[fbvisitor]

Hi all,

After an enjoyable 2 weeks of ownership, I collected a small Wallaby on the way to work Sunday morning.  Consequently I'm now missing the right hand corner of the bumper bar from the wheel arch to just past where the foglight used to be and my washer bottle is smashed and I've only half an inner guard........bugger.........

Now the question is, has anyone fitted one of those alloy bars that have been gaining in popularity over the last few years?

I spoke to the bloke who did the repair quote and he mentioned that you can run the risk of bending the chassis if they are too well fastened.

I think I'll ring my insurance company and check their stance on things but where I live and where I work makes the journey a bit of a hit and miss affair (pun intended) and this car is lowest I've owned in 20 years.

I've priced them at around $500 bucks.  Not bad considering my excess is $450.

Thoughts?

[rustynutz]

Bad news, FBVis.... 

Are you talking about a bull bar or a nudge bar?

You might need to consider that your airbags will probably not work when they are supposed to..... 

[fbvisitor]

I'm thinking something that is the full width of the car and has bars above and below the foglights.

They're pretty common around Tassie.

I'm aware of the airbag issues.

Cheers.

[FatBoy]

I have hit a few pademelons on my way home from work too.  Fortunately I didn't do too much damage (the right rear suspension has A LOT of travel).  I have only seen one car in Tassie with the full width bar, it did look good but I was concerned about the airbag issue as well.

[Phil №❶]

Why is there concern about the air bags fellas. 

[Doggie 1]

Most modern bull bar manufacturers will tell you if their products are air bag compatible. Many are.

[fbvisitor]

db08,

I think the problem is/will be that I doubt they are an off the shelf item (especially in Tassie) and would have to be manufactured.

I have a company in mind as my Focus has already sustained damage from wildlife and I've made enquiries but I don't think airbag compliance will be high on their agenda, but I could be wrong.

Phil,  I think the fitment of non compliant airbags could lead to a delay in an airbag deploying in an accident.

Cheers.

[Phil №❶]

db08,

I think the problem is/will be that I doubt they are an off the shelf item (especially in Tassie) and would have to be manufactured.

I have a company in mind as my Focus has already sustained damage from wildlife and I've made enquiries but I don't think airbag compliance will be high on their agenda, but I could be wrong.

Phil,  I think the fitment of non compliant airbags could lead to a delay in an airbag deploying in an accident.

Cheers.

Not sure I would agree with the air bag deployment theory. AFAIK, a car has a sensor up front to sense the sudden deceleration caused by impact of the car body with a significant object. There is a deceleration threshold that will trigger the air bags. If a substantial bull bar is fitted, there is every likelihood that the air bags will deploy due to deceleration and the rigid nature of a bull bar.

Nudge bars are springy and designed to absorb / repel objects to an extent, however, in a significant crash, the nudge bar may not trigger the air bags, but the 1st instance of the car body deforming certainly will, which is precisely what would happen if a bar wasn't fitted. So I don't see any difference myself, except that it would possibly deflect an animal away from your car and not deploy the air bags which is the result you would want, isn't it.

[fbvisitor]

Phil,

I think you are probably right about their operation. It makes sense.

I'd assume you're altering the way the cars crumple zone would work in an extreme crash if a large solid bull bar was fitted.

At the end of the day, I want things to bounce off the alloy bar and not damage the bodywork. I'll be only too happy to straighten the bar.

My understanding of a nudge bar is one of those bars that only cover the area between the headlights looping from underneath, up, across and back down the other side. (does that even make sense???).  I actually want to protect the full width of the car.

Must remember to ring the insurance company tomorrow about this.

Cheers.

[fbvisitor]

Something like this but not as high and without the little end bits would be what I'm talking about.

http://www.tassiecars.com.au/detail.jsp?id=59417&pic=0&ti=true

[Dazzler]

Hi fbv,

That's a bu**er. We have a pet Wallaby but they are a nuisance on the roads. I hit one on Tugrah road where I live in our 2008 i30 and another on Tugrah Road in my previous 2010 Hybrid. 

Fortunately, both lots of damage were fairly minor. I am being really careful with both our current cars 

I don't like the look of those full width bull bars but can see why you would consider one. 

[Just Rick]

I did a lot of searching around when we got our two cars and especially after I almost wrote off Cyril in the first four days,I have the large alloy nudge bars on both ours,but they are absolutely useless for any sort of impact,they are simply there to hold the driving lights,I could not find anyone who did a air bag compatable full Roo bar for the I30's,which was a bummer,did find one company who had one they could fit but it would not have been air bag compatable and would have voided our insurance,if anyone finds one I'd be interested as well

[neptune]

ok ...what about those bull bars made of plastic.....they do away with your front bumper and can incorporate your foggys. There are reports that they work better than roo bars....there light and they flex back if you hit something....well maybe not if its your mother-inlaw....

