Do we need that styrofoam piece that's behind that front bumper and rear bumpers. The reason why I am asking is because I don't have them and the car is going to the body shop to be put back together and painted.

 

It's basically intended to keep the shape of the plastic and also keep a tight fit. Without the styrofoam, a slight tap on the plastic will dent it, and frankly I'm not sure how well the bumper covers will stay in place without foam behind them.

 

It's also for impact absorbing.

 

But if I have a fiberglass bumper, does it matter. It won't give if it's hit, it will just crack regardless.

 

Probably not as much.

 

^ Yeah, I agree. Again, the fit of your cover may be affected by not having the foam. G'luck.

 

Do it right; get the foam.

 

It is a disperses shock in an impact. Almost every time my car has been hit I have had to replace the foam and repaint the bumper cover. The bumper has been in tact almost every time.

Besides, it's foam. It's not carbon fiber or gold. Why take the chance by not putting foam in there?

 

Ya, but like I said before it won't do anything in my case, if I hit something the foam piece won't save the bumper what so ever. As for fitment it doesn't matter either, because the front bumper is not flexible at all. Just out of curiosity how much is it for these pieces.

 

You mean you have a fiberglass bumper cover. The bumper is the big metal piece that the foam sits in front of.

That foam piece is what makes up your 5mph (or is it now goverment regulated 3 mph) bumper/bumper cover protector.

In a 5 mph "crash", without that foam piece, you'd hit an object with enough force to contort your cover and other misc. pieces to create enough damage that would amount to a significant cost. The insurance industry (to save themselves and supposedly their customers money), lobbied for a U.S. federally regulated 5mph bumper protection.

That foam piece is a result of that regulation.