I have done this operation, and it is both fascinating and infuriating. I have had the antenna seized up. Those lower side panels are tricky to remove. But once you get it all done, I agree, it is a thing of beauty to behold. The engineering of smart is pitch-perfect.
Just picked up a pair of 2014 Pure models from my employer, what a joy to drive, and to wrench on! So far LED high and low beams, tint, door speakers, little subs, head units with backup cameras, drilled brake disks and tonneau covers have been added to each. Cheap as chips, I believe is the term, and it holds true to these little cars! I have a side skirt that wants to pretend to be a curtain, originally I suspected the clips along the bottom had let go - but now that I've watched this, I'll bet those white square retainers are the culprits. Thank you for posting this highly informative series, AK.
I like that you said it's nothing to fear. As a women with no car repair skills - you make it really straightforward and easy to follow! Confidence to do it myself!
Your video is one of the most informative video's that I've ever watched. Your attention to detail is remarkable. I sincerely thank you for your work, as my wife had an encounter with a deer. Sadly, the deer lost, but the Smart needs new headlight assemblies. Thanks again, Scott😇
I really appreciate your positive and motivational feedback - thank you! I’m really glad the video has helped you following the deer encounter. They appear out of nowhere and a sturdier than they look!
Thank you I have subscribed. I just purchased a 2012 Smart Fortwo 451. A great little car but..........My hands are too large to get to the clearance lamps in the front headlight assemblies. If I take off the front panel I should be able to get at them more easily. Once again thanks.
Great video, I need to change the AC condenser, so this is a great help. Have you ever considered doing a power steering retrofit if your car doesn't already have it.
Thank you! That would make a great video but I find the steering to be pretty light on these, without PAS. There’s not a lot of weight bearing down on the front wheels.
Thank you! I try to make my videos as clear as possible hopefully without being too tedious. A sped up video of a job, filmed from a distance and to music is no good to man or beast!
also, your videos show all the work being done. No "assembling is the reverse of disassembly". And you don't talk excessively over your videos. @@autoknight747
This is very informative and just what I need. I'm getting a pair of headlight assemblies to replace the originals. Unless I'm mistaken, I'll need to remove the front to access all the screws holding them on.
Ok, the video was fabulous and helped me quite a bit. However, I am unclear how to put the running board pieces back on. Do you have a video for that? I missed the part of sliding it back. But got them off anyway. I saw you unscrew one of the white holders. Do I slide these into the places on the trim piece and just push them over the pins? Thanks?
@@thomaspearce7725 The clips slide back into the guides on the side skirts then they push back over the threaded studs that protrude from the sill. If the weather is cold, they can break when you remove them, so worth buying spares from the dealer first.
@@autoknight747 I would love to buy spares... Just not sure where to get them... Local Autoparts stores have proven fruitless. I did break a few edges on the clips removing the panels. Do you have a specific name/part number for those clips? Maybe I can find them online. BTW Thank you very much for responding!!!!
Hello great video , wondering if you can offer any advice I have smart for two it’s not starting, changed the starter motor (faulty) still not starting it been stationary for 1 year any advice on possible faulty, thank you
I'm glad I found this before attempting to replace the dipped beam bulbs. There should be a special hell for designers who make a bulb replacement such a mammoth task. Idiotic! A tip I was given - replace both left and right bulbs at the same time. The extra expense is outweighed by not having to remove the front again two weeks later!
Definitely worth replacing bulbs on both sides. They were installed at the same time in the factory therefore their life expectancy should be similar. On the 451, you shouldn’t have to remove the entire front though to access dipped/main/sidelight bulbs. It can all be reached once the bonnet section is removed.
I put a Sony DAB radio in my Smart 451 and bought a DAB wire kit from Halfords. I also had too change the antenna, and... Yes it BROKE at the fixing..! The good thing is the antenna "holder" is fairly cheap and loads on eBay. Beware.. most of the replacement antennas have a 6mm thread and it's a 4mm fitment. ENJOY..!
...congratulations, everything is explained very well and in detail, the best video I've seen to disassemble the front, I suppose this work must also be done to replace the headlights right?
Thank you! Yes you’d need to remove the front section to access many of the headlamp fixings. To be honest though, once you’ve had the front panels off once, you’ll be able to do it again in minutes!
Awesome video, a Big thank you for sharing your knowledge ! What is the name of that tool you use to remove the clips ? Oh and would you suggest to change them ?
