How do I take this cap off? Help please!

[saeedg48]

push on the top hard.

[e1000]

OK........ let me see if I can get this in one shot.

[MWFR12]

Originally Posted by saeedg48

push on the top hard.

How hard does it need to be pushed? I'm pushing with what I think is too much force and the top part simply bends inward, with the bottom barely budging. I'm afraid the cover will be damaged if I push any harder. Is something wrong or do I just need to apply more force?

I have clear bra on the front bumper and I thought the thickness of the film may be trapping the cover, but the rear tow hook cover has the same problem.

[v8forb]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

I hit a mattress on a highway going 80 mph... did the trick - popped right out...

HAHAHAHAH def. made me laugh out loud in my office haha

[TVMA Doc]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

I hit a mattress on a highway going 80 mph... did the trick - popped right out...

How convenient, someone just happened to leave a mattress on the freeway just for you so that you could remove your tow hook cap?

[TVMA Doc]

Originally Posted by Altabay

How hard does it need to be pushed? I'm pushing with what I think is too much force and the top part simply bends inward, with the bottom barely budging. I'm afraid the cover will be damaged if I push any harder. Is something wrong or do I just need to apply more force?

I have clear bra on the front bumper and I thought the thickness of the film may be trapping the cover, but the rear tow hook cover has the same problem.

Anyone having trouble please be aware that there are "non-mar" tools available that might make it a bit less stressful/less likely that you'll mar the paint.

I got mine from the Snapon site because none of the local auto parts stores carried them. I got them to remove the interior panels on my old 325 for a power window regulator repair. They work wonders for just about any sort of prying.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....group_ID=24839

[MWFR12]

Originally Posted by TVMA Doc

Anyone having trouble please be aware that there are "non-mar" tools available that might make it a bit less stressful/less likely that you'll mar the paint.

I got mine from the Snapon site because none of the local auto parts stores carried them. I got them to remove the interior panels on my old 325 for a power window regulator repair. They work wonders for just about any sort of prying.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....group_ID=24839

Thanks for the tip. As it happened I already had a similar pry tool set:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

The tool on the far right has a very thin tip that fits in the small gap created on the bottom of the tow hook cover when the top was pressed in. The cap popped out safely when it was pried firmly. No damage to the bumper or the cover, of course.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

I hit a mattress on a highway going 80 mph... did the trick - popped right out...

I recommend a Sealy Posturepedic btw. Plush comfort...don't hit one that is firm.

[CBS]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

I hit a mattress on a highway going 80 mph... did the trick - popped right out...

LOL!!!! Philip, clearly you need your M3 back from iND! I think you are losing it. Your posts this last week have been hilarious!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Just amasses me how such a simple thing can generate so much activity and discussion ... why not just consult the manual ?

As Jay Leno would say ... "How lazy are we getting"

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Yes, it was very awesome... a pickup truck lost 8 mattresses and box springs... strewn across the highway... I had my pick which one I wanna bump into.

Here was the best part: I pulled over to assess the damage and call the police, the driver of the pickup truck and his buddy stopped to collect the mattresses (on a busy NJ highway). A state trooper showed up to block traffic to allow the ding-dongs to grab the mattresses.... I patiently waited about 30 yards further away, realizing that traffic safety takes priority. Once the mattresses (or whatever was left) were loaded back onto the truck (still unsecured), the driver of the truck took off.

That was followed by the trooper passing me, and taking the next exit to go about other business. He didn't even slow down when he passed me (obviously me waving), nor was he in a hurry to attend a real emergency. No statement was taken, no ticket issued, nothing.... and I couldn't follow the truck since my bumper was scraping the road. The damage wasn't bad (and I was about to change that bumper anyway), but the whole thing was rather surreal.

Wow. That sucks. I watched an 8 X 10 piece of plywood fly off the back of a truck in front of me one time. It caught the wind and flew up and was heading my way then a side gust caught it and it went hard to the roadside and missed me. Wouldn't be here if it had stuck my car.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

No kidding Chris... I have some serious withdrawal.. this was an old post though.

I agree...you definitely need The Beast back from IND

[MWFR12]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

Just amasses me how such a simple thing can generate so much activity and discussion ... why not just consult the manual ?

As Jay Leno would say ... "How lazy are we getting"

How lazy are we getting indeed.

(and other similar threads), and you'll see it's not always as simple as "press on the upper part" as the manual says. In my case it could have been caused by the extra thickness of the clear bra film. Or it could be a bad fit between the tow hook cover and the bumper. The E9x M3 has plenty of issues with misaligned body panels, so why not here too?

Anyhow, I'm glad I used a soft pry tool to get it out and didn't have to find out what happens when the top of the panel is pushed with greater and greater force.