Clipper front bumper cover

currently replacing my front wing on my 1983 golf which is actually a hard top but has clipper bumpers skirts and arches on, when taking the wing off I had to obviously take the front bumper off to avoid scratching new wing, when the bumper was off I had to take the cover off the actual metal bumper to fix one of the bolts that had broken off and now I can't get the cover back on the actual metal bumper ( I took it off by removing the numerous black clips but due to my shocking memory I can't figure out what way they went in and how I could put them back in. Does anyone know how to reattach the cover properly or another easier way of doing it as a couple of the clips snapped anyways Got a picture to show what I mean, excuse the horrible rusty metal bumper 

They are a wedge, and go in to spread the fingers tight against the steel.



From the first picture it looks like the Bumper cover isn't fully inserted in to the Bumper support bar.

Oh nice I see what you mean so if I get the metal part into the cover then just hammer the wedges in and they should stay tight?

You don't have to "hammer" them in, they usually will insert and hold with a good push of your hand.

I suppose a couple of taps on a it with a Pliers would suffice.

I'll try again tomorrow morning but it wasn't holding when I tried that before 

Should I put the clips in before I put the metal bar in or put it in and then the clips?

When I replaced the clips I had the car Jacked on the front and on stands.  I could then push on the bumper cover, and insert the clips. and see what I was doing.

how do you even get the bumper cover off?! ive removed the locking clips, but im not sure how to get all of the pinchy things undone at the same time…  ive tried starting at one end and pulling the metal away from the plastic but that didnt seem to work… any tips please…

With the weight of the re-bar on the cover you will never get it off.

Turn the cover on edge or place it back on the car loosely.
With your finger squeeze the tabs in a bit and work the cover out from one end to the other.

I found my rear bumper had some tiger seal on top of the metal bar and plastic bumper cover, I used a long craft knife to cut the sealant then was able to remove the cover. It was hard work on the fingers and took some time to remove the cover.

I also used lots of screw drivers and pliers on the clips to wedge/push them in and worked from 1 end on long the bumper.

Thanks for the advice. I'll have another crack at it…

Having just removed mine and painted the inner bumper construction. 
To get the plastic off I hung the complete bumper just above my workbench with a couple of old towels on the bench to protect paintwork. After removing the wedges, only 6 on mine, I started one end with a pair of pliers on the tangs. The first just about released but the second went easily making the first release. It was very easy after that. Still not put back together but intend to put the plastic face down on the bench and place the metal section back in in reverse and hope for the best. 

Paul.