Front bumper support differences - EDM vs. USDM

[Mooneggs]

So I recently got another front euro bumper for my other mx-3 and I bought it without the internal bumper support. Since I already had a euro bumper and a US bumper, I decided to take both of them completely apart to find out if they were indeed different - so in these pics you will see 2 EDM bumpers and 1 USDM bumper. The middle support has been cut from the USDM and 2 of the bumpers have aftermarket air horns.

For those of you who may not know the main exterior differences EDM and USDM front bumpers:
-Foglight holes
-Tow hook hole
-No side marker holes

My conclusion was that I don't want to try and modify the US bumper support to fit. Hopefully these pics will help you decide if and when you get a euro bumper, to either make sure the seller is selling the internal support with the bumper cover, or understand you will be needing to do some modifications once you receive it.

The 2 main problems are attaching the foglight brackets and cutting the support to accomodate the front tow hook.

USDM bumper



EDM bumpers:



USDM support:


EDM support (with foglight bracket):


Comparision pics (USDM is thicker/bulkier):



This pic shows how far off the USDM support is off to accomodate the foglight bracket
USDM top, EDM bottom



I was surprised just how much less bulkier and lighter (by a couple pounds) the EDM support is!

[wytbishop]

That's extremely helpful Mark.

I think I have 2 sort of hard options and one easier but less satisfying one.

I can modify the bumper support I have to make it work with the stock foglight brackets. I think that would be a little bit hard and I don't feel great about sutting up the bumper support.

I could fab a new bracket which would secure to the exising fasteners of the support. Also sort of hard but maybe a little better idea than cutting up the bumper support.

OOOOOR...I could not use the stock lights nad buy a set of aftermarket HID fogs that fit nicely int he hole, are a lot lighter and make a little bracket to support them. I think that's easiest but not stock, so not ideal.

AFter looking at it for a bit I think I'm going to modify the support slightly and fab a bracket. I think it will be fairly simple.

Thanks for the pictures. They are awesome.

[onlytrueromeo]

Charlie, I bought some fogs off of Mike (Nd4spdSE) and they came w/ some brackets he made of perforated aluminum strips. I can take some measurements if you want.

They were made to work w/ the USDM reinforcement and the MSP bumper, using stock holes in the frame I believe. I have not had time to attach them yet.

I can snap some pics if people are interested.

[wytbishop]

I think I can see in my mind how I am going to do it. Some pictures of Mike's setup might give me a better idea though. Thanks.

I think it's just going to be a matter of figuring it out when I get there.

[Mooneggs]

yeah feel free to post up some pics of what the fabrication could look like - it might give some people some ideas on how to do it themselves.

Just remember if you're going to use the front tow hook, you still have to cut into the support. I dont' think it's a big enough cut to affect integrity but still a cut.

[Mooneggs]

Weights of the 2 supports courtesy of Hotsiit:

Stock / USDM bumper support: 11lbs 2.4oz
Euro / Eunos bumper support: 6lbs 11.2oz

[wytbishop]

I'm suprised at the difference.

I have managed to find a JDM support through marcdh which ought to be here any time now. So I won’t have to do any fabrication. So that’s nice. I hope to have everything painted and installed by mid May or so. I’m taking a couple days off around the long weekend in May to spend some quality time with the Purple Beast. I have a laundry list of issues to attend to.