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@winstonchu Thanks for the photos,Do you have a better camera? photos a bit blurry. In the last photo, the floor is clearly focus but the car isnt
Could you take some more in direct light showing the rear end and also a side profile of the diffuser in relation to the muffler tips (does it stick out or get hidden)?
I do have a better camera! I'll snap some of those shots you request when I get back in town later this week!
@sdqqbb
Yup you definitely have to remove the rear bumper to remove the diffuser
Where did you tape to avoid scratching the paint? Also, do you just pull off the clips or have to use a flat head screwdriver?
I taped right below the rear headlights. I went a little extra from the instructions( theres a PDF earlier in the thread with instructions where to tape). I actually taped along the panels on the bumper and the piece above (was probably overkill).
If you're referring to the black plastic push clips all around, I used a car panel removal tool (was like 4 bucks off amazon). You might be able to use a flat head screwdriver but would probably take more work. The clips are pretty darn tight.
Also as a update, the 2017 OEM tips came last week and I'm planning on getting them installed on my F-Sport Exhaust so we'll see how that goes. Will required cutting and welding (Don't care tooooo much about the f sport engraving.. its nice for sure)
I taped right below the rear headlights. I went a little extra from the instructions( theres a PDF earlier in the thread with instructions where to tape). I actually taped along the panels on the bumper and the piece above (was probably overkill).
If you're referring to the black plastic push clips all around, I used a car panel removal tool (was like 4 bucks off amazon). You might be able to use a flat head screwdriver but would probably take more work. The clips are pretty darn tight.
Do you happen to have a picture of the plastic tool you used to disassemble to clips? I'm really concerned about marring the bumper even with the tape on with too much force.
There is a post somewhere about somebody having their diffuser removed at a shop without the bumper being removed on a 3IS. Didn't explain how, but there must have been a way to get the screws off the reflectors which is the reason for needing to remove the bumper because of the tight spaces. Wonder what tool was used to do it. If possible, then the new duffyserbcsn be put on without putting the two screws back if there's enough support already perhaps. Just a thought.
Do you happen to have a picture of the plastic tool you used to disassemble to clips? I'm really concerned about marring the bumper even with the tape on with too much force.
There is a post somewhere about somebody having their diffuser removed at a shop without the bumper being removed on a 3IS. Didn't explain how, but there must have been a way to get the screws off the reflectors which is the reason for needing to remove the bumper because of the tight spaces. Wonder what tool was used to do it. If possible, then the new duffyserbcsn be put on without putting the two screws back if there's enough support already perhaps. Just a thought.
Are you talking about the black plastic clip above? You can use any combination of the tools in the picture above. If you are talking about the clips built into the bumper, they are very durable and snap on and off. The pdf shows how they are clipped in and you should be able to pull off the rear bumper with some force.
I saw that post as well but after taking apart the rear bumper and removing the rear diffuser I can confirm that you must take off the rear bumper. The person who posted it has a Tom's rear body kit which actually requires cutting the rear bumper to install the rear diffuser from the body kit which makes me feel like they just cut out the rear diffuser and parts of the bumper (someone can correct me on this)
Is it me, or is that diffuser painted/wrapped gloss black? And thanks for posting this; was curious how the fsport exhaust would look paired with the refreshed diffuser.