[seighcret]

2012 jimny facelift bullbar problems

Hi all,

I have recently purchased a 2012/2013 Jimny Sierra. I specifically bought it as a cheap yet fun run around and the fact that, although its small, its a "real" 4WD on a proper chassis. By running around, I mean weekly trips back and forth between Wanaaring and Tibooburra, far north western NSW. The roads I travel on are very remote and have SERIOUS kangaroo issues - I really need a proper steel bulbar before I dare travel the road regularly. Unfortunately, it appears that none of the large manufacturers (ARB, TJM etc) want to make a bulbar to fit the "facelift" Jimny. The only one that seems to even want to consider fitting a bar on the 2013 model is XROX - and that's only from what I read on another forum. They look like a good bar but unfortunately, don't seem to offer much protection from anything other than a direct strike in the centre of the bar. The wings offer no protection for the headlights and I wouldnt be surprised if an offset strike would cause enough damage to write the car off (and worse, cause serious injuries in a very remote environment.

It seems like no company wants to look at the 2012/2013 model. Might it be that they suspect this is the last production year for the Jimny in its current form? Will this mean there might NEVER be a proper bar designed/made for the "facelift" model? (by the way, the bonnet scoop is blanked off - its totally useless and there for looks only).

Looks like my new little Jimny might be stuck in the shed forever at this rate. I NEED a proper bullbar on this thing one way or another - soon. Can anyone help with suggestions? I am willing to travel basically anywhere in Australia for this. Does anyone know a place that will custom make a decent bar that will pass the scrutiny of an insurance company (airbag/ADR compliance etc). Surely the 2013 chassis cant be that much different from its predecessor, can it? Seems silly that I find myself in the situation where I bought a brand new Jimny, only to find out afterward that I should have bought an older, secondhand one!

[joel]

yeah mate the facelift model ha had the front chassis changed a bit, tjm havent made bars for jimnys, ever, they do little for suzuki, arb havent changed the bar to suit, and xrox make an ugly as fark bar (yes i have one on order)

you could mod the current arb bar and make it fit.

but sadly, even that will have little effect on a big roo on a small chassis jimny. at 100kmh IMO.
the best thing it might do is not flick it up into the windscreen while you write the front end off.
best bet would be try to avoid driving dawn and dusk.

[shep]

Does anyone know why a pre 2011 bar won't fit a 2013?

[joel]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=40145

[Dan85]

The front chassis is different. Ill find the post discussing and bump it

[seighcret]

Thanks for your replies. After a lot of searching and a couple of posts on different forums I have found that the same crew that make xrox have recently released a more "conventional"winch bar. I can't wait for arb to adapt their bar for the latest model - who knows if they ever will - it's time to get a bar on my Jimny. My car is off to SA for the winch to be fitted next week.

[shep]

I am happy with the bumper on mine.