IS500 Bumper Separation - Please post your images/info for data collection
#106
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I’m ngl, it’s great that Frank got Lexus to own up to it and even do a TSB, but this is the absolute most half assed TSB I have yet to see of any manufacturer. They are essentially glueing your bumper to the car, instead of going back to the drawing board and properly addressing this with either a new bumper with better tabs, or a better bracket. Do better next time Lexus. Extreme cost cutting at its finest.
#107
Advanced
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Agreed. When I read the material list and saw super glue and epoxy (and even zip ties), I was like... "oh no they did not..." This is a luxury brand manufacturer fixing their defect, not some back yard mechanic repairing a 20 year old car bumper falling off with epoxy, glue and zip ties yet here they are using that technique on the IS 500 no less. I can't believe this was approved. What a joke if I'm blatantly honest.
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ljerr2 (03-07-24)
#108
Pole Position
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I think this is actually an acceptable TSB, if they did their due diligence and tested this solution on multiple cars, and it actually works. Even if it's not the engineering you imagined, it is still engineering. My only gripe is that there's nothing at the end of the TSB that instructs them to test it out or drive it at highway speed for a while. They just kind of assume it works, and we all know it comes back sometimes.
#109
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My view really is, at least there is a TSB. It puts us in a stronger position over the issue and gives an acknowledgement.
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PM22 (03-08-24)
#110
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nooooo wayyyyyyy......................................is this a joke?
So gluing the bumper on? But using small "beads" of superglue to secure the bumper to the brackets so I assume you can still remove the bumper for potential subsequent repairs, etc if you use sufficient force?
Is this 100% confirmed as a legit TSB and not someone pulling our legs?
So gluing the bumper on? But using small "beads" of superglue to secure the bumper to the brackets so I assume you can still remove the bumper for potential subsequent repairs, etc if you use sufficient force?
Is this 100% confirmed as a legit TSB and not someone pulling our legs?
Last edited by ljerr2; 03-07-24 at 11:54 AM.
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#111
Advanced
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You are literally cutting up zip ties and super gluing them to the retainers. Applying eppoxy to create a surface for more bite. This will hold to exactly mile 50,001 or 4 years 1 day - when you're outside the warranty period.
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#112
Racer
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Exactly. This is putting makeup on a pig or a bandaid on the problem. Here’s another important aspect, will Lexus reengineer the bumper for a subsequent production run? Are they going to apply this zip tie fix in the factory? What if someone has an accident and needs to get the bumper replaced? Are we supposed to just sit there and tell the body shop with a straight face “oh don’t forget the zip tie and JB weld!” Absolutely pathetic for a multi billion dollar company to consider this a fix on a LUXURY vehicle. This doesn’t give me much hope for the recall on my Highlander for the bumper falling off.
#113
Intermediate
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Last edited by Benibiker1558; 03-07-24 at 12:14 PM.
#114
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#115
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Exactly. This is putting makeup on a pig or a bandaid on the problem. Here’s another important aspect, will Lexus reengineer the bumper for a subsequent production run? Are they going to apply this zip tie fix in the factory? What if someone has an accident and needs to get the bumper replaced? Are we supposed to just sit there and tell the body shop with a straight face “oh don’t forget the zip tie and JB weld!” Absolutely pathetic for a multi billion dollar company to consider this a fix on a LUXURY vehicle. This doesn’t give me much hope for the recall on my Highlander for the bumper falling off.
#116
Advanced
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Exactly. This is putting makeup on a pig or a bandaid on the problem. Here’s another important aspect, will Lexus reengineer the bumper for a subsequent production run? Are they going to apply this zip tie fix in the factory? What if someone has an accident and needs to get the bumper replaced? Are we supposed to just sit there and tell the body shop with a straight face “oh don’t forget the zip tie and JB weld!” Absolutely pathetic for a multi billion dollar company to consider this a fix on a LUXURY vehicle. This doesn’t give me much hope for the recall on my Highlander for the bumper falling off.
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#117
Driver
Thread Starter
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Agreed. When I read the material list and saw super glue and epoxy (and even zip ties), I was like... "oh no they did not..." This is a luxury brand manufacturer fixing their defect, not some back yard mechanic repairing a 20 year old car bumper falling off with epoxy, glue and zip ties yet here they are using that technique on the IS 500 no less. I can't believe this was approved. What a joke if I'm blatantly honest.
nooooo wayyyyyyy......................................is this a joke?
So gluing the bumper on? But using small "beads" of superglue to secure the bumper to the brackets so I assume you can still remove the bumper for potential subsequent repairs, etc if you use sufficient force?
Is this 100% confirmed as a legit TSB and not someone pulling our legs?
So gluing the bumper on? But using small "beads" of superglue to secure the bumper to the brackets so I assume you can still remove the bumper for potential subsequent repairs, etc if you use sufficient force?
Is this 100% confirmed as a legit TSB and not someone pulling our legs?
Our bumper is made up of plastic, so is the retainer. Without a complete redesign of the retainer and bumper, this is a functional fix to add more surface area to hold up the bumper tabs.
Is it ideal? No.
Is it pretty? No.
Will it hold? Most likely so.
Will take now take responsibility for it? Absolutely.
We have a super low volume car, probably less than 6,000 units sold over 3 model years. The higher ups at Lexus genuinely have better things to do and other cars that make them more profit. The fact that they even answered the phone for us, let alone take the time to complete a real repair and own up to the mistake, is honestly way more than anyone could've bargained for.
Most manufacturers in this situation would've told us to kick rocks because this isn't a safety concern. They did something, it's functional, and I'm sure it'll suffice for 95% of owners with zero issues.
The other 5% can install turnbuckles I'm sure.
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#118
Lead Lap
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To me, i would rather this fix than having a new bumper that needs to be repainted at the dealer and such.
My only concern is where mine is just a small separation, i dont want them to try this if it doesnt work. I will watch out for people that have this done and see how it holds.
Answer was ahead of the tsb with his device and while some said it was not a good approach, he was on the right track![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
My only concern is where mine is just a small separation, i dont want them to try this if it doesnt work. I will watch out for people that have this done and see how it holds.
Answer was ahead of the tsb with his device and while some said it was not a good approach, he was on the right track
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#119
Driver
Thread Starter
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I’m ngl, it’s great that Frank got Lexus to own up to it and even do a TSB, but this is the absolute most half assed TSB I have yet to see of any manufacturer. They are essentially glueing your bumper to the car, instead of going back to the drawing board and properly addressing this with either a new bumper with better tabs, or a better bracket. Do better next time Lexus. Extreme cost cutting at its finest.
And a side note, the bumper isn't being directly glued to the retainer or the car. The glue on the underside of the bumper tab is being allowed to dry, creating a lip of plastic material. The piece of plastic ziptie is being glued to the retainer clip, which is replaceable. These two will function like an additional bumper tab.
And the 15mm Ziptie will have two drops of plastic/composite bond between it and the bumper, which is basically what OEMs use to glue some panels on cars. Those added drops I'm assuming are just for insurance that the assembly doesn't wiggle itself apart and shouldn't really affect removal of the bumper.
If you think this fix is that bad, you should see how companies fix helicopters 😅. I know from first hand experience. I've seen 25 million dollar helicopters fixed with epoxy and zipties. If it works, it works.
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PM22 (03-08-24)
#120
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It'll be interesting to see in a few months if the affected parts have superseded part numbers...............and the TSB "features" will be part of the replacement parts. Or if Lexus just says takes a position that most owners won't notice or experience the gap so they'll just TSB them if they do.