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Interior & ExteriorDiscussions about the interior, and exterior of your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "!#@$#%$! Plastic Bumpers !!!", within the Interior & Exterior forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Has anyone noticed the rash of dimpled plastic bumpers on the road. Now I know why. I recently was in the woods with our Highlander and backed into a tree.... I barely hit the rear bumper, but pushed the corner in pretty good (no body damage). After returning from getting estimates, it will cost $900+ to have the bodyshop paint new bumper, install the bumper and feather out color into quarter panels, $750 without quarter panel paint mods, or $575 to hand me a painted bumper that I install myself. I'm opting for the "cheap" solution. The bumper is not hard to remove...plus I need to replace the "energy absorbing material" (aka styrofoam). I really don't like the concept of a plastic bumper. This is a scam to generate reocurring capital for car manufacturers. I've hit a 3 point buck and had a minivan rear-end my 00' Tundra...5 minutes with a come-along and a little chrome polish fixed both situations. For god sakes, make bumpers out of metal !!! I see plastic bumpers on new Tundra's...I hope there's an option to "upgrade" to metal if preferred. Moral of the story... don't back into a tree you idiot !!! and the words "plastic" and "bumper" should not be used in the same sentence.....Actually, I like the idea of a Highlander with big honking chrome bumpers...and a 5 speed manual tranny
I completely agree with you on this!! I can't beleive the new tundra don't have the chrome bumpers. First of all I think the whole front make over of the new tundra are absolutely disguisting !! I mean when you see one coming down the road all that chrome makes the front look more narrower. I don't know, maybe its just me, but I am a huge fan of chrome or steel bumpers. Plastic just chips and eventually looks like crap.
I caught my front bumper of my two week old 2003 Tundra on a 1/4" Black berry bush and ended up ripping the stupid plastic bumper shell off the drivers side. I hate this plastic crap and have contacted a number of bumper manufacuteres all of wich (ARB in Seattle) are not sure if the bumpers they make will work on the 03 or they are not interested in making a bumper for the Tundra.
I like the looks of the stock bumper and don't know how an aftermarket bumper will look compared to the 03 stock bumpers. Maybe if I painted an ARB to match my silver TRD it will look alright?
That was one of the biggest reasons I picked the SR5 over the LTD. Trucks are to be tough, not sure how plastic is to help with that.
Although, I had a large log roll into my rear left bumber (me and the guys out cutting firewood, 1 got away from us). 2ft in diameter, oak. put a nice ole dent in the bumper. but i am sure if my bumber was plastic, it would have been taken right off.
I hate this plastic crap and have contacted a number of bumper manufacuteres all of wich (ARB in Seattle) are not sure if the bumpers they make will work on the 03 or they are not interested in making a bumper for the Tundra.
I like the looks of the stock bumper and don't know how an aftermarket bumper will look compared to the 03 stock bumpers. Maybe if I painted an ARB to match my silver TRD it will look alright?
Nick
I think Gary @ Wheelers bolted an ARB on an '03.
Not sure how it looks arround the grille (should be o.k.)
and I think you would have to run pre-'93 OEM fog lights,
the holes in the ARB are oval...
You could easily have the bumper painted to match.
You can even cover up the chrome hoop.
__________________
. You never feel as big as you do when you're with a pygmy
>>You could easily have the bumper painted to match.
You can even cover up the chrome hoop.<<
7.62....
yes, you can easily get the bumper painted, but the expense of painting a plastic bumper is much higher than metal. It's more labor intensive to prep the plastic, apply several coats of primer / finish coat, then a final "flex" coat to help maintain the finish for expansion/contraction. That little Highlander bumper will cost almost $300 in paint and labor to repair (and $300 in parts!). Plus, they can't guarantee the color will match the body color. My metal Tundra bumper cost 5 minutes of my labor and 38 cents worth of Chrome Polish
>>You could easily have the bumper painted to match.
You can even cover up the chrome hoop.<<
7.62....
yes, you can easily get the bumper painted, but the expense of painting a plastic bumper is much higher than metal. It's more labor intensive to prep the plastic, apply several coats of primer / finish coat, then a final "flex" coat to help maintain the finish for expansion/contraction. That little Highlander bumper will cost almost $300 in paint and labor to repair (and $300 in parts!). Plus, they can't guarantee the color will match the body color. My metal Tundra bumper cost 5 minutes of my labor and 38 cents worth of Chrome Polish
I know all about painting plastic/rubber bumpers, a few of my GTO's had them.
I was speaking of painting the metal ARB to match...
__________________
. You never feel as big as you do when you're with a pygmy
I know all about painting plastic/rubber bumpers, a few of my GTO's had them.
I was speaking of painting the metal ARB to match...
7.62....my apologies. I assumed you were referencing 03silverTRD's recent collision with the bush, and the demise of his plastic bumper. I just dropped off a $200 deposit for the upcoming repair of my wifes Highlander bumper today...it killed me. The same "incident" in my Tundra would have been a none issue. She can drive her Highlander from now on... (several GTO's ??? I'm jealous ...)
Re: !#@$#%$! Plastic Bumpers !!! Is paint available anywhere?
I got a bodyshop guy to repair/fill and sand my plastic bumper on the corner where it got pushed in...Told me I cold find the paint at any AUtozone to finish the job, then a coat of clearcoat...not true so far....any idea where I can get Oasis Green paint other than the touch up tubes at a dealer????? Am I SOL....?? ideas welcome....
Re: !#@$#%$! Plastic Bumpers !!! Is paint available anywhere?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kendallg
I got a bodyshop guy to repair/fill and sand my plastic bumper on the corner where it got pushed in...Told me I cold find the paint at any AUtozone to finish the job, then a coat of clearcoat...not true so far....any idea where I can get Oasis Green paint other than the touch up tubes at a dealer????? Am I SOL....?? ideas welcome....
!#@$#%$! Plastic Bumpers !!!
I barely hit the rear bumper, but pushed the corner in pretty good (no body damage). After returning from getting estimates, it will cost $900+ to have the bodyshop paint new bumper, install the bumper and feather out color into quarter panels, $750 without quarter panel paint mods, or $575 to hand me a painted bumper that I install myself. I'm opting for the "cheap" solution. The bumper is not hard to remove...plus I need to replace the "energy absorbing material" (aka styrofoam). I really don't like the concept of a plastic bumper. This is a scam to generate reocurring capital for car manufacturers. I've hit a 3 point buck and had a minivan rear-end my 00' Tundra...5 minutes with a come-along and a little chrome polish fixed both situations. For god sakes, make bumpers out of metal !!! I see plastic bumpers on new Tundra's...I hope there's an option to "upgrade" to metal if preferred. Moral of the story... don't back into a tree you idiot !!! and the words "plastic" and "bumper" should not be used in the same sentence.....Actually, I like the idea of a Highlander with big honking chrome bumpers...and a 5 speed manual tranny 
(several GTO's ??? I'm jealous ...)
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