Those things are in there really tight. Not sure how you'd release the tabs without getting at them from behind. Which means the front fascia has to come off.

http://www.ssforums.com/forum/how-forum/12065-fitting-instructions-front-drl-surrounds.html

 

I hit a racoon about a month ago and ripped off the fog surround. Even with 1/3 of the tabs ripped off (I had to re-install it to get home), it was quite a fight to remove the surround. So I think the answer is a no. The tabs/clips are very wide and have a lot to grab onto.

If you can get it off, I can confirm that you can install the replacement surround without removing the grill, bumper, etc.

 

So I figured I'd give it a try. The fog light surround is darn near impossible without breaking tabs. But I found that it was relatively easy to pop the whole assembly (not sure what to call it) out with trim tools and then remove the surround from behind. Certainly less work than taking off the whole fascia.

 

Did you remove the assembly without removing the bumper? Can you give more details?

 

Just to clarify, you can pop out the whole fog light assembly using that process. After removed, you can then work on the actual fog light trim. Correct?

 

Correct. The actual fog light and DRL will stay in place, but the black panel (onto which the chrome surround is clipped to) pops out

Just tried it with the wheels on and couldn't quite reach all the clips. Looks like removing the wheels will make it easily accessible though. Will have to wait for another day.

It's definitely not easy with the wheels on. I got it last time because I had just done it and knew where the clips were. Removing the wheels will make it much easier. Good luck!

 

Just tried it with the wheels on and couldn't quite reach all the clips. Looks like removing the wheels will make it easily accessible though. Will have to wait for another day.

 

I hate tearing out body panels, but if you're slow and methodical, taking out the front fascia is pretty easy on this car. The only clip that's really stiff is the one attaching the corners to the fender on the edges of the wheel well. Once you have those corners popped off, the rest comes off very easily. The bolts come off first, of course.

For the frustrating experience it must be to try removing the surround without removing the bumper, it's just not worth it. The body panel is super easy to take off and you won't lose any clips or anything.

 

I'm not pulling the bumper unless I can't gain access with the front wheels off.

I'll have to pull it later when I get the grille surrounds so I'll just wait to install these until then if necessary.

 

Successfully removed the assemblies without removing the bumper. Had to take the wheels and fender liners off. Worked the clips while prying around the front edges. Passenger side fought me a bit more and I stressed one of the clips, but it didn't break off. Still not ideal though.

Changed out the chrome trim with no issues after that.

If you are only changing the fog trim, this is a decent option. Otherwise, just do everything while the bumper is off.

 

Pic for added effect.

 

Wow, so you went to all the trouble of jacking up the car, placing it on jackstands, removing the wheels, then the liners.

Just pulling the bumper would have been easier. Why is there so much bumper-pulling phobia in this forum?

 

Well, it wasn't a lot of trouble really and I can't imagine it was any more trouble than trying to maneuver a huge bumper by myself and not scratching the paint. I'll have to pull the bumper when I get the grille surrounds and I really didn't want to do it twice.

It's another option and it works. I thought that's what this board was for. No?

 

I know why you didn't want to pull the bumper, as that's how I usually feel about my other cars. But I guarantee you it's easier and quicker than jacking the car, pulling the wheels, pulling out the wheel well liners, and manipulating everything from the wheel wells.

Removing the bumper is simply top bolts, bottom bolts, liner bolts, then pull. I put a moving blanket down on my garage floor and you just have a much better workspace to work with.

Glad you got it done the way you wanted, but I'd recommend others to simply pull the bumper. It's very easy and quick on this car.

 

Just installed the blackout grille surrounds which requires removal if the front bumper cover. I can now definitively say that, for a first timer, removing the bumper cover is NOT significantly easier than the method I used to replace the fog surrounds only. It was actually quite the PITA. Would it be easier the second time? Absolutely. As a first timer though, it was far from a stroll in the park which is exactly what I expected.

In my opinion, people on this forum grossly exaggerated how easy the bumper removal was compared to the relative simplicity of removing the front wheels to access the fog bezels.

 

Hi All, sorry to wake this forum up again but I have a 15 with a cracked passenger fog lens. is the lens part of the Bezel or the light itself?