Damn.

I'm preparing my car for a full respray in about 3 weeks...meaning I'm taking lots of things off the car. My 97 has the original style rear bumper cover, and my intention is to replace it with a later-style bumper cover that hangs a bit lower. Purchased the new item from our friend Tony (XKRacer) at Paragon Design UK.

Corrosion is not really a problem with my car. But today I see that I have bad corrosion at one of the bolt points for the rear bumper beam. It's as if the beam is de-laminating. Here's a look...fair warning...it's UGLY.




Removing or changing bumper covers involves removing this bolt. But I imagine if I do that, this area of the beam will disintegrate completely. And how the hell would I ever be able to torque a new bolt when re-installing?

The other side doesn't look nearly as bad, but there is evidence of early corrosion here, too.




This wouldn't appear to be a big deal...just a piece of steel, right? Well, the cheapest bumper beam I can find (through Gaudin) is nearly $ 800.

I need ideas, fellas. I'm sure our friends in the UK see this corrosion all the time...what are you blokes doing about this problem?


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I would say, find a good fabricator, cut it out and weld in some new steel and then preserve it with everything you can get your hands on.

 

Has anyone else had corrosion at the rear bumper beam, and been able to fabricate a repair?

I'd love to hear from my friends in England and other wet climates on this one...I'm sure someone has had to deal with this problem.


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We have different bumper setup in the UK:



Ours aren't energy absorbing like the US:



They still seize on the hex bolt but breaking the mounting is a low cost option.



The plastic and aluminium bracket is a lot less ££ than the US $$$ bracket.

Graham

 

It is a different setup, you can I believe change them to the UK style, the reason I say this because I know a guy who is doing them all out of aluminium with stainless steel adjusters, not for much more money than the jag items......

I will have a better idea when I start to tear into the US car I have here

 

Thanks Graham-

What about corrosion of the bumper beam itself? Even if our mounts are different, I imagine this problem exists en masse in the UK. Are beams being repaired in the UK, or replaced, or....

I really need to NOT spend big money on my rear bumper right now.


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Ebay appears to be your friend today. BIN $75 + shipping

HH Jaguar XK8 Rear Bumper Reinforcement Bar 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 | eBay

 

Our bumper beams are plastic with threaded brass inserts for the hex bolts. The problem with this design is that after a few years of wet weather, the hex bolt seizes in the brass insert and the whole thing rotates when you try to undo it.

l think the US energy absorbing bumper uses a metal beam. It looks like it from your pics.

Graham

 

UK bumper with bolt stuck in the spinning brass fitting.

From below.



And above.

 

Rothwell,

I owe you, buddy. Snagged this beam off E-bay, for about 1/10 of what Jaguar wants.

THANK YOU. Man I love this forum, and every one of you little punks that make this experience so much fun...and at times, so much less expensive.




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Well spotted David.
That has to be the deal of the year!

Graham