I have to say that I haven’t really seen corrosion on the 451 in the way that I have on the original 450 (I made a video on those).That said, a lot of structural corrosion starts from within, so it can never harm to drench cavity wax into box sections such as sills. Behind the front panels on the 451 everything is well painted and protected and as such I saw no evidence of any corrosion. At the rear however, crossmember/crash bar can rot on 451 and is steel vs aluminium on 450. Fortunately it’s a bolt on component and easily swapped out. Suspension components and rear subframe/axle beams get a bit shabby but it’s usually just unsightly.
I'm looking to replace one side panel due to it being attacked by a wheel barrow. Is this all one unit or can just the left side panel be removed and replaced?
@@autoknight747 I have another question for you do you know anything about the electrical on these vehicles my right front turn signal and my fan. Working at the same time is there a fuse or relay or something I need to check ? I actually watched your vehicle to take the front end off the car but I don’t want to take it off yet if there’s something else I need to check first.
Many thanks for the clear instructions! Did you do anything else, or you did it just as an instruction and to clean up :P ? Regards from Munich. 451 MHD pure (unfortunately :-)))) )
Thank you! Since restoring the headlights I knew it’s would be messy behind there from the cutting compound but I also wanted to examine the air con condenser. It was also a good opportunity to make a useful video on this procedure. Wishing you well in Munich, a place I would like to visit someday.
Absolutely love your style! Your manner is that of a godly man. When America is divided and ruled by four, may GOD bless you with His truth also. DANIEL8
Har både 450 og 451 diesel og det er bare problemer. Spesielt med det elektroniske utstyret. Jeg fatter ikke at Mercedes med sit gode navn og rykte, er med på å lage noe så dårligt. Kunne vært en super bil hvis driftsikkerheten hadde vært bedre.
I have done this operation, and it is both fascinating and infuriating. I have had the antenna seized up. Those lower side panels are tricky to remove. But once you get it all done, I agree, it is a thing of beauty to behold. The engineering of smart is pitch-perfect.
Just picked up a pair of 2014 Pure models from my employer, what a joy to drive, and to wrench on! So far LED high and low beams, tint, door speakers, little subs, head units with backup cameras, drilled brake disks and tonneau covers have been added to each. Cheap as chips, I believe is the term, and it holds true to these little cars!
I have a side skirt that wants to pretend to be a curtain, originally I suspected the clips along the bottom had let go - but now that I've watched this, I'll bet those white square retainers are the culprits. Thank you for posting this highly informative series, AK.
@@GhostRyderFPV Aren’t they great little cars? I’ve absolutely loved them since their initial launch. Enjoy and thank you for the feedback.
I like that you said it's nothing to fear. As a women with no car repair skills - you make it really straightforward and easy to follow! Confidence to do it myself!
Your video is one of the most informative video's that I've ever watched. Your attention to detail is remarkable. I sincerely thank you for your work, as my wife had an encounter with a deer. Sadly, the deer lost, but the Smart needs new headlight assemblies.
Thanks again,
Scott😇
I really appreciate your positive and motivational feedback - thank you! I’m really glad the video has helped you following the deer encounter. They appear out of nowhere and a sturdier than they look!
Great video. Thorough. Complete. No nonsense. Just fyi, the Ariel mast does unscrew from the base. I removed mine by hand - no tools.
FYI he stated in the video that the aerial should release from the base but that particular one was seized so it was easier to lift panel over
Wrecked mine this January, went 50 mph into a ditch, just bent the alignment and cracked the front panel, they are built extremely tough
Very Useful Video. Thank you for your time to inform us how to perform the job.
I have a 2013, and love the video. I have to remove the front panel as well. Thank you for the tutorial!
Hi, du machst echt gute Videos. Sehr detailliert und in einer Ruhe. Hut ab. Vielen Dank dafür.
Spectacular, thanks for this, I’ve just bought a late 2013 brabus, and I know that I’ll be pulling it apart to clean under the panels. Very helpful👍
Thank you I have subscribed. I just purchased a 2012 Smart Fortwo 451. A great little car but..........My hands are too large to get to the clearance lamps in the front headlight assemblies. If I take off the front panel I should be able to get at them more easily. Once again thanks.
thank you for ur video sire. long live smart ownership!
Thank you for the video, one of my door hinge bolts has come loose and the door has dropped so the front has to come off.
Thank you! Very informative and well-made video!
excellent, will do it in summer to finish off the rust proofing
Great video, I need to change the AC condenser, so this is a great help. Have you ever considered doing a power steering retrofit if your car doesn't already have it.
