I have a black XLT which as most of you know comes only with Chrome Bumpers . Long story short I want color matched bumpers. Nevertheless I have noticed that the new 06 models have a new style of bumper which gives me another option. 1st off which option would be cheaper and 2nd which option would look better in your mind?

1) Have my Chrome bumpers painted black. (Does anyone know how expensive it will be to strip the chrome?)

2) Purchase a new '06 black front bumper from Ford and repaint my rear chrome bumper black.

3) Purchase all new black '06 bumpers.

Your input is appreciated.

P.S. Why do these forums not have any option of making a poll? I guess I am used to Vbulletin.

 

You can make a poll.
I don't know how, but it has been done.

P.S. I would go with #3.

 

i dont know about the cost of stripping the bumpers, but it may be cheaper to just get primered ones from ford. when you order the new 06 bumpers from ford they will also be primered, they are PTM. when either way you will have to end up getting them painted unless you can find someone with a black truck who is willing to swap with you. i looked into this quite a bit because i wanted foglights and a color matched bumper. one thing to consider also is that the MY06 bumper has different mounting brackets than the MY04-05, so upgrading the bumper includes the brackets as well

 

How feasible is using different brackets?

 

everything works, you just have to get the new design brackets to match the holes on the new bumper. not a big deal, but it adds a bit to the price. try doing a search on 06 bumper swap. asinatra, fx4&excursion, and tuffrd did the swaps that i know of. the part numbers are listed on the posts somewhere. you can check out the prices on www.fordparts.com to get an idea of total cost

 

 

Another option, post in the classifeds and see if anyone wants to swap black bumpers for your chrome ones.
Maybe no one will, but it might be worth a try. Or watch e-bay. I have seen black bumpers go, but only once or twice.
Chrome ones are posted every week or so.
Chris

 

I would think that even if you found another color bumper it would be easier to repaint them black, rather than painting chrome bumpers. This is the only reason I wanted an STX because you shure dont get much else with it

 

3 would be easiest

 

^^^^^^What he said

 

That is one of the best looking trucks ive seen in a while. I love the way any newer ford looks lowered on stock wheels, it makes it not have too much bling but looks great.
-Patrick

 

Painting them is not hard if you have the equipment. There are some great etching primer sealers that would bond well wih a little prep . I would get a estimate . But if you want the round lights no question on what to do.

 

I have the XLT so right now I have no lights haha.

I was a little annoyed with Ford that there wasn't an option to get paintmatched bumpers on the XLT. The salesman I bought my truck from was a great guy but I don't think he knew a whole lot about what was available. He told me the regular cab only came in 4.6 and 4.2 and that there is no way I could get colormatched bumpers (even if I payed extra). You would think he would have offered the option of just buying replacement bumpers from Ford, that way I could pay for them over a few years and he would get a little extra commision out of the deal.