Alloy Bullbar

[ww00q Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ww00q]

Currently own a 2009 Prado, last of the old shape, my second in 5 years, both bought brand new from the same dealer, on both occasions i purchased and had fitted the genuine alloy bullbar from Toyota, i have noticed on the latest Prado that the bar is discolouring beyond belief.
I raised this as a warranty issue with the dealer, they took a couple of pictures & sent it away.
Toyota have responded and said its "enviromental fallout" and no warranty???
I also note the the top tubing on the bar is ok, and the larger bottom section is a different alloy.
I have also checked other Prado's bar condition and can't find another one as bad.
Has anyone else had similar experiences??????
WW00Q

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Currently own a 2009 Prado, last of the old shape, my second in 5 years, both bought brand new from the same dealer, on both occasions i purchased and had fitted the genuine alloy bullbar from Toyota, i have noticed on the latest Prado that the bar is discolouring beyond belief.
I raised this as a warranty issue with the dealer, they took a couple of pictures & sent it away.
Toyota have responded and said its "enviromental fallout" and no warranty???
I also note the the top tubing on the bar is ok, and the larger bottom section is a different alloy.
I have also checked other Prado's bar condition and can't find another one as bad.
Has anyone else had similar experiences??????
WW00Q

The top is stainless steel, the bottom is polished alloy and any sort of strong detergant, chemical like an auto carwash will take the shine off it quicker than look.
I just had mine polished at my car cleaner on saturday, they can polish up pretty well but u have to have some damm good polish. I don't know what he uses as it comes from Germany.
I will never get another alloy bar. If you have a look around at prado's in car yards etc you notice all the bars are the same.

[ww00q Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ww00q]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Thanks, i think its crap, you pay so much for these, this is my last Prado!!

WW00Q

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Thanks, i think its crap, you pay so much for these, this is my last Prado!!

WW00Q

Prado is good, bar is crap!!!!

[ww00q Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ww00q]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Have to agree, but still not happy with Toyota's attitude, i even said to them that if i knew how bad it was going to be i would have left the original front on it, they kept it anyway.

WW00Q

[ww00q Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ww00q]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Can now report some joy, after putting my complaint in writting, dealer reponded, we have had a car detailer sand & buff a section, it did improve, but concerned it will return to its usuall grey colour after a while, agreed with dealer that we will monitor it for a while & if no good put the old front back on & look at a refund for the bar.

WW00Q

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Can now report some joy, after putting my complaint in writting, dealer reponded, we have had a car detailer sand & buff a section, it did improve, but concerned it will return to its usuall grey colour after a while, agreed with dealer that we will monitor it for a while & if no good put the old front back on & look at a refund for the bar.

WW00Q

Get a refund and get a ARB or TJM colour coded bar, they r wash and wear.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Get a refund and get a ARB or TJM colour coded bar, they r wash and wear.

And will also withstand a roo resonably well which an alloy will not.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Have to agree, but still not happy with Toyota's attitude, i even said to them that if i knew how bad it was going to be i would have left the original front on it, they kept it anyway.

WW00Q

I do not see a problem with Toyotas attatude towards this problem, any alloy bar tarnishes, just buy an alloy polish, and polish it up each time you polish the car (polish the car with normal car polish), it will come back like new again, the same thing happens with brass and copper (remember brasso), it is just the oxidation in the air, if manufacturers (Toyota) were to replace every alloy bar because of the tarnish, they would go broke.

[ww00q Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ww00q]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Didnt get nearly as much fade on my 1st Prado, 2007 model.
Toyota should warn potential buyers about the fading, they did though recently release a statement acknoweldging the problem and said to wash the bar in kerro.
As i said before, with the amount of money they chage for these things its not good enough.

I also heard that they have changed suppliers of the bar, suspect the standard has dropped.

WW00Q

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Thanks, i think its crap, you pay so much for these, this is my last Prado!!

WW00Q

I responded earlier with only reading one or two posts in thsi thread. So you go and sell your Prado and buy a 200 with an alloy bar and get the same problem. It's not the vehicle at fault and you have a 2009 vehicle with what is basically a cosmetic issue in 2011. I am actually going to agree with Crooza. You had the first bar which you have said didn't have any issues. I've NEVER seen a 120 with a Toyota Genuine Bendy Alloy bar that isn't dull and tarnished. With your discolouration you havn't mentioned if how you take care of your vehicle. What do you wash it with? Have you considered buffing the alloy to remove the colour?

Life shouldn't be that hard.

[babs Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close babs]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Thanks, i think its crap, you pay so much for these, this is my last Prado!!

WW00Q

I responded earlier with only reading one or two posts in thsi thread. So you go and sell your Prado and buy a 200 with an alloy bar and get the same problem. It's not the vehicle at fault and you have a 2009 vehicle with what is basically a cosmetic issue in 2011. I am actually going to agree with Crooza. You had the first bar which you have said didn't have any issues. I've NEVER seen a 120 with a Toyota Genuine Bendy Alloy bar that isn't dull and tarnished. With your discolouration you havn't mentioned if how you take care of your vehicle. What do you wash it with? Have you considered buffing the alloy to remove the colour?

Life shouldn't be that hard.

You could always crash it into a a nissan and get the front repaired - with an ARB bar - cheaper for your insurance mob than the toyota bar.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Have to agree, but still not happy with Toyota's attitude, i even said to them that if i knew how bad it was going to be i would have left the original front on it, they kept it anyway.

WW00Q

I do not see a problem with Toyotas attatude towards this problem, any alloy bar tarnishes, just buy an alloy polish, and polish it up each time you polish the car (polish the car with normal car polish), it will come back like new again, the same thing happens with brass and copper (remember brasso), it is just the oxidation in the air, if manufacturers (Toyota) were to replace every alloy bar because of the tarnish, they would go broke.

If only it was that easy, i am yet to find a polish that will polish this bar propertly, the quality of the bar really is crappy, i payed $50 to my cleaner to polish mine and he has some sh!t hot polish he gets from Germany. If onlyhe would sell me some!!

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Have to agree, but still not happy with Toyota's attitude, i even said to them that if i knew how bad it was going to be i would have left the original front on it, they kept it anyway.

WW00Q

I do not see a problem with Toyotas attatude towards this problem, any alloy bar tarnishes, just buy an alloy polish, and polish it up each time you polish the car (polish the car with normal car polish), it will come back like new again, the same thing happens with brass and copper (remember brasso), it is just the oxidation in the air, if manufacturers (Toyota) were to replace every alloy bar because of the tarnish, they would go broke.

If only it was that easy, i am yet to find a polish that will polish this bar propertly, the quality of the bar really is crappy, i payed $50 to my cleaner to polish mine and he has some sh!t hot polish he gets from Germany. If onlyhe would sell me some!!

The polish needs to be abrasive, I have seen it many times at Autobahn. I think you can even use a product called gumption (I think thats how it is spelt), it is mainly for household chrome appliances, but will work on alloy. Not too sure where to get that though, as my mum uses it, I shall ask next time I see her.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Alloy Bullbar

Gumption!!! It is a houseold cleaner, trust me i have tried it and mothers and autosol the list goes on. Next time mine is faded i will invite u over, i will even supply the gumption, u can get at local supermarket.