Topic: Replacing Rear Bumper

[Ironhide]

Got my new rear rear bumper back from the paint shop and now I have some serious problems with the installation.

Till now no one in Germany had a problem with a Saturn Sky bumper.

First the painter asked me where the h.... I've bought this c.....

I asked him why he was so upset, he told me that the bumper had several dents and that the paint job looks as bad as it could.

I took that bad painted bumper with me and tried to install it, no chance.

First the gap between the fascia and the deck lid is far to small.

I've tried to adjust this in the area of the 7 mm bolts but that's not enough.

So I tried to do it by adjusting the brackets, but then the whole thing will collide withe trunk lid torque rod.

Even the U.S. tail lights don't fit anymore.

I've checked the bumper brackets (on the bumper) and noticed that the whole thing is poor quality.

One bracket is crooked and the plastic looks really cheap.

Has anyone heard of Chinese plagiarism (the bumper has all the GM marks and stickers).

Years ago I had the same problem with my taillights (missing seal).

[Sol Asylum]

Was it a new or used part?

[Ironhide]

Was it a new or used part?

New!

I'm so upset!

I'm working on this damned bumper for three days now (things like that just take me a day).

Built an Opel/Saturn hybrid wireharness (Opel has this rear fog light).

Thank you again for sending the spare parts.

[Sly Bob]

Sounds like something from China. Contact GM, they want to know about this stuff. Can you send it back to where you got it?

GLOBAL BRAND PROTECTION TEAM

If you suspect that the automotive parts you have purchased are counterfeit, please send an email to: gm_global_brand_protection@gm.com
Be sure to include as much information as possible as well as pictures of the part and with the packaging you have purchased.
 
ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL REMAIN STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
Please save the part, the packaging, the invoice and the receipt until we contact you (if you choose to be contacted).
 
YOU SHOULD RECEIVE A RESPONSE WITHIN FIVE (5) BUSINESS DAYS.

[Ironhide]

Sounds like something from China. Contact GM, they want to know about this stuff. Can you send it back to where you got it?

GLOBAL BRAND PROTECTION TEAM

If you suspect that the automotive parts you have purchased are counterfeit, please send an email to: gm_global_brand_protection@gm.com
Be sure to include as much information as possible as well as pictures of the part and with the packaging you have purchased.
 
ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL REMAIN STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
Please save the part, the packaging, the invoice and the receipt until we contact you (if you choose to be contacted).
 
YOU SHOULD RECEIVE A RESPONSE WITHIN FIVE (5) BUSINESS DAYS.

Thanks Bob.

I'm still searching for a proof that the bumper might be from China.

Found a lot of GM numbers and stickers on the backside.

Is it possible that GM would manufacture such a worse bumper and sell it (wrong installed bracket on the right and a lot of dents all over the surface / plastic welding area)?

[Sly Bob]

Is it possible? In short, no.
I have first hand experience with GMs quality systems and I can tell you that if that bumper IS from GM they want to know about it and someone will be in deep trouble, potentially losing their job over it.
That said, the bumper would be made in an injection mold and should be dimensionally correct.

Report it.

[Sly Bob]

Have you contacted the people that sold it to you to see what they will do? They should be replacing it with one that fits and reimbursing you for the cost of painting that first one that they sent.

But I'd still report it as I don't believe it's a GM part.

https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/93460-cracking-down-on-counterfeit-parts

[Ironhide]

Have you contacted the people that sold it to you to see what they will do? They should be replacing it with one that fits and reimbursing you for the cost of painting that first one that they sent.

But I'd still report it as I don't believe it's a GM part.

I've contacted my German spare part dealer and he told me that I should have tried mounting it first.
He's buying the parts in the USA and importing them.
In the Moment it's hard to talk to him, because he's in the USA for buying cars and parts.

[Ironhide]

Can someone do me a favor?

I need the size of the gap between the trunk lid and the bumper fascia in millimeters.

Thanks in advance.

[Sol Asylum]

Don't know if it will be the same as a Solstice but on mine the gap varies between 2.3 and 3 mm.  It's closer by the lights and wider in the middle.

[Ironhide]

Don't know if it will be the same as a Solstice but on mine the gap varies between 2.3 and 3 mm.  It's closer by the lights and wider in the middle.

Thanks!

It will help.

I got a pdf for the adjustments which says min 2.0 for Solstice/Sky and I needed the real gap on a Solstice/Sky.

https://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/solstice-sky-body-adjustment-pdf-58654/

[Ironhide]

Have you contacted the people that sold it to you to see what they will do? They should be replacing it with one that fits and reimbursing you for the cost of painting that first one that they sent.

But I'd still report it as I don't believe it's a GM part.

https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/93460-cracking-down-on-counterfeit-parts

Thank you Bob!

Finally (because of your posts) my spare part dealer will send a complain to the GM dealer in the USA.

It looks like I could get a new bumper.

Hopefully everthing will work out fine, keep your fingers crossed.

It's so awesome to know people like you (waving canadian flag) and all the others here in the forum who still try to help each other.

[Sly Bob]

 
Just hope you are able to get this straightened out and I'd still report it. I don't believe for a second that this is an original GM part despite what the stickers on the back say.

[Wartie]

Is it possible? In short, no.
I have first hand experience with GMs quality systems and I can tell you that if that bumper IS from GM they want to know about it and someone will be in deep trouble, potentially losing their job over it.
That said, the bumper would be made in an injection mold and should be dimensionally correct.

Report it.

 There are actually a couple of reasons that the part could be bad from the GM supplier. The wrong cycle time or the wrong material was used in the mold. There are also very important temperatures needed as well. Every mold that we build is designed around the shrink factor for the material being used.
 Several years ago I worked for a company that supplied the pitchers and lids for Tang (powered fruit drink). We were given the wrong material for the lids and they did not fit the pitcher correctly. 

[Sly Bob]

I know you are in plastics but there are quality control systems in place to catch this sort of thing and I can tell you that there is hell to pay if something gets out of the plant to a warehouse much less out to a customer.
I don't believe it's a GM part and if it is they would want to know about it.

[Sol Asylum]

There are actually a couple of reasons that the part could be bad from the GM supplier. The wrong cycle time or the wrong material was used in the mold. There are also very important temperatures needed as well. Every mold that we build is designed around the shrink factor for the material being used.
 Several years ago I worked for a company that supplied the pitchers and lids for Tang (powered fruit drink). We were given the wrong material for the lids and they did not fit the pitcher correctly.

You said Tang....

[Wartie]

You said Tang....

Indeed I did.

[Ironhide]

I know you are in plastics but there are quality control systems in place to catch this sort of thing and I can tell you that there is hell to pay if something gets out of the plant to a warehouse much less out to a customer.
I don't believe it's a GM part and if it is they would want to know about it.

Like Kelu always says we need pictures!

Here a some of them.


Crooked bracket


Gap between fascia and bracket (this should be tight without a gap)


Ding in fascia from inside out and a dent


Kink


Another kink (no chance to get rid of it with hot air)


GM numbers


GM label (1 of 4)

If more pictures (there are much more gaps, dents, dings and kinks) are needed  I got a lot of them.