Rear bumper sturdiness??

[panzerwagen]

Exactly how much of an impact can the rear bumper takes before literally blowing up?
I know there is some sort of metal panel which has the attachment bolts on it but it's not that thick is it? Can that panel be taken out without damaging the bumper itself?
The US DOT rebar in the Stateside bumper can be removed by using a plastic spatula and a little levering, can this be done with the Euro bumper?

[Jeffer]

Hi,

I have two cars that have been rearended. The S2 and a 93 convertible. Both have the same rearbumper.
The s2 was hit from behind in dead center. The bumper was totally unharmed, besides of some scratches. The metal panel behind it though was pretty disformed.
On the convertible someone rearended it on the drivers side. All panels deformed beyond repair (see picture). The bumper did survive this crash. It had some pretty bruisings and scratches but apart from that it worked very well. As you can see they are very crash proof. They do'nt just break apart in a 100 pieces when you kick at them.
HTH

[Jeffer]

BTW this weekend I welded in a whole new side panel. He's ready to be sprayed again. Looks great again.

[Fat Audi 80]

My S2 rear bumper cracked and a chunk 50mm x 100mm came off the top surface and that was only a 10mph collision (thank god).

I had a whole new bumper sprayed and fitted on the other guys insurance as a result

[panzerwagen]

Thanks Jeffer! Very interesting...

But looking at your damage it seems the bumper itself gives a great deal but the metal plate inside absorbs most of the dynamic force. A DOT bumper's cover would have shattered but the rebar and the shock mounts would have absorbed the force and spared the frame from distortion.
Jeffer what is the condition of your frame? Was it deformed in any way? By the way the quarter panel distorted, I would have expected a minimal amount of twist in your frame. have you had it checked for trueness?

[Jeffer]

If you want I can take a picture of the S2 aswell........
The frame dit not disform in any way. it was purely the quarter panel. I undid the spotwelds of this panel and aligned the back middle alf of the car to the new VAG replacement panel. Then I welded it back into place. New bumper on it, and voila, of to the sprayer. Must say that fitment of a whole new VAG quarter panel was perfect.

[Jeffer]

btw here another picture of the boot. Slightly deformed.

[panzerwagen]

Jeffer that would be great!

I'd love to see how the S2 bumper took it.

[Jeffer]

The euro models convertible have the same rear bumper as the S2's. The later conv. had a more rounder style rear bumper. Did the US conv. versions had a euro bumper on it?

[panzerwagen]

>Did the US conv. versions had a euro bumper on it?<

Ha! We wish! We had damn boat anchors tied up to our cars. Damn insurance compant syndicate hoodwinked the goverment into demanding that all automobiles operated in the US have bumper that would withstand a 5 mph hit without cataclysmic damage
to the body and minimal damge to the bumper other than the outer skin. If you look at the newer Audis now their bumpers look more in tune with the Audis sold in Europe.

[NoNonsense]

Ha! We wish! We had damn boat anchors tied up to our cars. Damn insurance compant syndicate hoodwinked the goverment into demanding that all automobiles operated in the US have bumper that would withstand a 5 mph hit without cataclysmic damage
to the body and minimal damge to the bumper other than the outer skin. If you look at the newer Audis now their bumpers look more in tune with the Audis sold in Europe.

That's because after '96 onward, we got the same bumpers and even the same rebars behind it. Ever seen the rebar on an RS4?

[panzerwagen]

>"Ever seen the rebar on an RS4?"<

From what I hear, the rebar on the newer Audis in the US can't take a cats azz backing into it without monumental damage!