Do the stock bumper guards actually do anything?

[RAH66]

I want to clean up / refresh my front bumper, and will probably just remove the bumper guards, but if they do actually offer a level of protection I'll leave 'em on. Has anyone ever been in a situation where they actually prevented damage to anything else? Keep in mind I live in Los Angeles, so parking nears lots of other cars is fairly common.

[Jtrux]

They are pretty useful actually. I've had them on other vehicles and used them to move a vehicle off of a congested road one time. I'd leave them.

Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk

[Pete M]

yeah, they are right in front of the frame and can prevent damage to the bumper if you need to gently push some one.   

[HOrnbrod]

45 minutes ago, RAH66 said:

I want to clean up / refresh my front bumper, and will probably just remove the bumper guards, but if they do actually offer a level of protection I'll leave 'em on. Keep in mind I live in Los Angeles, so parking nears lots of other cars is fairly common.

 

I think you answered your own question. They will do nothing in a collision, but do help protect the bumper from the "love taps" of the fools who have problems parallel parking.

[Ωhm]

I think the factory wants them. That way when a vehicle is rolling off the line and doesn't start, the vehicle behind it can push it to the railhead. I've seen it happen.

[Minuit]

Yep, keep them. They will protect from low speed collisions as said above. They also fill out the front clip and make it look meaner... IMO.

[Dzimm]

I'd agree with the above.  I had a friend back her Camry into those bumpouts on my 98 XJ bumper and it did nothing to it but destroyed her trunk.  They definitely offer protection.