How to remove weird screws with no head? (rear diffuser)

[BigRussia]

Hi all, I'm trying to remove my stock rear diffuser. Seems like everyone's car has six 8mm screws on the bottom but my car has only four 8mm screws and two weird headless screws at each end instead. I havent seen them in any DIY...


So how do I remove these screws? They have no head at all to turn. Looking at the other end of them it seems like there's a center rod that may pop out but no matter how much Ive tried to push it out it wont come out. Any help is appreciated thanks!

[Pig Farmer]

It looks like a plastic push rivet. You may be able to get a set of pliers on the rod, but I usual push the rod through with a punch tool. If all else fails, drill it out and replace them, or get the 8mm bolts from BMW. I was surprised to find out that those little 8mm bolts are about $2 a piece from the dealer.

[BigRussia]

Yeah I thought they were like those too ^ but they don't seem to be.

The rod going through the other side is very thick and short, and the instead of those flaps around it there's these 3 'wings' instead, see the pic below:


Also I cant just replace them with 8mm screws cause the bumper doesn't seem to have the metal hole that the other screws go into.

This is really frustrating as I'm trying to install my Berk exhaust and currently don't have enough wiggle room to get the stock muffler out of it hangers with the diffuser in the way

[ShocknAwe]

Odd, mine doesn't have those. Could be that you have to cut the head off, and then push it out the other side. Pretty sure mine is just screws all the way across the bottom.

On another note, try using some lubricant on the hangers to loosen them up, they slide off much easier that way. Should be doable to get your exhaust out without messing with the diffuser.

[BigRussia]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Odd, mine doesn't have those. Could be that you have to cut the head off, and then push it out the other side. Pretty sure mine is just screws all the way across the bottom.

On another note, try using some lubricant on the hangers to loosen them up, they slide off much easier that way. Should be doable to get your exhaust out without messing with the diffuser.

Yeah Ive looked up a bunch of threads on diffusers and none of their pics have any of my weird screws, everyone just has the six 8mms crews...lucky me i get the weird screws that cant be taken off without destroying them

And I'm struggling right now with the two hangers towards the diffuser, i got the one near the midpipe off no problem. But even soaked in WD40 I cant get either of the rear hangers out, there's just not enough play

[ShocknAwe]

Based on your picture, it were me I'd just get two 8mm screws, and two slip on thread plates, and just cut the pins that are on yours.

You trying to push the rubber off the hanger on the car, or the one on the exhaust itself?

[714_2er]

Hey big Russia, those are called
R lok plastic expansion rivets. (No typo)
One time use.
As other have suggested, drill or pop them out and replace with 8mm screw and thread plate.

Here's a link with some info.
http://www.jetpress.com/Products.asp...Rivets-R-Loks/

I hope this helps.

[BigRussia]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Based on your picture, it were me I'd just get two 8mm screws, and two slip on thread plates, and just cut the pins that are on yours.

You trying to push the rubber off the hanger on the car, or the one on the exhaust itself?

Originally Posted by 714_1er

Hey big Russia, those are called
R lok plastic expansion rivets. (No typo)
One time use.
As other have suggested, drill or pop them out and replace with 8mm screw and thread plate.

Here's a link with some info.
http://www.jetpress.com/Products.asp...Rivets-R-Loks/

I hope this helps.

Oh wow never seen those before, interesting that BMW used these on my car. My car has a 06/09 production date if that matters.

Thanks for the help and info guys! And yeah luckily I was able to finally man up and get the stock exhaust off the hangers without removing the diffuser. Man does this Berk Race exhaust sound good!

[maniac33]

I highly doubt BMW put those one there. More likely if you bought the car used, the previous owner had swapped out the rear diffuser and when putting the stock one back on lost 2 screws/the plate and used the plastic rivets as a temporary means of securing the diffuser.