How to Remove the Rear Bumper on a Smart Fortwo (451)

The rear bumper on a Smart Fortwo 451 covers a large area at the back of the car, including the rear lights, fuel cap, and rear wings. First, on the inner side of the rear wheel arch towards the door, you will notice a screw fixing the underbody panel to the car; this needs to be removed to partially detach the panel and access the two screws fixing the lower part of the bumper to the car. After removing the screws from the wings on both sides, proceed to unscrew the two easily visible screws on the lower part of the bumper and a third screw located centrally under the tailgate. Once these screws are removed, lower the tailgate to access another two screws located on the inner side of the rear lights, which need to be removed on both sides. After removing these last four screws, disconnect the power connectors of the rear lights, which will be accessible through the plastic covers on the side inside the boot; once opened, they will give access to the rear of the lights. After disconnecting the connectors, remove the fuel cap and then start detaching the bumper from the lower part of the wheel arch; this will be secured around its perimeter with plastic clips that can be released by gently prying with your hands. When you reach the fuel cap area, there will be a power connector controlling the fuel cap door, which can be easily disconnected by reaching inside the wheel arch as you detach it. Now the bumper will be free from any obstruction, and you can proceed to detach it completely from the car; as it is quite bulky, it is advisable to carry out this operation with the help of another person.