[Just Rick]

Neptune I contacted Smart Bar when I was looking and they told me then they did not do any smart bars for any Hyundai's at the time and where not looking at doing any in the near future,I go back to their web sight regularly and I still haven't seen any for the I30,mores the pity,I know a few people with them on their fords and Holdens they're a good bar,mind you they'd want to be for the price.

[neptune]

your right , Rick..just came back from looking at their site and they didn't have any Hyundai makes available....tooo bad , probably wasn't a call for them....

[fbvisitor]

Bugger and yuck........Thats all I have to say about that.

[Just Rick]

and at over $2500 a shot thats a lot of insurance payments,with most insurance comapnies offer new for old up to four years or 100,000K's,so hey why not let the car do it's job,if I hit a roo again hopefully I'll right the car off and I'll get a new car,but I'm not planning on doing it,I hate pain for me and the poor animal.

[agentr31]

http://www.customalloy.com.au/

[fbvisitor]

Had a call from my insurance Co. a couple of days ago informing me of their approval to go ahead with the cars repair (yippee).

 I took the opportunity to ask about fitting an alloy bar.  She thought it was probably a good idea if animal strike is a problem in my area but when I questioned her about airbag compatability, she thought I should really talk to the Hyundai people about that.

I'm currently heading back to Tassie on the Spirit at the moment (I'm in the middle of Bass Strait), but I might ring them again tomorrow and speak to someone else about this for confirmation.  If this is the case, I think I'll be talking further about fitment to an I30 with the engineering mob I discussed my Focus about with.

Cheers.

[agentr31]

phone a bullbar/nudge bar manufacturer... thats your best bet mate! they will say for sure, if its yes or no...

good to hear its being fixed!!

[Dazzler]

phone a bullbar/nudge bar manufacturer... thats your best bet mate! they will say for sure, if its yes or no...

good to hear its being fixed!!

 

[fbvisitor]

To clear up any confusion from the get go, the following info only applies to Tassie people who must abide by Transport Tasmania rules and regulations.

Any bar of any design style fitted to the front of any car manufactured after 1989 must be ADR 69, 72 and 73 compliant.

If not, you are open to the full force of the law if you are involved in an accident which injures/kills someone.  You will also be open to have your arse sued for everything you've got by the persons family. 

If you are insured by NRMA, you must abide by the relevant states authorities.

Therefore, I shan't fit one as none are available as far as I'm aware.

Interestingly, the firm I rang who could manufacture one for my I30 for $525 are making 15 a week....

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the update, are you please with the i30 so far? 

[agentr31]

they have to be complied mate, when they make them, they put a sticker on it saying its ok and legal, other wise after you have been sued, you can sue them for selling you a non compliant bull bar.

basically those laws are to stop MR farmer/bogan from putting a bull dozer blade on the front of a 45 series land cruiser and then driving it around and killing somone when they hit them.

[Just Rick]

they have to be complied mate, when they make them, they put a sticker on it saying its ok and legal, other wise after you have been sued, you can sue them for selling you a non compliant bull bar.

basically those laws are to stop MR farmer/bogan from putting a bull dozer blade on the front of a 45 series land cruiser and then driving it around and killing somone when they hit them.

Funny you say about mr Frmer and the dozer blade,there was a huge issue with the compnies making the five Post bull bars for all the Yobbo ute PPl,I know in many states they are now illegal,but I still see a few over here.

I don't mind PPL who need a bull/roo bar having them, but I know PPL over here who have them on their vehicles and they have never left the metro area,a particular person I know who has one only trvel just on 50 Klms a week.when I asked why the hell do you have a roo bar,the extra weight will be costing you fuel,all he could say was it made his vehicle look better,lodgical reason for a roo bar 

[fbvisitor]

G'day Dazzler,

Yes, it's not too bad a car. 

When I compare it with my Focus, it's good on some fronts and not so good on others but on the whole I'm pleased with my purchase.

Some of the gloss has been taken off a bit as I stirred up an old back injury just before taking ownership of it and being such a low car combined with the all too common modern seats you sit on and not sit in, (my old Peugeot 405 seats are as comfortable as lounge chairs), the enjoyment just hasn't quite been there.  I'm sure when the back settles things will be much better.

Cheers

[fbvisitor]

G'day Agentr31,

What you say makes sense and I'd assumed thats how things are, but according to mr. transport tas, when I mentioned that the company I'd spoken with was from Launceston, he politely reminded me that no one in Launny makes ADR compliant bars.  Go figure.

Maybe another call to them is due re compliance. 

Cheers

[Just Rick]

G'day Agentr31,

What you say makes sense and I'd assumed thats how things are, but according to mr. transport tas, when I mentioned that the company I'd spoken with was from Launceston, he politely reminded me that no one in Launny makes ADR compliant bars.  Go figure.

Maybe another call to them is due re compliance. 

Cheers

If Mr Transport Tas is correct,how the heck aren't the owners of this buiness in Jail,just wondering why would someone make Bars they can not legally sell,I shall be awaiting your answer of what you find out.

[Doggie 1]

You can make and sell bongs but they are illegal if used. 

[Just Rick]

ARE THEY, never knew that