[Richard]

When I dealt for my car, I told the dealer I wanted front and rear bumper strips. It was listed on the contract. They told me they may have to be ordered, but it should only take a few days.

It's now been 3 weeks and no bumper strips. They told me it's been ordered and it hasn't come in yet. Could this be true? I can't believe that such a trivial item could take 3 weeks to come in.

This is the 2nd car I got from this dealer and I get the feeling that once they have their money, they don't want to know from you.

 

[DrivenDaily]

My salesman promised me a front license bracket, in case I move to another state, and besides, it's listed on the window sticker. Never got it, probably never will. Empty words to get the sale, then on to the next chump.

 

[Silver LTZ]

Bumper strips?

 

[Richard]

My salesman promised me a front license bracket, in case I move to another state, and besides, it's listed on the window sticker. Never got it, probably never will. Empty words to get the sale, then on to the next chump.

Thank you. That's exactly how I feel. I called the dealer today and he promised they will come in. He gave me a story that they want to have them painted red so they will match the car (they usually come in black or white). It sounds like a good story, I just hope it's true. He even said that I can have a free oil change due to my inconvenience. I just don't understand why it would take 3 weeks. I'm starting to get the feeling that the dealer feels this "chump" will give up, but I'm not giving up until I get them. It was part of the deal.

By the way, bumpers strips are the long rubber strips that are put along the length of the front and back bumpers. They protect the bumpers from nicks and scratches if a car hits the bumper. It's a shame that bumpers are made out of this material. They're so vulnerable to damage. If someone hits the bumper, the paint comes off. These bumper strips should offer some degree of protection.
What happened to the days of metal bumpers?

 

[Silver LTZ]

By the way, bumpers strips are the long rubber strips that are put along the length of the front and back bumpers. They protect the bumpers from nicks and scratches if a car hits the bumper. It's a shame that bumpers are made out of this material. They're so vulnerable to damage. If someone hits the bumper, the paint comes off. These bumper strips should offer some degree of protection.
What happened to the days of metal bumpers?

Oh god, please don't put that stuff on. All the beat up taxis in NYC use that stuff. If your worried about nicks and scratches just do it right with some 3M film that will be hidden and not hurt resale like those strips will. If someone hits the bumper, the paint will not come off. My old G6 was backed into pretty good, and not any damage. A old chrome bumper would have been ruined not to mention they were in most cases 2.5 mph bumpers, not 5 mph ones. I would seriously reconsider putting those things on your car. But it is your car.

 

[Richard]

Oh god, please don't put that stuff on. All the beat up taxis in NYC use that stuff. If your worried about nicks and scratches just do it right with some 3M film that will be hidden and not hurt resale like those strips will. If someone hits the bumper, the paint will not come off. My old G6 was backed into pretty good, and not any damage. A old chrome bumper would have been ruined not to mention they were in most cases 2.5 mph bumpers, not 5 mph ones. I would seriously reconsider putting those things on your car. But it is your car.

I've had them on several cars and they really don't look bad. I'm having the nice thin ones put on, not the ugly thick ones. And they will be painted the same color as the car, so they will blend in with the bumper. What does look bad is a back bumper filled with cuts and gouges. Almost every bumper you look at has them. Don't be naive, it will cut up if it is hit, even lightly. My car is parked in my driveway overnight, but my last car (which did not have the strips) had cut marks in the back bumper from the few times it was parked on the street. Believe me, I would prefer not putting them on, but a cut up bumper looks much worse than the strips. And the "old" chrome bumpers held up much better than these flimsy plastic bumpers. Most of them had a thick rubber guard running around them, so they did what they were supposed to do - Get bumped without damage. Certainly, someone hitting one of those bumpers lightly when parking will not damage them.

 

[Silver LTZ]

I've had them on several cars and they really don't look bad. I'm having the nice thin ones put on, not the ugly thick ones. And they will be painted the same color as the car, so they will blend in with the bumper. What does look bad is a back bumper filled with cuts and gouges. Almost every bumper you look at has them. Don't be naive, it will cut up if it is hit, even lightly. My car is parked in my driveway overnight, but my last car (which did not have the strips) had cut marks in the back bumper from the few times it was parked on the street. Believe me, I would prefer not putting them on, but a cut up bumper looks much worse than the strips. And the "old" chrome bumpers held up much better than these flimsy plastic bumpers. Most of them had a thick rubber guard running around them, so they did what they were supposed to do - Get bumped without damage. Certainly, someone hitting one of those bumpers lightly when parking will not damage them.

