M3TOS2K (Mugen, J's Racing, Spoon, ASM)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 514
Likes: 40
From: Seneca Falls
Some of the best photography on these forums, or what you would find in most other auto journalism for that matter. The racing coverage is a big draw too, always worth coming here 
Professional presentation
Professional presentation
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 39
From: Cedar Park, TX
Flushed the coolant last week. It was my first time flushing coolant on any car and reading about how some people here have had trouble getting it done worried me, but I just bit the bullet, followed all the tips here, and it turned out to be fairly easy. Been so busy with work and family that I haven't had much time to go to the track. Just a couple photos playing around with light painting.
Last edited by radiantm3; May 22, 2018 at 08:17 AM.
. Yellow + black theme works. 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Intersting.
So I saw that Mark wasn't so keen on the aftermarket bumper options as they are all FRP (fiberglass).
Is there a big difference in fit or overall strength when comparing the "polyurethane" OEM stuff and fiberglass aftermarket pieces?
So I saw that Mark wasn't so keen on the aftermarket bumper options as they are all FRP (fiberglass).
Is there a big difference in fit or overall strength when comparing the "polyurethane" OEM stuff and fiberglass aftermarket pieces?
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,059
Likes: 129
I have had personal experience with all of this. I am on my 4th Amuse R1 FRP bumper, 3 have been reps and I am currently on my first authentic. Reason I went with reps for so long is because of the fact that FRP breaks easily on impact and it's cheaper to replace rep bumpers instead of authentic. All of them have been hit by either a tire on the freeway or someone being negligent basically destroying the bumper. I have been rear ended on my OEM rear bumper and it's perfectly fine other than a couple paint scuffs and couple indentations in the bumper. As for getting shipped non-OEM poly parts, I bought an eBay AP2 lip and it was deformed from heat, which is very typical with long and thin poly parts.
One of my replica Amuse bumpers
I've had the same OEM rear bumper since it's been hit and haven't touched it since. In the second photo, you can see the small indentation right next to the license plate left from being rear ended.
Last edited by jaor.s2k; Jul 10, 2018 at 03:32 PM.
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Let's say a car backed into your car. A poly bumper would be just fine, it would bend and absorb the shock and keep its shape. The worst damage would be paint scuff and maybe paint cracking. A FRP bumper will crack on impact and of course in higher impacts, the bumper itself will basically shatter. So poly is more durable of a material. Now why not aftermarket bumpers all poly? it's harder to make parts, more expensive material, and shipping is more difficult. If it's hot, the bumper itself can deform when being shipped (though it can go back to it's normal shape after letting it sit in the sun all day, but it may not be perfect anymore).
I have had personal experience with all of this. I am on my 4th Amuse R1 FRP bumper, 3 have been reps and I am currently on my first authentic. Reason I went with reps for so long is because of the fact that FRP breaks easily on impact and it's cheaper to replace rep bumpers instead of authentic. All of them have been hit by either a tire on the freeway or someone being negligent basically destroying the bumper. I have been rear ended on my OEM rear bumper and it's perfectly fine other than a couple paint scuffs and couple indentations in the bumper. As for getting shipped non-OEM poly parts, I bought an eBay AP2 lip and it was deformed from heat, which is very typical with long and thin poly parts.
One of my replica Amuse bumpers
ugh-3 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
ugh-4 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
I've had the same OEM rear bumper since it's been hit and haven't touched it since. In the second photo, you can see the small indentation right next to the license plate left from being rear ended.
Azusa Sunrise-14 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
Azusa Sunrise-11 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
I have had personal experience with all of this. I am on my 4th Amuse R1 FRP bumper, 3 have been reps and I am currently on my first authentic. Reason I went with reps for so long is because of the fact that FRP breaks easily on impact and it's cheaper to replace rep bumpers instead of authentic. All of them have been hit by either a tire on the freeway or someone being negligent basically destroying the bumper. I have been rear ended on my OEM rear bumper and it's perfectly fine other than a couple paint scuffs and couple indentations in the bumper. As for getting shipped non-OEM poly parts, I bought an eBay AP2 lip and it was deformed from heat, which is very typical with long and thin poly parts.
One of my replica Amuse bumpers
ugh-3 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
ugh-4 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
I've had the same OEM rear bumper since it's been hit and haven't touched it since. In the second photo, you can see the small indentation right next to the license plate left from being rear ended.
Azusa Sunrise-14 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
Azusa Sunrise-11 by Jonathan Ralleca, on Flickr
I really like that Amuse style. But if there's no polyurethane ("OEM"-like) version, maybe the OEM bumper is the way to go.
(Do they make an Amuse-style bumper with that cool lower lip in polyurethane vs FRP?)