Okay, so I'm getting an authentic MS front bumper installed right now, after a hit-and-run damaged my stock bumper. It was shipped to the shop and they are doing the install. However, they want to charge me 2 1/2 hours @ $40/hr to install this thing.

Now, I've removed the stock bumper several times and know that it takes all of 20 minutes to take it off and put it back on. However I haven't personally seen the MS bumper and I don't know if it came with any additional hardware that they would need to add, or if it's just ready to be installed out of the box. If that is the case, they will have a fight on their hands if they think they'll charge me $100 to put it on. And btw, the only reason I'm having them install it is because it's going through insurance. Unfortunately, the insurance won't cover the installation costs for this bumper.

Just wanted to know what's involved before going there today. Thanks!

 

Dude you could have installed the bumper with a screwdriver and 10mm wrench withing 15 minutes. On the other hand, its a shop so naturally they would try to rape you in labour cost.

 

The MS bumper shouldn't take any longer to remove/install than the stock. It's a "known good" Mazda fitment. Since you've done yours before be sure to speak with them about reducing their labor hours. Heck, dealers know how to "allocate" costs to the insurance company in such situations and therefore shouldn't be gouging you!

 

Would they have charged you to install the OEM bumper? If no, then they shouldn't charge you for this either. If they were going to charge you for installing your OEM bumper, then find another shop.

 

Do it yourself, it isn't hard. Hell I installed my in 20 mins. Just following the directions here on this site and make sure the bottom plastic underbelly is secured to the bottom of the bumper.

Paying someone for it is nuts.

 

I don't see how they can charge you more when they would have had to reinstall teh OEM one anyway. What was the difference you had to pay for the MS bumper vs. getting the OEM one covered?

 

Well, I was able to talk them down for the installation labor - just a half hour of labor charges.

9krpmrx8: the estimate for the repair was about $1150. This shop charges the maximum amount for every little thing, so it's great for insurance repairs. So I ended up paying around $300. They charged me retail for the MS bumper, but I guess I can't complain too much about the final price.

 

The only thing that may take more time is installing the MS fog light brackets. Even then, that should be 15-30 minutes of labor.

 

yeah, um, what everyone else said. r-i-p-o-f-f. installing an authentic ms front end is NO different than the oem bumper...put it on yourself, and tell them to shove it

 

i had a shop do mine through insurance and they installed the bumper and foglights without charging anything extra.. i wouldn't pay them anything.

 

Yeah, my MS fog light brackets just arrived and the 12 pages of instructions looked like a real pain at first glance. The install seriously should only take 15-30 minutes? I was estimating about 2 hours! Anything I should know that would help make the install a little more smooth?

And to everyone who said I should have just installed the MS bumper myself... as I mentioned, the shop did it through insurance. So, unless I took the bumper from the shop, somehow stuffed it inside my car and took it home to install -- I really didn't have a choice.

 

Are you installing the fogs or the shop? Because you will need to take the bumper off for the install.

It's been a few years, so 15-30 may be exaggerating a little. You will need to trim the MS air duct, and some of the mesh. My advice when trimming the duct is to cut away material little by little and test fit often. On one side of mine, I cut too much material away.

 

Yes, I know I have to take off the bumper to install the brackets. LOL That part is pretty much second nature to me, since I've done it so many times. I figured the cutting of the duct and mesh would take the most time. I'm just going to give myself an entire afternoon and take it slow. Thanks for the tips!

 

I got 2 MS bumper

first time it was shop installed, cuz the bumper needs to be paint, install was free

After the first ms bumper got fucked by NYC ******* roads. Paint again, but didnt let them install it this time. did it myself. took me 15 minutes. I work on my car all the time and took my bumper off like zillion times b4, I guess that helped.

MS kit comes with some nuts and bolts and a piece of block plate if you have only 1 oil cooler.

One thing I noticed is that, older MS bumper and "Newer" MS bumper uses different clips. the old one, which I got in 2006. uses some plastic ******* clips to hold the oil cooler/front screen. The results? it all broke within a year.

The MS bumper I got a few months ago uses METAL clips. Finally something that wouldn't break.

 

In the street in front of the body shop