I'm looking into getting the MS kit , and i was wondering how much it would cost to just get the front bumper

 

A LOT

... and even more if you have a white car

 

nah, my car isnt white. But damn just the front bumper costs 1k painted?

 

The average price for the MS bumper is $1200. You can get a replica for much cheaper, but you'll have to find a local body shop to paint it for you.

 

Not to mention fit the bumper as it won't be a direct bolt on like the geniune kit most likely... you would probably end up spending as much money as you would buying the real thing

 

In some cases, yes. When it comes to the front bumper, you really only save money if you have the hook-up on a body guy.

 

Id say if you really want it, spend the 1200 and get the factory painted one from mazda, that way you can put it on yourself, rightaway and dont have to worry about fit, quality, painting, body shops...ect ect ect.

If you get a replica and have to get it fitted, preped, painted, installed by a body shop, suddenly youve spend 600 on a front bumper, so the cheap aftermarket isnt always as cheap....to me the extra cost is worth it saving me all the trouble.

 

If your car is yellow, however, they don't come painted anymore, otherwise you should be all set as KY said.

 

Is that the case will all of the discontinued colors? i.e. green and titanium?

 

Not sure. When I bought mine the dude (Mazda Parts Guy) said that soon all bumper covers would be primer, not painted. I'm not sure how accurate that statement is. I'm guessing he meant discontinued colors, but he didn't say that specifically. I suppose there's a possibility they could, but maybe they still have some in those colors in stock. Yellow was out, I had to have mine painted.

 

My guess is that Mazda will make Green and Titanium MS parts untill they stop painting new CARS that color, are they still making 05's? or are they already on to the '06 (wondering since the '06 isnt supposed to come out untill begining of '06 not 3rd 1/4 of '05 like most cars).

The primer is actualy not that bad, the MS kit has a 2 tone look (for all colors) its body color and then has a 'Gun Grey' accent that is a beautyful gunmetal metalic. The primer version has the body color section done in primer and is ready for paint, the gunmetal section is already painted the 'gun grey' and maked off with tape. So its not as much work as it would seem, the body shop only has to mix and paint you factory color. That saves time (in prep and masking) and money (in 2 differnt kinds of paint)

 

I saw an 06 at SS8 with a build date of July (or August). This doesn't mean 06's are in full production, nor do I know if this means they stopped building 05's. Where can we find this information out?

 

hmm. I never thought it would cost me all that just for the front bumper.

So how much does the replica one run at? Unpainted

 

here's one for $350 at one of the vendors Mazdaparts

no idea about the quality or fit/finish (but urethane is a good thing)... and yes it's not painted

 

hmm ok , thats something more i can afford. Does anyone know how good this replica is?

Such as the Fit? Quality ?

 

there are some people on the forum that have installed the replicas, search around for it.

just make sure you talk to a body shop before you buy it, get them to quote you a price for at least prep and factory paint, along with the blending they will need to do (to match the hood and fenders). Also let them know the fit might not be perfect and about how much they would charge to fit a bumper (or whole kit, whatever you get) to the car.

350 for a bumper that looks just like the Mazdaspeed one is a great deal compared to 1200, but when you add in all the work for paint and stuff, it can climb to 500-600+ and then the direct bolt on part looks nice. I dont sell the parts so I have nothing to gain telling you one way or the other. I have just seen my friends get screwed becase they buy a replica body kit for 600 bucks (compared to say 2000 for the real thing) and then they end up spending another 1200 for all the work to make it fit right and painting, ect...at the end of the day they spend 1800 for a knock off kit, when they could have had the real thing and put it on themselfs in a weekend, instead of having the car sit at a shop for a week.

Although at the end of the day 200 bucked saved is still money saved...so its up to you.

Just know what your getting into, cause a lot of places wont accept returns on body kits.

 

^^ Exactly what KYLiquid said.

I have the replica kit and I'm happy with the fitment and quality, but that's my experience.

 

Paint/Prep and Install shouldn't cost more than 300 bucks for the front. That's considered a pretty high price for a front bumper install... maybe a friend will hook you up for 200 bucks.

 

I know a body shop that would do it for dirt cheap! the paint job! i know the guy!

So i think i can save a few 100 bucks on that!


Hey man that sounds good , I'm glad the fitment and quality is working alright for you


So where did you pick up your kit from?

 

My kit is from RotaryExtreme.com. When first put on, the fitment was off near the headlights. I took it back to the shop and they fixed it so now it's great.

 

One thing though... the front bumper is going to look kind of crappy without the full kit. It hangs sifnificantly lower than stock and doesn't look all that great with just the appearance kit.

 

I kinda like just the front bumper, the car lowered, and the hindge in back. Doesnt look bad at all

 

I dont know if i want the MS side skirts and read , I think i just want the MS front with OEM Sides and OEM Rear with a drop

 

u NEED the MS side skirts or ur car will look akward

 

I agree. I had the front bumper by itself for a while and it did look strange.... I certainly wasn't happy with it.