Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:24:02 -0600
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Stupid Bumper End Pieces
In-Reply-To: <4d1b79350908261920j46874026yec29bf707fda0bd3@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
On Aug 26, 2009, at 8:20 PM, Jim Felder wrote:
> And just where did you get that replacement bumper?
scroll down for all the different bumper/stupid end pieces options:
http://www.oeveedub.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=oe&Category_Code=vanagon-bumpers
& It looks like the oem bumpers are now $654!
Pax,
Mr. BZ
>
> Jim
>
> On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 3:16 PM, Tom Buese<tombuese@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>> I believe the flimsy end caps are there to break rather than the
>> metal
>> bumper or body. At $10 each to replace, alot cheaper than the $400 I
>> paid for a nicely chromed aftermarket replacement bumper which was
>> less than the $550+- that VW charges for an oem bumper?
>>
>> Better to tear the flimsy end caps off than the whole bumper? I have
>> gone thru 2-3 in 7 years.
>>
>> YMMV,
>>
>> Mr. BZ-black on black, I want my baby back
>>
>>
>> On Aug 25, 2009, at 1:59 PM, Marc Perdue wrote:
>>
>>> You know, you might be better off investing in driving
>>> lessons . . . ;^)
>>>
>>> In any event, those endcaps are a piece of cake to install; probably
>>> take 10 minutes or less . . . One of the easier things one can do
>>> to
>>> enhance the look of their van . . .
>>>
>>> Marc
>>>
>>> On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 3:52 PM, Rocket J
>>> Squirrel<camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Well, yeah, my memory of how they attach is certainly dodgy --
>>>> "missing
>>>> altogether" is probably more accurate. But I do recall that the fit
>>>> and
>>>> affixing method didn't impress me.
>>>>
>>>> This one is missing from the front because I probably brushed a
>>>> rock or
>>>> something last weekend while exploring local campgrounds. No
>>>> telling where
>>>> it is. So if I was gonna get replacements the idea of using Krylon
>>>> plastic
>>>> paint to tart them up in some color other than black (van is ivory
>>>> and
>>>> black, so I'm thinking hot pink might blend real well) is an
>>>> attractive one.
>>>>
>>>> I've got one rear cap less than three years old with a crack,
>>>> probably
>>>> from being brushed against something like a rock, also.
>>>>
>>>> The stupid things are still fragile little pieces of crummy
>>>> plastic, just
>>>> itchin' to be wiped off again. The way I drive, anyway.
>>>>
>>>> So my bumpers were powder-coated black, and it really doesn't look
>>>> half-bad with end caps missing.
>>>>
>>>> hot pink end caps . . . no end caps on black bumpers . . . hot pink
>>>> end
>>>> caps . . . no end caps on black bumpers . . .
>>>>
>>>> How's a girl to decide?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>>> Bend, OR
>>>> KG6RCR
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 8/25/2009 11:16 AM Kim Brennan wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> #1, they aren't just snap on. I'm pretty sure there is a nut (13
>>>>> mm) to
>>>>> attach them to the sheet metal bumper, and a screw to attach them
>>>>> to the
>>>>> body of the vanagon.
>>>>> #2 Krylon makes a nice paint for plastics. You can get it spray
>>>>> cans,
>>>>> and color them however you want.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 25, 2009, at 12:01 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> My 84 has sheet metal bumpers fore and aft. These take stupid
>>>>>> snap-on
>>>>>> plastic ends, which after a few years fade to charcoal gray and
>>>>>> look
>>>>>> cheesy.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One has gone missing. I reckon my options are;
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A) to ignore it
>>>>>> B) to order another stupid plastic snap-on plastic end that will
>>>>>> fade to
>>>>>> charcoal gray and look cheesy.
>>>>>> C) ...any other ideas that don't involve buying a new bumper or
>>>>>> welding?
>>>>>> These appear to be in working order and I've never used them to
>>>>>> bump
>>>>>> anything out of the way.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm leaning toward A). It's very inexpensive.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>>>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>>>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>>>>> Bend, OR
>>>>>> KG6RCR
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>
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