Front parking sensor pushed in.. how to fix?

[drdavidge]

As luck would have it, some day old frozen snow and my lack of assessing the damage it could do managed to leave me with my front passenger side parking sensor pushed into the bumper cavity. It sounds like the sensor is just held in by some double sided tape/adhesive but I am not 100% sure on that for my 2017 X5. Anyone know the easiest way to mount this back up? Hoping it doesn’t require removing the bumper but if so, could use a good how-to.. or a shop that won’t kill me on cost to do it in NJ. It’s insanely annoying with the sensor going off any time I slow down. Thanks.

[scotty339]

What position sensor is it? One of the inner color matched ones or one of the outside two? M Sport or no?

I took a rock / bug to the outside drivers front sensor. Same issue, would always be on and freaking out until the system fully shutdown, which was annoying, because it took the backup camera down with it also.

I was able to take my wheel off, reach my hand up through the venting / under shield up towards the front and swap out the sensor. It was not very fun and my hand/arm was a bit beaten up but 30 minutes of that vs removing the front bumper. I made my choice.

Speaking to the outside sensors, there is a small plastic plate that was fused to the bumper. Possibly the same for the inside ones? Unsure. That plastic plate has the two tabs that hold the sensor in place. Possible that either your sensor came out of the bracket or that the bracket has come off the bumper.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by scotty339

What position sensor is it? One of the inner color matched ones or one of the outside two? M Sport or no?

Ditto Scotty...you left needed information out to be helpful. What location and what bumper do you have?

Do you need #2 or #3...and do you still have the decoupling (rubber) ring (#4)? The outer sensors have an access panel in the front wheel liner. The center sensors are replaced after removing the front bumper (according to the TIS) which will help not scrape up your hands/arms.

[drdavidge]

It’s just the standard x5. I think the whole thing is pushed it and seems that it would be fine if I could just mount it back somehow. Pics below, excuse the road salt/snow.

[scotty339]

Take your wheel off, pull the fender liners, you should be able to look at it from the back and see what happened. It seems on the X Line it is much lower than the M Sport. That should help you when trying to put it back together.

Good luck.

[drdavidge]

Thanks. Looking for a good how-to on pulling the liner now. Do I need to buy new plastic rivets after pushing the pins in and pulling them out, or can those be reused?

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by drdavidge

It’s just the standard x5. I think the whole thing is pushed it and seems that it would be fine if I could just mount it back somehow. Pics below, excuse the road salt/snow.

Your images aren’t showing up because they are on a secured server (the url address begins with “h t t p s”).

So again...what location is the sensor...is it one of the outer sensors...or the inner sensors (#2 or #3)? If its the outer (#3) locations....I may be able to post instructions for accessing from the wheel liner.

[drdavidge]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Your images aren’t showing up because they are on a secured server (the url address begins with “h t t p s”).

So again...what location is the sensor...is it one of the outer sensors...or the inner sensors (#2 or #3)? If its the outer (#3) locations....I may be able to post instructions for accessing from the wheel liner.

Yep, it’s #3. That would be great - thx.

[Qsilver7]

For some reason, the pics you posted don’t look familiar at all...but here’s some instructions on how to replace the outer left/right ultrasonic sensors on the f15. Included is some of the preliminary work to remove the outer trim (if so needed) and wheel liner trim:

[drdavidge]

Thanks for this. Better picture below. Dumb question - do I need to buy replacement rivets after popping out the plastic ones or can those be re-used? And do I really need a special tool to reinstall those rivets?

[drdavidge]

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by drdavidge

Thanks for this. Better picture below. Dumb question - do I need to buy replacement rivets after popping out the plastic ones or can those be re-used? And do I really need a special tool to reinstall those rivets?

Ahhh...thanks for the new pic which gives more context/perspective.

If you have the wheel arches that use the blind rivets...try removing one rivet to see if it comes out easy and not destroyed. If you can do the one...then the others (at least most of them) should come out just as easy (there's always that stubborn one ). Check to see if you can just undo the screws in the wheel liner...you may not need to remove the wheel arch trim.

[originalgoods13]

If the wheel arch needs to be removed, you will need new blind plastic rivets, the tool and rivets can be found at a local auto parts store. OEM does charge more per plastic rivet and have a wider surface area.

[zoroben@hotmail.com]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Ditto Scotty...you left needed information out to be helpful. What location and what bumper do you have?

Do you need #2 or #3...and do you still have the decoupling (rubber) ring (#4)? The outer sensors have an access panel in the front wheel liner. The center sensors are replaced after removing the front bumper (according to the TIS) which will help not scrape up your hands/arms.

I have a #2 that is pushed in, still kinda working but not accurately. Do I need to pull the entire bumper off?