My friend keeps telling me that if I get a JDM rear bumper I will get dropped by my insurance company. Anyone know if there is any truth in this?

 

Yes, it will affect your insurance.
To install the JDM bumper, you have to remove the rear bumper support, which is the first thing to crumple in a rear-end crash.
If this is removed, the insurance company will definitely notice and take advantage of it's absence and blame any damage on you.

 

of course the only way they would know is if you get in an accident. they will not drop you for having it as that they do not really know differences between USDM vs. JDM bumper, but they will most likely deny your claim if you get rear-ended...better believe they'll investigate it.

 

A friend had European spec bumpers on his USDM W123 coupe Benz (not the ugly 5mph beams) and had no problem with his claim during an accident (woman in a Subaru ran in front of him), ditto to another friend with another (grey market) W123 sedan hit from behind. Both cars were also repaired with Euro parts.

 

depends on the adjuster and the severity of the accident.

 

It's not the bumper, but the absence of the rear bumper support/crash bar. That's the piece that makes USDM cars conform to the 5mph crash standard. The crash standard is not there to see how well it protects the occupants (otherwise why 5mph), it's there to absorb most of the impact for a 5mph and under collision so to limit the amount of damage to the rest of the vehicle (for insurance purposes). If the bar is missing or modified, insurance companies has the right to refuse claim.

 

If you get the JDM rear bumper, at least get the J's monocoque bar. It might not be much, but it's better than nothing.

Also, you can always use your stock USDM rebar and have a shop cut it down to fit behind the JDM bumper.

 

Makes sense... Thanks for all of your help