I know that our OEM bumper is polyurethane but it seems there arent any aftermarket ones that are? Ive been gettin the feeling the poly is better because its more forgiving than anything else. I have also seen people say that fiberglass bumpers make for the paint to spider and crack and im a perfectionist i cant have that but i got a good deal on an FRP bumper not a urethane one. Can someone explain to me what the main differences are and your experiences with them?

 

I have had both, and like most things, are a compromise. Despite many folks n this forum saying the OEM PU is "soft" and prone to rock chips - and it IS prone - I am currently running a FRP front bumper and it is about two or three times more vulnerable to chipping from road debris and rocks. Yes, there are few if any PU aftermarket bumpers because of the tooling costs required up front to produce. PU process suits mass production as opposed to FRP which suits more limited production runs economically. Like you, I am a perfectionist, and after 3 years of ownership, I repainted my front bumper for correction of the flaws. After putting on my FRP Nismo V2, I find that I am touching up rock chops every two weeks of running. AFA FRP bumpers spidering and cracking, you get what you pay for with a body shop as well as who you buy your FRP from. A good body shop can correct spidering and cracking inherent in a cheap(er) FRP bumper, but you then end up paying more with the body shop. PM me for more details if you want.

cheers,
ChinaClipper

 

Stillen Series 1 and 2 front facias are urethane.

 

There are urethane after market bumpers out there - Aerosync is the best known one, and its a great piece. Motorsport Auto also makes some

As for paint cracking on fiberglass, it's not really true. The painter, and the quality of their work and the quality of the materials they use, determines how the final job comes out. Fiberglass in and of itself is a terrific material, but it takes a painter familiar with it's properties and the processes to make it come out the way you expect.

As with anything else, the quality among FRP pieces varies ALOT. Do your homework before you buy

 

thanks for all your help i think the best thing for me to do is just stick with the urethane because i may lightly bump a curb here and there and i dont want to have to deal with the mishaps in the paint