I mean really, there are actual owners who have not noticed this???:confused:

I knew it the first time I looked at one in person, so I am shocked someone might own the vehicle and not have seen it. Then again, maybe you guys do not hand wash your cars. :rolleyes:

As far as the damage issue, the bumper (which is the black part in the middle that also surrounds the lower openings in the fenders) does protrude to protect the front end (and those fenders) in a minor collision. If you look at many new cars today, there are a number of them that (like the X5) do not offer the protection the older chrome capped beasts did from minor bumps, but that's the price of vanity.;)