What's this part called?

[Zen_Speedmaster]

Hello troops, I recently took off my front bumper to change my ac condenser and saw that the plastic cover on the front of the front cross member was in bits. Does anybody know what it's called, what it's part number is or where to find one? What does it even do anyway?

[cancunia]

Had a quick look on catcar, seems that it's a shock absorber and by the picture, it looks like yours has done it's job...

http://www.catcar.info/citroen/?lang=en&...I9PQ%3D%3D

[oilyrag]

Front Impact Beam - should have been replaced when the bumper was!

[Zen_Speedmaster]

Fantastic, thanks lads!

Oh the joys of buying second hand cars

[oilyrag]

It's the metal part that does the job, so, if it can't be seen when the bumper is back on and you don't mind it, then either leave the plastic bits there or take them all off. 
Not sure of the detail on yours , but the (broken) plastic may have had projections forwards out to the front plastic bumper to provide rigidity - but clearly that ship has sailed!