Test Fit of WM Statesman Series 1 Front Bumper
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 7:05 pm
So due to a swap deal that went south I have the opportunity to have a 09 Statesman bumper at my house. Thought I would try a test fit to see how easy it would be to switch out these bumpers. So popped off my factory PPV bumper and tried putting this silver specimen on.
First thing: Our plastic crash absorbers are super huge and in no way fit under the AU bumper. So that had to come off to even get back to the mounting points. I will post some pics of the differences in size of the two bumpers. Hard to tell but the US ones do stick out much more (probably why the AU ones look better, tighter and lighter look)
So with the plastic absorber gone I was able to get it back to the fender mounting points. Secured the passenger side nice and easy. Holes lined up and it clicked into the bumper mounts under the headlights.
Then went to the other side and struggled to get the pin to line up with the fender Was about 1/4 inch off.
Gave it a few good tugs and determined something was off. Went to the front of the bumper and found the issue. The impact bar (that the plastic absorber attaches to) has a cut off corner on each side and those were out to far not allowing the cover to come back more. Tugging it gave me these dimples on each side of the front of the cover:
Taking off the cover I saw what caused the dimples. It seems the US impact bar is to thick to use because even if I cut the corners even more (than what it looks like they cut it at the factory already) I would not have any room for an absorber material (maybe they use Styrofoam in AU?).
These look cut already am I right? See that half circle at the front? That is probable for bolt access when the bar is longer before they cut it.
But getting on with seeing how everything else fit. The AU covers don't have the 4 plastic rivets on the top of the bumper and the covers go much further back towards the clip. So I imagine there is a different mounting rail on the AU cars that support the bumper that far back at the clip. But it does look like it fits in under the trans cooler on an 11 ok.
ANd although I could not get it mounted 100% I could sort off see the hood edge seems to be a bit more pointed where it meets the cover. Not sure if this difference is because the cover is a series 1 and the PPV is basically a series 2 car. But the hood did close OK.
Other notes. The under belly pan has to come up much more to meet the AU bumper edge. I did not screw in the screws but the holes seemed to line up pretty good. That would seem to give you better driveway clearance with the AU bumper.
So If you are going to get a bumper from AU also get the impact bar and absorber parts as well because you can't use the US ones.
Also this Statesman bumper cover is for sale if anyone wants to work out a deal let me know.
First thing: Our plastic crash absorbers are super huge and in no way fit under the AU bumper. So that had to come off to even get back to the mounting points. I will post some pics of the differences in size of the two bumpers. Hard to tell but the US ones do stick out much more (probably why the AU ones look better, tighter and lighter look)
So with the plastic absorber gone I was able to get it back to the fender mounting points. Secured the passenger side nice and easy. Holes lined up and it clicked into the bumper mounts under the headlights.
Then went to the other side and struggled to get the pin to line up with the fender Was about 1/4 inch off.
Gave it a few good tugs and determined something was off. Went to the front of the bumper and found the issue. The impact bar (that the plastic absorber attaches to) has a cut off corner on each side and those were out to far not allowing the cover to come back more. Tugging it gave me these dimples on each side of the front of the cover:
Taking off the cover I saw what caused the dimples. It seems the US impact bar is to thick to use because even if I cut the corners even more (than what it looks like they cut it at the factory already) I would not have any room for an absorber material (maybe they use Styrofoam in AU?).
These look cut already am I right? See that half circle at the front? That is probable for bolt access when the bar is longer before they cut it.
But getting on with seeing how everything else fit. The AU covers don't have the 4 plastic rivets on the top of the bumper and the covers go much further back towards the clip. So I imagine there is a different mounting rail on the AU cars that support the bumper that far back at the clip. But it does look like it fits in under the trans cooler on an 11 ok.
ANd although I could not get it mounted 100% I could sort off see the hood edge seems to be a bit more pointed where it meets the cover. Not sure if this difference is because the cover is a series 1 and the PPV is basically a series 2 car. But the hood did close OK.
Other notes. The under belly pan has to come up much more to meet the AU bumper edge. I did not screw in the screws but the holes seemed to line up pretty good. That would seem to give you better driveway clearance with the AU bumper.
So If you are going to get a bumper from AU also get the impact bar and absorber parts as well because you can't use the US ones.
Also this Statesman bumper cover is for sale if anyone wants to work out a deal let me know.