Where do you park that your bumpers get cut up and beat up like that? I've never had that issue on any of my cars, neither have any of my friends. IMO I'd rather have a bumper repainted if damage occured then put those things on my car. But as said, it is your car, and you can do what you want. The old chrome bumpers also do not pass ANY crash tests like the new ones do, and when hit cause damage beyond the bumper itself unlike the new ones....

 

[Richard]

Where do you park that your bumpers get cut up and beat up like that? I've never had that issue on any of my cars, neither have any of my friends. IMO I'd rather have a bumper repainted if damage occured then put those things on my car. But as said, it is your car, and you can do what you want. The old chrome bumpers also do not pass ANY crash tests like the new ones do, and when hit cause damage beyond the bumper itself unlike the new ones....

I see you're from Florida where most parking is off street. I'm from NYC where parking spots are at a premium. People will squeeze into the tightest spots, even if they don't fit. And most people drive SUV's here, so try having one of those bumpers hit you, especially the ones with the lovely massive metal bar protecting the grill. I've yet to see a car that doesn't have cut marks, especially on the back bumper. You may have a chance with the front bumper, because the license plate extends out a bit, but with the back bumper, no chance.

 

[EAZYZ]

I've had them on several cars and they really don't look bad. I'm having the nice thin ones put on, not the ugly thick ones. And they will be painted the same color as the car, so they will blend in with the bumper. What does look bad is a back bumper filled with cuts and gouges. Almost every bumper you look at has them. Don't be naive, it will cut up if it is hit, even lightly. My car is parked in my driveway overnight, but my last car (which did not have the strips) had cut marks in the back bumper from the few times it was parked on the street. Believe me, I would prefer not putting them on, but a cut up bumper looks much worse than the strips. And the "old" chrome bumpers held up much better than these flimsy plastic bumpers. Most of them had a thick rubber guard running around them, so they did what they were supposed to do - Get bumped without damage. Certainly, someone hitting one of those bumpers lightly when parking will not damage them.

You should put pictures of them up when the get put on, personally I don't think I would be a huge fan as I like the stock look, but none of us can judge until we see it. As for your dealer situation, ask him where the part is coming from, in this case, I think bumper strips are probably from a thrid party accessory company and not GM, so maybe they need to be custom made as I doubt there is a high demand for bumper strips.

 

[festo702]

I see you're from Florida where most parking is off street. I'm from NYC where parking spots are at a premium. People will squeeze into the tightest spots, even if they don't fit. And most people drive SUV's here, so try having one of those bumpers hit you, especially the ones with the lovely massive metal bar protecting the grill. I've yet to see a car that doesn't have cut marks, especially on the back bumper. You may have a chance with the front bumper, because the license plate extends out a bit, but with the back bumper, no chance.

I agree with Silver on this one, but being that you are in New York, I can understand why you would put the bumper strips on. I would definitely consider the 3M film though because you won't even see it when its put on and it does protect the entire bumper rather than the 1 strip which will only protect you if someone hits your bumper somewhere on the strip. Just my 2 cents.

 

[bromley]

OK...So the strips are painted the same colour as the car....and put on the bumper, which is also painted the same colour as they car....to avoid that nicked up look that the bumper gets, because it is painted....?

Won't the strips look the same? All nicked up and ugly, since they are painted too???

I think where mmost people are going is.

You have to buy these strips. Whether they say they are giving it to you with the car, or not. You are still paying for them.

So. You have to buy these strips, which you even admit, aren't the best looking. Just to keep the bumper from getting the "NICKED LOOK".

But then it is painted the same colour, so the strips will get the "NICKED LOOK" regardless.

Now, perhaps you are getting them to improve re-sale. But if you are going to own the car 5-10 years, Couldn't you just scrap the strip idea, install the 3M shield, and just buy a new bumper skin before you sell the car? If it gets broke? That way it looks good, but you can have it look new, when you go to sell?

Again, you're car. But I am a very visual person, and strips would bother me to look at. lol

Just thinking out loud. Cheers!

 

[Silver LTZ]

I see you're from Florida where most parking is off street. I'm from NYC where parking spots are at a premium. People will squeeze into the tightest spots, even if they don't fit. And most people drive SUV's here, so try having one of those bumpers hit you, especially the ones with the lovely massive metal bar protecting the grill. I've yet to see a car that doesn't have cut marks, especially on the back bumper. You may have a chance with the front bumper, because the license plate extends out a bit, but with the back bumper, no chance.

Actually only been down here a few years, I too am from NY, Suffolk/Nassau though. But I worked in Manhattan for five years.

 

[Richard]

OK...So the strips are painted the same colour as the car....and put on the bumper, which is also painted the same colour as they car....to avoid that nicked up look that the bumper gets, because it is painted....?

