Was driving to work on the freeway in my '09 IS350 when a van in front of me ran of something and hurled a huge black object towards my car, hitting the front making a loud THUD noise. It obviously did some good damage as I heard something like plastic scraping, but didn't pull over as my exit and work is coming up.

When I got to work and upon inspection, my bumper is cracked on the driver's side, foglight is gone, the left underbody plastic panel/wheelwell is gone, the windshield fluid reservoir is cracked, and the plastic panel underneath the car near the driver door is bent back and out..

Ok, whatever, it happened, and I claimed it through my insurance. I thought to myself that I'm going to make something out of this. My thoughts are maybe switching to the IS-C bumper or the 2011 IS Bumper with the F-Sport lip. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I understand the lower and upper grills, and foglights are different and needs to be changed as well, but what about the vent that goes to brakes? Are those the same or needs to be changed as well? Thanks in advance.

 

oh wow that's sad to see! Sorry bro, but at least you have some good plans for it

 

yeah you can look like you just damage the bumper only not the sud frame, I wonder what bumper you going to swap?

 

I would like to know what needs to be done to swap my 2006 front bumper to the new 2011 bumper as well...I hate the holes from the previous owner's front tag, so I was thinking about replacing the bumper anyways, and when I saw the 2011 front bumper I am really thinking about using the new bumper...

 

My guesstimate would be

Bumper
Both fog lights
fog light bezels
Grill
emblem
the lower grill is diffrent also the air ducts for the brakes show on the 2011 while on the 2006-2010 they are hiden behiend the lower grill.

 

Basically $$$$$$$$$$

 

Its going to cost a pretty penny to do the switch. Is insurance going to cover it?

 

What does the f-sport lip even look like on the 09-10 models? I can't even remember what it looked like. Was there even one?

But yeah, the parts would cost some $$$. But I am a pretty big fan of the new fascia.

IMHO, I don't think the brake vents do a whole lot. And either way, they wouldn't be affected as the vents are ducted in from behind your lower grille about 30cm from the center on either side. I wouldn't worry about them.


Updated Sewell has the '11 non-gfx bumper swap kit for 1100 (CL member price) all in, non-painted. So $1,500 painted. And I looked up the '09-'10 GFX kit. Not very exciting

 

tough luck.. simular thing happened to me as well. Truck tire was flinged up from the opposing lane, I was stuck between a car and the cement temporary baracades. Did very simular damage.
Insurance took care of it for me, but was pissed that it was not considered comprehensive (which had a lower deductable), so I was out $500. Sometimes I don't understand how they classify accidents.

 

WOW, it ripped the plastic wheel well lining? That's crazy! I wonder what the object was

Well, sorry to hear and see that. It stinks because there's really no way you could have avoided that...

What did you end up deciding to do (repair/replace OEM vs F-Sport bumper)?

 

I would most likely go with the 2011 bumper with F-sport lip. Insurance is covering:

Driverside headlight with AFS/HID
Bumper
Upper grill
Lower grill
Driver foglight
Windshield washer reservoir
Driverside wheel well liner
Both driverside underbody panels

It was probably a big rig tire that hit me, but thinking on the bright side, I'll make something out out of this. I just need to buy the passenger side foglight parts and I'm set. I'll update this as I go along and what parts are needed. Can't wait, 2011 bumper here I come.

I was thinking about the 2011 headlights since insurance is already covering one of mines, but the newer headlights lack AFS and causes a problem with the AFS system :-/

 

Most of the parts came in! However, the 2011 bumper that I got has holes for the headlight washers that my car isn't equipped with, so I'll have to return it and order one without the holes. Noticed it already came with holes precut for the installation of the GFX lips.





I'm still missing the driver side GFX lip, it's on backordered still.





I went ahead and ordered the 2011 bumper absorber foam as well, the parts guy said it has a new part # for 2011's so it's probably different. Side by side, the two bumper absorbers are definately different. The 2011 bumper absorber has more of a downward curvature below the grill area. The 2009 bumper absorber is more blocky in that area. 2009 on the left, 2011 on the right. Yes, I know I can shave the 2009 absorber but this part isn't that expensive. Whether it makes a difference, I'll have to wait and see when I do a test fit.



The 2009 foglight lens seems to be made of glass, tapping on it doesn't sound like plastic like the 2009 foglight lens. The foglight assembly looks like it needs a mounting kit to mount it to the bumper. I'll have to ask the parts guy and order that if it needs it. The 2009 foglights mount directly to the bumper. Don't need the stock 2011 foglight bezels as the bezels are already part of the GFX lip. Also, it now uses a H11 bulb.. no more 9006 bulb (doh, my hid kit!)







No problems with the upper and lower F-Sport grills. I'll have to see how the lower grill fits onto the 2009 brake air ducts when I do the test fit. I'll be doing a test fit soon, I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

Nice thread....I'd like to see the finished product!

 

I'd also like to see the finished product. Hurry up and put them on already!!!!

Just kidding.....I'll wait patiently

 

Man that blows but im glad you got a bunch of new parts to install man!