renaldo

I"m not going to get into details but i just hit a tree in my 8. No one was injured or anything. I was NOT going fast, but the front bumber and grill are cracked and bent. The headlights and everything else on the car(behind the bumper) are perfectly fine, just a nice big *** crack and warp in the middle of my front bumber. There is no way it can be puddy'd or anything. The bumber has to be replaced.

So now i have the option of getting a body kit or a new front bumber. PLEASE give me some options on what I should do. I have heard about a generic MS body kit. Are these worth buying or not?

poolsidenaz

Ahhh geeeze That totally sucks.

I don't have an answer for you...but would be interested in seeing pics of your boo-boo if it isn't too painful for you?

Sure would be a great opportunity to add a sweet front end huh.

renaldo

I will get some pics tomorrow, its really not that bad but the bumper definately has to be replaced. ALL i can say is THANK GOD mazda has the radiator located so far back. Have you guys looked how much space is behind our front bumper? LOTS!

downshift

Good to know that you're ok.

I think that extra space has something to do with the new pedestrian collision safety regulations... at least that's what I like to blame that on for the relatively long overhang on the front (see the 350Z for what I think is the ideal overhang).

SiMplyBluE

Dude if you can get the MS kit, go for it!! Perfect excuse for you :D But don't know about copies of the MS kit and how it holds up. Maybe somebody who does can.

red_rx8_red_int

Damn that sucks, at least no injuries and not too much damage. Makes me feel much better about curbing my rim last week. I guess it just reinforces that no matter how bad you have it, some else has it worse. Your damage is much worse than mine, and someone may have been killed in LI which is much worse than your damage. Please post before and after pics as well as the $ damages.

RotorManiac

Were the airbags triggered?
I think that's the worst part: low speed collisions where noone can be hurt, but the airbags coming out ...bang! Happened to a friend of mine, 3000 euros(in my country) just for two airbags,while the damage was about half that number!

Go for the MS bumber, it's so

RX-8 friend

The Mazdaspeed front is very large, so you will want to get it from someone close. Reason is shipping will kill you. I think you want the original, not copies. Copies are fibreglass. The original should be urethane. I believe it comes painted (you order it in your color). Try Mazda dealers. I think they get a shipping break as they get parts by the container load from Japan.

cortc

Mazdaspeed is very nice, comes painted; by the time you buy and paint anything else it will cost about the same... Get the Mazdaspeed!

Omicron

Agreed, get the Mazdaspeed. And here's a shipping tip: If you have it sent to a business (like your workplace, or the shop where you'll get it installed, or whatever) it's usually considerably cheaper than if you ship it to a residence.

renaldo

The airbags were not deployed I was going really slow to begin w/ it didn't even jerk me forward in my seat.


Who do your reccomend I order the MS front bumber from?

I will get the pics posted tomorrow when its light out and i can get a good shot.

JerryR

In case you want a price comparison, a week ago I ran over some road debris (an unrolled truck tire maybe?) which smashed my front bumper and grill, but left the headlights untouched. It also took out the condenser. Anyway, the estimate for getting it fixed was $2100. For more details on the damage, see the "Road Trash Ate My Baby" thread.

Btw, I hear you about the radiator. I was amazed by how far back it is.

renaldo

Picture 1

renaldo

Pic 2

renaldo

Last one, makes me wanna cry

twhayes99

Ouch... that bites. Glad no one was hurt though.

I hit a pickup a few months back when he bowed up and decided to frickin yield on a freeway on ramp rather than merge *Sigh*.... I was looking over my shoulder at traffic and almost managed to stop.

Very similar damage it looks like, luckily all that had to be replaced was the bumper 'cover' as the body shop called it. A little over 900 bucks labor and all.

LBrx8fan

Does anybody else cry when they see pics like this?

renaldo

the one thing i can say is thank god only the bumper is damaged. I was going to eventually get the MS kit anyways. This friday the new MS front bumber will be on

FYI: i paid my dealership $1300 for the front bumper, including the fog light brackets

D MENAC 7

Sorry to hear about this, Matt. That really sucks. However, there is a silver lining to every cloud and the MS front end is definitely Titanium, in your case! :D

P.S. I cannot see the pics., they come in as an X.

project

similar thing happened to me in january* except my run in was with a telephone pole. the paint is scratched and the bumper mounts are broken so its a little loose. im saving up my pennies for an autoexe kit. and im toying with having my car repainted white since mazda didnt have the foresight to include that in the us color choices...


*never ever ever drive with the stock tires when its snowing. i got screwed because it started on my way home from work.

red_rx8_red_int

Try again later, they were working earlier-so there's nothing wrong with the posts (links?) I think it's a problem with this site.

renaldo

http://home.ripway.com/2004-5/111995/damtree010.jpg

opchee

heya, can u attach the pics straight to your post instead of linking to your own hosts and maxing out your quota?