Detailed E30 front euro-valance / apron info

[bradnic]

Posting this separately so it can be stickied. Hope you find this useful and avoid buying the wrong parts like I did - it's shockingly easy to do without the research. Surfing realoem definitely will not cut it. There was no single place I found that had detailed info about the lower apron and front panel needed for euro-bumper swaps on US E30s. So I grabbed everything I could find and did some research on my own.

This lower panel and valance setup is what I'm after (bmw press photo of a RHD car. I inverted it - see the license plate). Key are the fog light holes in that front panel which you can see below the bumper. They are the same size as MT1 and E30 M3 fogs.






I recently attempted to buy a euro-valance for my late model DB vert (a 91, still with diving boards - one of the last of that model produced). So I spent 20+ minutes on realoem and placed the order. Part shows up yay!


turns out it's the WRONG DAMN PART. it's for a plastic bumper euro car (bottom holes for integrated fogs and brake air ducts). So $250 mis-spent. I believe my mistake was looking up a euro car with same month/year build as my DB vert. The euro car must have had plastic bumpers already. Well after more research it turned out that the part I ordered was the same front panel as a 91 318is US spec car..

The euro bumper/valance thing is super confusing on realoem. It depends on the age of the car you're chasing. you also have to match the front panel and lower valance too and there are multiple versions of these for the same car! even the towing hooks have different configurations and part numbers. If you get "too new" a part you will end up with a part for a plastic bumper setup. This is what happened to me.

so I needed to do the following:
- find the right front steel panel with MT1 fog light holes
- know if it's an earlier or later panel, since the earlier ones need the narrow strip (see below)
- pick the right valance to match the selected front panel (see below). There are multiple types for each car with different part numbers, not interchangeable.

Seemed to be 2 types of "early" front panels exist, pre 9/85 41331916986 and (9/85-9/87) 41331933772. A separate narrow trim 41331884353 is needed above the bumper if you use an earlier front panel. Call it a "two piece front panel").

There and later ones than that too which have the narrow trim piece above the bumper integrated into the front panel. What I'm not sure of is whether these later panels work with the euro chrome bumpers and have the MT1 holes. Probably safer to get the earlier 2 piece euro panel.

Euro 323i parts list (older car)



When I looked up a euro 325i convertible I ended up with one for euro plastic bumpers, despite the picture. No way to tell from the realoem listing! Even the "771" part is wrong per a pic from bavauto, even though it says 85-87.

EDIT: turns out the 771 part is already on the car per realoem! so it's a US diving board front panel. oy.



the 771 part - definitely WRONG!


here's the 772 part - certainly looks like the right one and it DOES have the top trim piece above the bumper.


and a pic of the same part without the cooling openings (probably the 770 part). the owner "rapide30ic" in NC was looking for a 772 to trade


EDIT: here's the 770 part - INDEED no cooling openings


So there are multiple versions listed depending on which euro E30 you're looking at.

I found a single post from JasonC[/URL] on the bumpers bumpers bumpers thread that may help - no part number, but it's probably 41331916986. I believe this is the early euro front panel without the narrow trim at top (separate part #7 on realoem diagram). It has the correct fog light holes. Unfortunately it had no part number and the realoem listing has several of them - including the wrong one I purchased.

It's off of any 83-85 euro car. And it uses the lip with the brake duct holes in it. The lip is on any 85 and back e30.

The last comment is about the plastic lower valance. apparently per SoCal323i there are 2 types, both pre-plastic bumper. the later one looks like the US DB lower lip/valance. My concern here is if I order the wrong front panel it may have the correct fog light holes but use a different lower valance/lip!

SoCal323i's pics (the one on left and bottom with the brake ducts goes with JasonC's front panel pic):



I believe this pic is of the larger 51711943868 spoiler installed. note cooling vents in front panel:

UGH.

The 51711933510 lower valance from the euro 325i. I definitely has the air temp sensor mount on the right too.
(great pics and price on ECS). will it fit on a 772 front panel?


51711933402 from the euro 323i - no cooling vents = no-go for me.


I'll post more pics once everything's in and installed.

[bradnic]

bump for posterity

[dhithim]

/follow

[E30SPDFRK]

So where do we go to get new valences now that BMW won't sell euro parts outside of Europe? ECS and Tischer both don't carry them anymore.

[bradnic]

On the plus side, I do have a 772 euro valance available. It's a repro but it's basically perfect. PM if interested.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=382919

unfortunately BMW NA (US) policy for euro parts changed a couple of years ago I think. without proof of ownership of a euro vin car you can't order euro parts anymore. here's the list of acceptable docs for proof

[bataangpinoy]

Ugh. I'm in the same boat for my touring

[bradnic]

If you the title to that touring you should be good to go..

[bataangpinoy]

I have to re-register it. Came into the states from canada many years ago.

[LateFan]

I did some of this same research on the valances...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=290470

The bottom apron / lip is the same one as on the US convertibles I think. Screws right onto the bottom of the steel valance. I put it on our stock 86 valance until we can find a euro.