I was at the dealership yesterday and the salesman told me the factory brush guard was not functional, it was purely cosmetic. What did he mean by that?? It sure seems sturdy enough to push brush out of the way. He was pointing to a different one that was "functional" for $1500. I couldn't tell who made it, but it had vinyl pads on the upright pieces, just like this one for $340. Is my BS meter right to be pegged, or is their really a big difference between these things?

if it pushes brush, not LOGS, but brush out of the way, then i'd say it is "functional". Sounds like the salesman is hung up on flexible or rigid as opposed to functional. it doesn't have to be supported like the H2 to keep brush from scratchin up the front end. just my opinion.

Sounds like a BS sales pitch to me. The OEM BG is fine for keeping branchs away from the headlights/grill. But you're not going to want to be pushing stuff around with it.

BTW, the SMA was probably the sturdiest BG out there for the H3 IMO and it was nowhere near $1500.

I think your BS METER got pegged...

RYD

x2 - This sales guy is so full of crap his eyes just turned brown.

Sounds like you could use one of these...

X3

Now, as an engineer let me explain something about GM accessories and in particular, the front brush guard.
You may not know, but there are two SIR front discriminating sensors in the front end of the vehicle. They are designed to signal the SDM (sensing and diagnostic module), the air bag controller, with information on the severity of a crash.
If the crash is extremely severe, you want the bag(s) to blow both stages to protect you. (The bags can deploy in one or two stages, stage one is not full force, stage two is maximum.)
If a front end piece is put on that is too stiff, it may not bend back correctly and not allow the sensors to react, thus not signaling the SDM.
GM's accessories have to pass a test that they will not interfere with any safety items.

Now, back to the salesman. As others have stated it sounds like BS. It is a brush guard it will push brush aside. If it was designed to push logs, boulders or cows, it would be called a log guard, boulder brush or cow scoop.

X3

Now, as an engineer let me explain something about GM accessories and in particular, the front brush guard.
You may not know, but there are two SIR front discriminating sensors in the front end of the vehicle. They are designed to signal the SDM (sensing and diagnostic module), the air bag controller, with information on the severity of a crash.
If the crash is extremely severe, you want the bag(s) to blow both stages to protect you. (The bags can deploy in one or two stages, stage one is not full force, stage two is maximum.)
If a front end piece is put on that is too stiff, it may not bend back correctly and not allow the sensors to react, thus not signaling the SDM.
GM's accessories have to pass a test that they will not interfere with any safety items.

Now, back to the salesman. As others have stated it sounds like BS. It is a brush guard it will push brush aside. If it was designed to push logs, boulders or cows, it would be called a log guard, boulder brush or cow scoop. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Man.... I enjoyed reading that.... Thanks F5..for making my day..

It's funny..I also do audio engineering in my line of work ...and I also here all kinds of stories .."yarned" to make a point.

What we all should try and remember is that what the engineers ..have engineered is engineered for a reason It's fine to question an engineering design.... which is fine on this forum. It makes for some great helpful info for us less engineering types and contributes to making a sound decision before purchasing.

I have lerned so much from this forum and it's Hummer experts...Engineers..Hummer Builders..Hummer Advertisers and all the GM Employees who hang out here.

If I would have attemted to go out and purchase a H3 before I educated myself here..I would have crashed and burned .. I'm very glad that I found this forum and ALL it's Members.

Thank you all... I'm on the down slope and near the hunt for my H3.

Which brings me to the point of this schpeal...

Don't try and Out Engineer the Engineer .. Unless you have the Facility and Kowledge that The General Has. If it ain't on your Hummer...There's a reason.

I will tell you first hand, the factory GM brush guard is well worth it. I took an H2 in the grill on an icy incline about 60 feet in front of me and the guard saved the front of my truck.

DAMN! Everyone OK? WHere did you hit the H2? What hapened to the H2?

H2 was totaled!

H2 was totaled! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

LMAO!!!

Do tell, what was the damage to the H2?

I was just about to post that happened to you on that snow run...I'm pissed I missed it, only saw the wreckage.

Dayam 2xtreme, hope everyone was/is alright.

What was the total damage to the H3?

I'll contact GM accessories and recommend they rename it the H2 Pusher Bar...

It appears the only thing that is damaged is the bar, which is what...$600.00 (uninstalled)? If there was no bar, I would guess it would be over 2K or a new fascia, grille and maybe a light or two.

that's exactly why it's called a brush guard and not a cow catcher or H2 smasher. Hope everyone was UNhurt in the incident. I'm now seriosly considering the brush guard. thanks for the pics xtreme.

Everyone is fine thanks for the concerns, I am as well as everybody on the snow run that saw the incident was very impressed with the way this thing held up. As for the H2 the incline was so steep the bumper of the H2 was the only thing that made contact with me. I think he made out with a couple scratches on his recovery hooks.