Won't the strips look the same? All nicked up and ugly, since they are painted too???

I think where mmost people are going is.

You have to buy these strips. Whether they say they are giving it to you with the car, or not. You are still paying for them.

So. You have to buy these strips, which you even admit, aren't the best looking. Just to keep the bumper from getting the "NICKED LOOK".

But then it is painted the same colour, so the strips will get the "NICKED LOOK" regardless.

Now, perhaps you are getting them to improve re-sale. But if you are going to own the car 5-10 years, Couldn't you just scrap the strip idea, install the 3M shield, and just buy a new bumper skin before you sell the car? If it gets broke? That way it looks good, but you can have it look new, when you go to sell?

Again, you're car. But I am a very visual person, and strips would bother me to look at. lol

Just thinking out loud. Cheers!

I appreciate your concern, but I never said the strips are not the best looking. Of course, if I was in the right environment, I wouldn't get them. I've put them on other cars and they actually looked very nice. And they won't nick, because it's made out of a rubberized material that's resistant to nicks and cuts. I guess you don't know what it's like to live in a congested city where it's difficult to find a parking spot. People will literally squeeze into spots that they don't fit in and they will bang into your bumper time after time. I've seen many cars that are in mint condition except for the back bumper that has hundreds of chips and gouges on them. It doesn't look good. I'm trying my best to avoid that.

The new product that's become very popular is called the bumper protector. It actually looks like a wide rubberized floor mat and you hang it from the trunk over the back bumper. To me, they look ridiculous, but they're functional. And it's only supposed to be kept on when you're parked, but I see people that leave them on all the time and that doesn't look good at all.

Regarding the Malibu, it is a good thing that the back license plate is in the middle of the back bumper. At least that part of the bumper is safe from damage. My last car had the license plate mounted on the trunk and the middle of the bumper got nicked up (where the Malibu license plate is).

And I don't understand what you mean by "I'm still paying for the strips". It was in the contract that they will supply and install the strips for me. I just hope they abide by their word.

 

[Richard]

OK...So the strips are painted the same colour as the car....and put on the bumper, which is also painted the same colour as they car....to avoid that nicked up look that the bumper gets, because it is painted....?

Won't the strips look the same? All nicked up and ugly, since they are painted too???

I got some good news from the dealer today. He explained to me the reason it's taking so long is they got the black bumper strips in and he didn't want to paint them, because they might chip. He found a company that makes them in red. The color is molded right into the material, so they won't chip. That's what's causing the delay. So I'll have something that's durable and won't chip.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

Bromley hit my nail on the head... my two cents are that if you get the red ones they'll just look bad plus the surrounding bumper will too. But these color molded bumpers sound better than what I imagine: just prey they aren't the color red, but rather your paint code red. I can see a dealer saying hmmmm, they come in (6 options)... i guess red would be the closest. Then Black is better :-D

Anyhow, I solved this by living in Illinois where im unfortunate enough to need a front plate... that plus a bumper buffer saves my front end.
For my back end, I bought a DE-Fender that i can pull out of the trunk when im parallel parking. Other than that my rear end is exposed and lookin' good :-X

 

[Richard]

After owning the car for almost 3 months, the dealer told me to come in to have the bumper strips installed, but not the type that he promised. He tried to order me strips that are the same color as the car, so basically you won't see them. They never came in. Next, he ordered neutral colored strips and he was going to paint them. He never got the neutral strips in. This all sounds like excuses. I guess he thought I would give up after a while, but I kept calling.

So he told me he has them in black if I want them. I'm going in tomorrow to take a look at them. I don't want those thick ugly strips that may be functional, but don't look good. I will have him hold what he has against the bumper and see how they look.

How do you think the thin black strips will look against the red paint?

If I'm not happy, I'm going to try and get something else out of him. Maybe a 10 disc CD Changer.

We'll see what happens.

 

[elcompaLalo]

They will most likely stand out way too much. I say you have him send em out to get painted, I don't know of anything else you can get out of them other than a few oil changes....lol.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Before you go in look for them on the internet. Once you find them (hopefully) print it out so you have the info "loaded" into your "gun", so to speak. Then, when he says blah blah blah and lies to you about not being able to find any or get them, pull out the info and "shoot off your mouth". Best to be prepared!

Then stand there and make him get what he promised and what you expected. What's wrong with living up to one's word? There are a lot of "little people" like us that do the right thing every day, so why do we have to put up with liars cheating us out of what we deserve?

 

[wooha]

heh he came asking for help and received nothing but "dont put strips"... i say if you wana strip.. then strip oh and call chevy corporate 1.800-222-1020