Thank you! That would make a great video but I find the steering to be pretty light on these, without PAS. There’s not a lot of weight bearing down on the front wheels.
Hopefully you have a headlamp replace video. Thanks for being only content who's understandable, step by step, and up close views.
Thank you! I try to make my videos as clear as possible hopefully without being too tedious. A sped up video of a job, filmed from a distance and to music is no good to man or beast!
also, your videos show all the work being done. No "assembling is the reverse of disassembly". And you don't talk excessively over your videos. @@autoknight747
Nice video, very helpful!!!! Thank you man for show me “How to do it”!!!!
This is very informative and just what I need. I'm getting a pair of headlight assemblies to replace the originals. Unless I'm mistaken, I'll need to remove the front to access all the screws holding them on.
Good question. I got the replacement , but can't find a video showing how is done. DID you remove the whole bumper to replace them?
@user-bj1uq6je3s so far, I have the replacements, but haven't had the time to do the work. I'll update when the work is done.
@DonKeyhoetee thanks. I got it done .pretty easy if you got the tools. Only toke me 45 minutes to take it apart and put the new light covers on.
Finally got the time to do it. The new headlights look great. I'd say it took a couple hours, but it was hot and I was taking water breaks.
THANK YOU for this amazing video! I'll have to remove my front panel in order to fix a broken door hinge...if i can find a replacement hinge.
Thank you a lot, because this will be one of my next "operations" with my little SMARTy
Very Good, i thing you videos really informative and detailed. Just got my 2011 451, am in Australia
Vielen Dank für die perfekte Anleitung aus Deutschland .Hat Spaß gemacht beim Zusehen : ))
All my respect for the remarkable job.
Nice job. The windshield washer resevior fails on these cars. Perhaps a video on the replacrment is in order.
Thanks, man! Greetings from Germany!
thank you Sir. You help me a lot with your videos 🙏
Hello! I have same car and somehow i miss the screws which shown at 16:00 minute of this video....somebody can help what they called? Thanks
This was exactly what I needed. Thank you! New sub. 😊
Such a relaxing job 👍
Ok, the video was fabulous and helped me quite a bit. However, I am unclear how to put the running board pieces back on. Do you have a video for that? I missed the part of sliding it back. But got them off anyway. I saw you unscrew one of the white holders. Do I slide these into the places on the trim piece and just push them over the pins? Thanks?
@@thomaspearce7725 The clips slide back into the guides on the side skirts then they push back over the threaded studs that protrude from the sill. If the weather is cold, they can break when you remove them, so worth buying spares from the dealer first.
@@autoknight747 I would love to buy spares... Just not sure where to get them... Local Autoparts stores have proven fruitless. I did break a few edges on the clips removing the panels. Do you have a specific name/part number for those clips? Maybe I can find them online. BTW Thank you very much for responding!!!!
@@thomaspearce7725 Part number should be A0009912098
Hello great video , wondering if you can offer any advice I have smart for two it’s not starting, changed the starter motor (faulty) still not starting it been stationary for 1 year any advice on possible faulty, thank you
I'm glad I found this before attempting to replace the dipped beam bulbs. There should be a special hell for designers who make a bulb replacement such a mammoth task. Idiotic! A tip I was given - replace both left and right bulbs at the same time. The extra expense is outweighed by not having to remove the front again two weeks later!
Definitely worth replacing bulbs on both sides. They were installed at the same time in the factory therefore their life expectancy should be similar. On the 451, you shouldn’t have to remove the entire front though to access dipped/main/sidelight bulbs. It can all be reached once the bonnet section is removed.
I put a Sony DAB radio in my Smart 451 and bought a DAB wire kit from Halfords. I also had too change the antenna, and... Yes it BROKE at the fixing..! The good thing is the antenna "holder" is fairly cheap and loads on eBay. Beware.. most of the replacement antennas have a 6mm thread and it's a 4mm fitment. ENJOY..!
...congratulations, everything is explained very well and in detail, the best video I've seen to disassemble the front, I suppose this work must also be done to replace the headlights right?
Thank you! Yes you’d need to remove the front section to access many of the headlamp fixings. To be honest though, once you’ve had the front panels off once, you’ll be able to do it again in minutes!
Awesome video, a Big thank you for sharing your knowledge ! What is the name of that tool you use to remove the clips ? Oh and would you suggest to change them ?
Excellent job!
05:12 - That spacers for one of top fender bolts are plastic or metal? Does any one knows part number of them?
@@steelmade4537 These are metal.
