As written by Clay Rogers, Edited and verified by Mazdawarbird
NOTE: This procedure assumes that you are not replacing the LX/ES bumper with the P5/MSP bumper. If you are, ignore this write-up
Things that you need are as follows:
Disclaimer: If you chose to do this and something wrong happens/breaks, it is solely your fault. I claim no responsibility on the completeness and/or correctness of this writeup.
Angle Grinder (To cut the plastic reinforcement)
Hammer (To beat the hell out of the reinforcement to get it off)
Flathead Screwdriver (To chisel away at the reinforcement when you can't reach with the angle grinder, and pop out plastic clip things)
Phillips Screwdriver (To take bumper off)
Socket Wrench (To take bumper off)
6-10mm sockets (Mazda replaced my bumper so all of these sizes were holding it up, will be different on yours)
GLOVES (The glue/plastic on the reinforcement gets really hot, get some gloves!! We learned the hard way!)
Flashlight
Friend (Helps a lot to have someone along with you.
Beer (Keeps you calm)
Removal of bumper:
1. remove plastic screws (clips) from wheel well and put them in a safe place so you wont lose them
2. remove 2 screws at the bottom of the bumper (each screw is located on the bottom of the bumper in front of the wheel. This is where short stubby screw driver comes in handy)
3. get under the front bumper and remove 6 (i think 6) 10mm bolts that hold bumper and plastic under-carriage splash guards in place.
4. remove two 12mm bolts (i think they're 12mm if not then 14mm...I'll double check that) that are located under the bumper in the middle (they are about one foot apart from each other)
5. Grab your long Philips screw driver, sit next to the wheel (on each side) bend the wheel well plastic towards the wheel. There is a screw on each side behind the bumper, that holds it to the chassis. Remove it. It is on the same level as the headlight. Stick your hand in there and you should find it with no problem. The hat of the screw is pointing towards the rear of the car.
6. Once 1st 5 steps are completed, grab bumper from one side and let your friend grab it from another end. The bumper is sitting on two tabs. Each tab is located under the corner of the headlight. ATTENTION!!! BE CAREFUL!!! Pull the bumper upwards and then pull it forwards away from the car. Be carefull pulling it away from the car. Make sure that the bumper is off those tabs otherwise you might brake the points (o-shaped) that are sitting on the tabs.
Cutting the reinforcement
1. Get the grinder and cut as shown in the picture. I am sorry I didn't measure it, but didn't think of it. Just look at the picture and assess. It took us many trial fits to get it right, so try try again. The plastic is very hot so put some gloves on! Use the hammer to help knock the pieces out when they are cut.
2. Do the same to the other side. It will look like this when you are done. You still have more cutting left...
3. Now there is a little more cutting to be done. This is a little more difficult because you can't get the angle grinder in all the way, so use the screwdriver and hammer to chisel what you can't get at. Cut to a little bit right of the little nub (on the driver's side). Be careful when cutting through because there is metal and the airbag sensor behind the reinforcement.
4. Do the same on the other side.
****Be careful when cutting through because there is metal and the airbag sensor behind the reinforcement as shown below.****
When all said and done it should look like this
5. There is a black plate in the front that must be taken out for it to fit. The picture shows the plate highlighted in yellow, the screws are highlighted in red.
6. Cut off the two tabs on the back of the P5 bumper. They are right below where the grill goes and above the bottom opening. They are little "t" looking things sticking out a quarter inch or so, that I assume are for license plates. They kept the bumper from sitting right.
7. Put the bumper on and you are done!!!
The only complications from the swap are ; a P5 grill is needed because the stock Protege does not sit right (I am using my stocko for the time being), and the P5 splash guards are needed as the Protege ones do not cover the bottom completely (I just zip tied my stock ones up for now, till I get the P5 ones).
The finished product!!
NOTE: This procedure assumes that you are not replacing the LX/ES bumper with the P5/MSP bumper. If you are, ignore this write-up
Things that you need are as follows:
Disclaimer: If you chose to do this and something wrong happens/breaks, it is solely your fault. I claim no responsibility on the completeness and/or correctness of this writeup.
Angle Grinder (To cut the plastic reinforcement)
Hammer (To beat the hell out of the reinforcement to get it off)
Flathead Screwdriver (To chisel away at the reinforcement when you can't reach with the angle grinder, and pop out plastic clip things)
Phillips Screwdriver (To take bumper off)
Socket Wrench (To take bumper off)
6-10mm sockets (Mazda replaced my bumper so all of these sizes were holding it up, will be different on yours)
GLOVES (The glue/plastic on the reinforcement gets really hot, get some gloves!! We learned the hard way!)
Flashlight
Friend (Helps a lot to have someone along with you.
Beer (Keeps you calm)
Removal of bumper:
1. remove plastic screws (clips) from wheel well and put them in a safe place so you wont lose them
2. remove 2 screws at the bottom of the bumper (each screw is located on the bottom of the bumper in front of the wheel. This is where short stubby screw driver comes in handy)
3. get under the front bumper and remove 6 (i think 6) 10mm bolts that hold bumper and plastic under-carriage splash guards in place.
4. remove two 12mm bolts (i think they're 12mm if not then 14mm...I'll double check that) that are located under the bumper in the middle (they are about one foot apart from each other)
5. Grab your long Philips screw driver, sit next to the wheel (on each side) bend the wheel well plastic towards the wheel. There is a screw on each side behind the bumper, that holds it to the chassis. Remove it. It is on the same level as the headlight. Stick your hand in there and you should find it with no problem. The hat of the screw is pointing towards the rear of the car.
6. Once 1st 5 steps are completed, grab bumper from one side and let your friend grab it from another end. The bumper is sitting on two tabs. Each tab is located under the corner of the headlight. ATTENTION!!! BE CAREFUL!!! Pull the bumper upwards and then pull it forwards away from the car. Be carefull pulling it away from the car. Make sure that the bumper is off those tabs otherwise you might brake the points (o-shaped) that are sitting on the tabs.
Cutting the reinforcement
1. Get the grinder and cut as shown in the picture. I am sorry I didn't measure it, but didn't think of it. Just look at the picture and assess. It took us many trial fits to get it right, so try try again. The plastic is very hot so put some gloves on! Use the hammer to help knock the pieces out when they are cut.
2. Do the same to the other side. It will look like this when you are done. You still have more cutting left...
3. Now there is a little more cutting to be done. This is a little more difficult because you can't get the angle grinder in all the way, so use the screwdriver and hammer to chisel what you can't get at. Cut to a little bit right of the little nub (on the driver's side). Be careful when cutting through because there is metal and the airbag sensor behind the reinforcement.
4. Do the same on the other side.
****Be careful when cutting through because there is metal and the airbag sensor behind the reinforcement as shown below.****
When all said and done it should look like this
5. There is a black plate in the front that must be taken out for it to fit. The picture shows the plate highlighted in yellow, the screws are highlighted in red.
6. Cut off the two tabs on the back of the P5 bumper. They are right below where the grill goes and above the bottom opening. They are little "t" looking things sticking out a quarter inch or so, that I assume are for license plates. They kept the bumper from sitting right.
7. Put the bumper on and you are done!!!
The only complications from the swap are ; a P5 grill is needed because the stock Protege does not sit right (I am using my stocko for the time being), and the P5 splash guards are needed as the Protege ones do not cover the bottom completely (I just zip tied my stock ones up for now, till I get the P5 ones).
The finished product!!
