Help with Early Euro Chrome Bumper Conversion

[pietro]

Hey guys,

Thanks for taking the time to read and help. I'm trying to convert an '88 E30 vert from original aluminum bumpers to early euro chrome bumpers.

My body shop has taken a look at the Euro valance I've purchased, and thinks that it's missing a piece of trim about one in square which shows up as a body color stripe from right to left fender, under the grill, above the bumper.

Here's a couple of photos showing the original valance with that strip incorporated (in red), and the new euro valance, missing that strip, (on top). (Sorry in advance for the cell phone photos, first one is upside down.)





This photo shows where that body color strip meets the fender (my finger is pointing to the spot):



I think this is the realoem.com exploded view which should contain the bit I'm looking for, but I'm not sure if I'm seeing the right part:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1531&mospid=47283&btnr=41_0133&hg=41&fg=10

I'm hoping I'm looking for part 41331884353 (07 FRONT PANEL in the diagram on the linked page above.)

If I can get confirmation, I'd appreciate it.

I'm also trying to understand what's going on with the foglight mounting in the euro valance. I'm starting to wonder if the euro chrome bumper valance includes the brake air ducts next to the fog lights or not. The holes seem too large for just the fog lights. If there are air ducts, I guess I'll need to replace the wheel arch liners as well, to link the ducts to the brakes.

What year euro car should I be looking up in realoem to find the right parts for what I'm trying to do?

Thanks for any advice (as well as any encouragement).

:early:


And for your gratuitous image viewing pleasure, here's the car out of paint yesterday:

[pietro]

More gratuitous paint porn:

[kronus]

#7 is what you need. Very early (up to '85 MY) USDM e30s had them too, might be able to scavenge one.

The foglights are the only things that go in those holes, but they have a whole big plastic carrier that you need:



check out this thread for tons of euro valence info: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show....php?p=4238311

[Mr. Tasty]

the early euro (84-86?) had two piece valances. The later ones (?-87) had one piece valances. Kronos linked a great thread with part numbers. That top strip can be bought from ECS for $60ish

[pietro]

Thanks so much for the replies! In the end, I decided to order both 41331916986 and 41331884353 from ECS, since the euro valance I have now isn't BMW. If someone wants to pay shipping, or can pick up in SF, you're welcome to the aftermarket valance.

@kronus: Thanks for the fog light view - definitely helpful. I'm having trouble finding the part numbers though.

This looks like the right view, from euro verts and sedans, 85, 86, and 87 (Parts 63171376935 and 63171376936, l and r respectively):

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?

model=BB31&mospid=47290&btnr=63_0116&hg=63&fg=15

But the brackets look all wrong in the ECS images, and match the lights I already got from bavauto under these part numbers:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63171376935/ES173846/

Am I looking under the wrong model year or something?

[uturn]

Check to see if the rubber end caps on the rear bumper line up with your wheel arch. They are different for convertibles.

[kickinindian]

when i did mine i cut the top part off my old valence and their is 2-4 holes that line up to make it work so its free if you cut in the right spot!

[pietro]

Spoiler part numbers for early euro two part valence

So, thanks everyone for your help. This is where I've gotten so far:







But I'm having trouble sourcing the correct lip to go with this valence.

Here's the valence I have (41331916986, replaces 41331911228):

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES71490/

This is the extra front panel that goes above the bumper that I was asking about earlier in this thread (41331884353):

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES71484/

I've tried a few lips:

Closest to what I want, but it's the same as what came on this '88 325ic (51711933510):

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES127733/

Here's my latest attempt (51711933402):

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES127732/

The guy at my body shop, his contact at BMW, and my own searching through realoem are all coming up with this part number, which seems to be the m-tech 1 valence and lip (51111929559):

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1151&mospid=47257&btnr=51_0578&hg=51&fg=15&hl=1

I'm not looking for the Jimmy Hill lip, which I suspect fits this valence, as discussed in this thread:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=246980&highlight=jimmy+hill

I'm just looking for something close to 51711933510 linked above, which will work with the valence I have. The issue with all the spoilers that I've tried is that they are flatter across the front, and have longer sides. The front of my valence has a strong curve from the center back towards the tires, which leaves the sides much shorter.

Can someone help with the right part numbers?

[BlackSpeed66]

I believe you may have an "early" euro valance. The style I have on my '87 does not "slant" back as much where the fogs mount, and I think that is the valence type those lips will fit to. I have the one w/ the cutout for the oil cooler on mine.

I believe the part number is 41331933772. You'll see in the pic that the area where the fogs are on this valence is less angled than yours. I believe this is the valence you'd also use for the M-Tech front bumper assembly.

[kronus]

I've got an early euro lip I think if you want it

it's not gonna be new

but it's something

shoot me a PM