@@autoknight747 Thanks! For some strange reason I can't find them in parts catalog in section about fenders: only one bolt shown there🤔
@@autoknight747 I've found code: A0009925710. If someone else also interested:)
Hola dónde puedo conseguir esa parte de mi carro que es el cofre de Smart 2015
Muy bien esplicado gracias des de México saludos.😊
Thanks for the video, do you know by chance what size the side skirt fixing clips were? the two that you put on the back of the side skirts?
Happy to remove one and take full dimensions. Drop me an email (on the ‘about’ page of this channel) and I’ll reply there.
See the hinges on bonnet how do u remove the bottom hinges that's on bottom that turn for locking the bonnet back on
Video coming soon!
Just Fantastic ,I am well impressed thanks ,👍
Antenna mask is removable. You could have removed the mast before removing front-left body panel...
If I just wanted the front fender (passenger side) does all of this have to come off?
@@adotintheshark4848 to separate the panels it all needs to come off as the clips are accessed from behind.
@@autoknight747 well damn, just as well it needs a lower panel too
Hello, where is the temperature sensor for the Smart Fortwo 451 (1.0 84 hp) please? Thx.
If you mean the exterior ambient temp sensor, it is low down on the front panel (inner front panel, not the one I remove in this video).
@@autoknight747 Great, thank you very much.👍👍👍
@@martyfuchs88 You might be able to see it in one of my air con videos where I remove the inner front panel.
I am watching your seriies and I notice you make little use of power tools. Is there a reason for this as in possible damage to threads etc?
@@frednetherlands887 I have a whole bunch of air tools but don’t use them for noise reasons. My neighbours would hate me!
@@autoknight747 ahhh! That explains it. Thank you for your excellent series of video's.
where can I find T30 bolt as in the video in UK ? I need one.
It’s easiest to buy any bolts from the Smart dealer. They are not expensive.
Very good video - thank you!
I live in the Welsh mountains where it rains 354 days per year ! Are there any areas revealed that I should rustproof and, if so, with what please?
I have to say that I haven’t really seen corrosion on the 451 in the way that I have on the original 450 (I made a video on those).That said, a lot of structural corrosion starts from within, so it can never harm to drench cavity wax into box sections such as sills. Behind the front panels on the 451 everything is well painted and protected and as such I saw no evidence of any corrosion. At the rear however, crossmember/crash bar can rot on 451 and is steel vs aluminium on 450. Fortunately it’s a bolt on component and easily swapped out. Suspension components and rear subframe/axle beams get a bit shabby but it’s usually just unsightly.
@@autoknight747 A prompt, comprehensive, reassuring and helpful response. Thank you so much.
I'm looking to replace one side panel due to it being attacked by a wheel barrow. Is this all one unit or can just the left side panel be removed and replaced?
They can be separated once the front section is off the car. They are held together with metal clips.
@@autoknight747 OK thanks. So can't just undo one, but have to do both and then separate?
Did you take your car part just to clean it?
No, to make a TH-cam video.
@@autoknight747 I have another question for you do you know anything about the electrical on these vehicles my right front turn signal and my fan. Working at the same time is there a fuse or relay or something I need to check ? I actually watched your vehicle to take the front end off the car but I don’t want to take it off yet if there’s something else I need to check first.
Per facilitare puoi svitare la antenna prima di togliere il pannello di plastica.
Mine is a 451 but it's a 2015. Some 2015's are the older style like the 2014.
great job ...thank you
Many thanks for the clear instructions! Did you do anything else, or you did it just as an instruction and to clean up :P ? Regards from Munich. 451 MHD pure (unfortunately :-)))) )
Thank you! Since restoring the headlights I knew it’s would be messy behind there from the cutting compound but I also wanted to examine the air con condenser. It was also a good opportunity to make a useful video on this procedure. Wishing you well in Munich, a place I would like to visit someday.
Thank you
this man love his Smart,Lol
100 % The Best
Absolutely love your style! Your manner is that of a godly man. When America is divided and ruled by four, may GOD bless you with His truth also. DANIEL8
Har både 450 og 451 diesel og det er bare problemer. Spesielt med det elektroniske utstyret. Jeg fatter ikke at Mercedes med sit gode navn og rykte, er med på å lage noe så dårligt. Kunne vært en super bil hvis driftsikkerheten hadde vært bedre.
You know you can unscrew the Ariel so you don’t need to lift everything over it
Thx a lot
Found it a day too late…..😢
The designer should be forced to remove and reattach this forever in hell
Do I need to do all that to replace the light covers?