> After 10 years of abuse, I have the following rear bumper experience and
> recommendations..
>
> Buy the bumper rub strip "plugs" at your local dealer - you
> cannot get them anywhere else. - for $1.50 each.  Keep 8-10 on hand.
>
> Attach your bumper end caps (average life - 5 years) with carriage bolts
> instead of using the clips. They tend to fall off and, at $40.00 apiece or
> so, that gets expensive.

To this I'll add, don't buy bumper strip plugs, endcaps, or mounting caps
from your dealer.   $1.50 for a plastic plug? $40 for an endcap?  Geez, I
have genuine German ones for 1/4 that price!

Regarding the bumper itself, I think I will talk to GM Bulley about his idea
for an aftermarket alternative.  All of the aftermarket ones I've seen are
as flimsy as, or flimsier than, the original.  To add insult to injury, many
fit poorly and don't have the holes drilled for the impact strip.  The one I
currently sell for $149 is pretty much a perfect duplicate of the original,
equal quality and with the holes drilled correctly, which is more than I can
say for any others I've tried.  At least at $149 you don't feel as ripped
off as if you paid the dealer $350 (or a junkyard $150 for a used one). But
still, a better-than-stock alternative would be worth investigating,
particularly for about the same price.

- Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 http://www.busdepot.com