SO I talked with MANY people and watched the forums and got mixed information.

Issue is this, on the GT500 bumper the lower portion of the bumper is unpainted and textured. The CS bumper is painted everywhere EXCEPT the portion between the exhaust tips. The assumption was that everywhere paint would go on a CS bumper that it would be smoothe, ready for paint.

With Ford having 2 different part numbers for these bumpers it was said that the lower section behind the wheels would be smoothe, WRONG. After buying the bumper and dropping it off at the body shop without unwrapping it I stopped by a dealership to look at the CS bumper first hand and the CS cover is painted over but you can still see the texture. This is from the factory delivered C/S car, from a distance you cannot see it, but up close there isn't a question. SO, if you want this section to be smoothe, plan on spending time and money on getting it that way. Also, I did not see ANY difference bewteen the GT500 cover and the CS bumper, granted I am NOT a tech or body man, but to the layman's eye, they were identical in the raw unpainted form.

 

Its the same bumper. I have seen both myself. By the by, you can easily smooth out those textured portions.

-Dan

 

Cleveland, are you a body guy? If so, how would/did you smoothe this out? coats and coats of paint?

 

The reason for 2 different part numbers (aside from them charging more for the GT500 part) is because of the black paint they put on the part. The GT500 is painted black all the way around the bottom, and the CS is painted black between the exhausts. Thats not raw plastic.

As for smoothing it out, you can sand and fill to get a smooth surface if you want. The paint sticks fine to the textured surface as well. I had my painter leave the textured area, it hides rock dings better.