Got the QX4 a couple of years ago now. After close inspection it was apparent it had been in at least a minor front end accident before and I saw it had no bumper! Yes, a bumper cover, but nothing underneath. I figured it was ignored by a body shop taking short cuts. Finally got time, found one in the DIY yard so I set out to harvest it. Donor looked pretty clean in front. After much ado tearing things apart, I found it had nothing under there either! No wonder all I could find on the parts breakdown was a support whose role appeared to be to hold up the plastic bumper cover. Almost thigh high, a little high for a bumper, plus it is just heavy gauge sheet metal, 16 or 18 gauge I'd guess.
So, with what I had on hand I set out to make something. Not a full 5MPH bumper, but something to do a little bit of good, I mean I could push the bumper cover in 4-6" just with a firm push of my foot. And I'm not a big guy nor talking about kicking it. So a 2x4 and some scrap metal later I have a bumper. In retrospect I really should have used a 2x6, but maybe next year.
First pic, what is the purpose of the brackets circled in red. Nice HD brackets, but they attach to nothing! Originally I figured they were what the bumper attached to. After reflection and inspection I would declare them just artwork. Now I've seen worse art, but they weren't doing me any good, just using up .0000001 MPG with added weight.
Next a sample of my handywork. Yes, it could be better, but it only took an afternoon and will be many times stronger than nothing. Well engineered if I may say so, all of the force should go into the round brackets which mount where the useless ones were.
Yes, all this I'm sure is heresy, along with my auxiliary electric fan and BMW door brakes that now keep the doors open on a grade. Oh well.