Well I've had a 2012 bumper knocking around for about 4 years now. Every now and again I'd work on modifying it to be a little bit different to everyone else.It's been messed with so many times and then left for months when I've gotten bored. So I decided in the summer that I'd sort it once and for all. I'd tried a few different grills but finally settled on using a modified Range Rover Sport grill, cut to fit, blended in and a wire mesh behind it. I also opted for the lower plastic bumper cover just to give it a bit more presence. The idea was to improve the front attack angle which , despite the lift kit, was negated due to the HST front body kit.
The final result is a bumper that retains a body kit look to match the rest of the vehicle, but without compromising ground clearance. The RR Sport grille mimics the original HST grill, too.
I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Before (obviously)

Click image to enlarge

Suttle.

but I don't think many people will notice the difference, ,...... I did.

Like the slope lines around the fog lights , matching the numberplate mount.

Actually, looks more purposeful than the original and standard.
Impressive  DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

Looks amazing
Do you happen to have a photo on how did you fit the RRS grill and that mesh? I'd like to reproduce that effect as my grill has lost a lot of paint and looks terrible...

Sadly no pics I'm afraid.
It was quite involved. Firstly removing the 2 horizontal bars of the F2 grill. Then filling the holes on the sides that their removal left behind. I managed to get a RR Sport front grill brand new for around £30. The RRS grill was cut out keeping the bottom surround so that it had something to sit on. I used the hole left in the F2 part to make a template and used this to get the RRS grill cut down to the right size. I made sides for the RRS grill so that it all fitted within the rear of the F2 part. Then it was just a lot of filling of small gaps and rubbing down using fibreglass filler and ordinary body filler to refine it further. The mesh grill at the very back was simple. I bought it on Ebay and basically cut it with scissors so that it was over sized, folded the excess around the rear of the grill and secured it with a hot glue gun.
I could have saved a hell of a lot of time by simply cutting the RRS grill to size and attaching it directly to the back of the F2 part. As it was, I basically made a border to go around the cut out grill, so that it fitted inside .
You can see this in the pic below. Like a 5mm border.

Click image to enlarge

How much front approach clearance did you manager to claim with the new bumper mod?

Using the "yardstick" method and applying it to the lowest part of the bumper which is in the centre of the vehicle, I got approximately 37 degrees.
This is with a 40mm lift at the front and another 12mm or so for the taller tyres.
Standard none lifted Freelander 2 is 31 Degrees.
I'd hate to think how low it was with the HST bumper, despite the lift !

Nice!

RealBeale wrote:

Click image to enlarge

Love it can I order one.  DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

Dave47, now you've got me thinking. As it mimics the HST grill ,which actually wasn't intentional, but like Bob Ross says, "a "happy accident" and something I never noticed until it was painted and on the vehicle , I wonder how it would look with the Dynamic kit ? Was it perhaps something Land Rover should've done themselves to tie it in more with the HST ?
Powerful UK have a lot of fresh and different ideas for their vehicles. They've already made an insert to cover the damaged silver surround on the 2012 facelift. They also made a special grill for the 2007-10 Freelander 2 - although I've not seen it on their website.
I wonder if enough people were interested in a full insert with similar grill to mine, whether Simon and the guys at Powerful UK would be interested in making it. It would be so much easier just to remove the original grill and put a ready made insert in it's place - exactly the way Land Rover did with the HST grill !

3landertwo wrote:

Suttle.

Subtle, probably, his phone thinks it know's better,  DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

Last edited by Dave47 on 28th Oct 2022 12:38 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Ah! That makes sense.