border of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - but it does annoy me every time I look at it. I'm hoping for somebody on here to say something like "it's a easy fix - 10 mins work tops!". Probably too optimistic

 

[IanFl]

I would guess that someone with a towbar has reversed into you.

Good thinking - quite possible - that could have bent the centre bracket and pushed the bumper out of line.

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[chesterfield hooligan]

It's there to insert the starting handle for when you have a flat battery.

 

[dazandandrea]

I wonder if the fixing point has some vertical movement fir adjustment and uts just been tightened up too high.
If it were me if it cant be moved easily, i would leave it.

 

[IanFl]

I always like to come back and answer my own questions for the next person if I eventually get a result.

I took the front panel out this morning and had a look behind. The issue, as suggest by ontheroadagain above, was that the metal mounting bracket was slightly bent backwards and upwards - probably from a previous knock. There is zero adjustment or alignment possible - so it's all about the straightness of the bracket.

A bit of persuasion with a rubber mallet and it's now much better. There is still some distortion in the plastic where it's been sat for so long in the old shape that it won't go back - but hopefully this will improve over time. A new plastic section is around £60-70, but I'm happy enough with it now so it's not worth the cost.

Top picture is before, bottom picture is after.

The complete job was very easy - only took about an hour start to finish and the only tool required was a T30 screwdriver. There were lots of screws, but all were very easily accessible.

With the front panel removed before straightening:

This is the offending bracket, after I straightened it:

 

[iandsm]

It's this bump here:
View attachment 675019
It's bolted to the metal frame at exactly this point (you can see the vertical bracket through the gap), which is what makes me think it's an assembly error

Mine is a 2016 and I can clearly see it's small bracket where your red circle is, there is no deformity on mine so I wonder if you bracket has been bent by impact. Having said that I don't think it looks odd and I doubt anyone not familiar with these vehicles wold think it a fault, they may just accept it as an intended feature. Were it mine I think I would leave well alone.

I posted after your repair it seems. So it was the bracket and all now well, good.

 

[Swifter]

I literally would never have noticed that !
Glad you got it sorted

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[L' Hobo]

You could have drilled a hole and welded in a starting handle sticking out the front and made a feature of it!

 

[uzsnowdrop]

Glad you got it sorted, bit of light hairdryer on the rubber may help it back?

 

[gus-lopez]

Next time you can put a loop of wire through the lower grille around the bracket & pull it out using a tirfor , chain blocks or even another vehicle towbar.

 

[Vipar]

Boiling water on the plastic and ease it out