Optimum Gloss Coat - did not work on my car! (w pics)

[kiteman]

Didnt know that. Good to learn something new. I know any vehicle ive had the bumpers have all been ever so slightly different shades then the body. Granted most of those have been red which i feel is even more noticeable


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How hard was it to install your bumper? I've seen some videos on my particular car. Getting it on and off doesn't seem hard, but no one has actually described taking the rear camera, taillights, parking sensors etc off of the old and putting on the new one before installation. I know we have different cars but I'm partially considering having a dealer install for me, assuming it's not insanely overpriced.

 

[mk9750]

For me, the camera is not in the bumper, so that wasn't an issue. Actual installation of the bumper was easy - Hangs on "shelves" along the back under the trunk deck, and then snaps into receivers on both sides. I mucked up getting one of the screws that inserts near the wheel well to catch the tab on the new bumper, and I bent the crap out of that, but as soon as I figured out what I did wrong and pulled the screw back out and used something sharp to help line everything up, it was no problem.

The parking sensors were a struggle, as the more I got in, the tighter the wiring became, and the less space between the bumper and the car there is. That's why I suggested the new sensors, because getting them to insert and stay was easier with new ones than the ones I first tried to reuse. Work took about 2 hours total, and I'd say results were 9.95 / 10. No one sees the slightly wonky tab that is crinkled where I missed it with the screw, but I know it's there.

Oh, one more thing. Check out the foam bumper behind the plastic outer bumper you're replacing. It is those foam pieces that provide your protection. If they are compromised, I think you'd be wise to replace them.

 

[kiteman]

For me, the camera is not in the bumper, so that wasn't an issue. Actual installation of the bumper was easy - Hangs on "shelves" along the back under the trunk deck, and then snaps into receivers on both sides. I mucked up getting one of the screws that inserts near the wheel well to catch the tab on the new bumper, and I bent the crap out of that, but as soon as I figured out what I did wrong and pulled the screw back out and used something sharp to help line everything up, it was no problem.

The parking sensors were a struggle, as the more I got in, the tighter the wiring became, and the less space between the bumper and the car there is. That's why I suggested the new sensors, because getting them to insert and stay was easier with new ones than the ones I first tried to reuse. Work took about 2 hours total, and I'd say results were 9.95 / 10. No one sees the slightly wonky tab that is crinkled where I missed it with the screw, but I know it's there.

Oh, one more thing. Check out the foam bumper behind the plastic outer bumper you're replacing. It is those foam pieces that provide your protection. If they are compromised, I think you'd be wise to replace them.

Thanks. It looks like all of the electronics on mine are actually connected to the bumper itself. It looks almost like once the bumper is off you can just take your time disassembling them from the old bumper and moving them over to the new bumper. The video here shows what I mean. I'm not sure if your sensors were installed anything like this, because to me this seems fairly straightforward, but if it's like yours then I would be mistaken! Thanks again for the insight.

YouTube

 

[mk9750]

Yeah, no.

The sensors on mine clip into an electrical line attached to the car, and then slide into a bracket in the bumper. I'm not electronically inclined, so I wasn't going to cut the line and try to rewire it. So on mine, as soon as the first sensor was plugged into the line, and slid into the bracket on the bumper, the bumper was now "connected" to the car. As each succeeding sensor was installed, the bumper was drawn closer to the back of the car. When I was installing the last sensor, I had no way to see what I was doing (I tried to put a light in side, but realized I'd never get it back out again once the last sensor was connected), and I could barely fit my arm down far enough in. At one point, I considered asking my wife (she of the more slender appendages) to do it. But I finally got it.

If yours is like the video you links, although the assembly looks heavier than mine did, it seems more straight forward than mine. If so, good for you!

If course, none of this answers the question about Opti Seal, does it?

 

[kiteman]

Yeah, no.

The sensors on mine clip into an electrical line attached to the car, and then slide into a bracket in the bumper. I'm not electronically inclined, so I wasn't going to cut the line and try to rewire it. So on mine, as soon as the first sensor was plugged into the line, and slid into the bracket on the bumper, the bumper was now "connected" to the car. As each succeeding sensor was installed, the bumper was drawn closer to the back of the car. When I was installing the last sensor, I had no way to see what I was doing (I tried to put a light in side, but realized I'd never get it back out again once the last sensor was connected), and I could barely fit my arm down far enough in. At one point, I considered asking my wife (she of the more slender appendages) to do it. But I finally got it.

If yours is like the video you links, although the assembly looks heavier than mine did, it seems more straight forward than mine. If so, good for you!

If course, none of this answers the question about Opti Seal, does it?

Haha! No, it doesn't, but this is helpful. I haven't had a chance to look at the videos, so I'm still convinced I wasted $75 on that stuff after all.