Diving Board Options

[CMBusch]

Hey everyone,

I recently bought a 318i auto and plan on doing a lot of work to it. Although it's a bit down the road, I'm starting to look at my options when it comes to the exterior. I've done a decent amount of searches and really haven't come up with anything concrete.

First thing's first, the diving board
I quite like the chrome and I want to keep it. I know it can be pushed in but what other options are there in terms of keeping the chrome and adding a valence? What are the best looking options that keep the chrome (in your opinion)? Also, where could I find the rubber piece that goes around it? The one on my car is wavy and has some pretty serious cracks in it.

Side trim
Currently on the car I have this massive trapezoidal plastic with a chrome strip on it. I honestly don't care much for it. Have any of you had similar thoughts and how did you fix it?

I apologize for the overload of questions, but any answers/pictures would be greatly appreciated.

[NC325iC]

consider finding some early european bumpers. They are chrome, smaller and much more attractive.

As for keep the db's you could tuck them, or you could get some later model bumper shocks which I believe are shorter. For the trim you could paint it body color (later model did this, my '89 convertible for instance). Valence options, i went with the early is/es valence from BMW.

[agent]

I quite like the chrome and I want to keep it.

Good man. Although there's no actual chrome on these cars - it's all anodized aluminum. To bring it back, I recommend http://classictrimcoat.com/, as documented in Klaus' build thread.

[CMBusch]

consider finding some early european bumpers. They are chrome, smaller and much more attractive.

As for keep the db's you could tuck them, or you could get some later model bumper shocks which I believe are shorter. For the trim you could paint it body color (later model did this, my '89 convertible for instance). Valence options, i went with the early is/es valence from BMW.

Thanks! Yeah I like that idea. I'll try to see what I can find online with the euro bumpers. I was thinking of painting the side trim but I was wondering if there were any other options. As for the valance, I was thinking something like this if it's available. http://www.strictlyeta.net/pictures/...hris_318is.jpg
I think it belongs to a member on here actually. If I could get my hands on one with the fog lights next to the brake ducts, I'd be set.

[CMBusch]

Good man. Although there's no actual chrome on these cars - it's all anodized aluminum. To bring it back, I recommend http://classictrimcoat.com/, as documented in Klaus' build thread.

Yeah, personally I think it makes the car look a little classier and vintage so I'm going to see what I can find as far the the euro... aluminum bumpers. Just wondering, does that work on the door trim as well?

[NC325iC]

Thanks! Yeah I like that idea. I'll try to see what I can find online with the euro bumpers. I was thinking of painting the side trim but I was wondering if there were any other options. As for the valance, I was thinking something like this if it's available. http://www.strictlyeta.net/pictures/...hris_318is.jpg
I think it belongs to a member on here actually. If I could get my hands on one with the fog lights next to the brake ducts, I'd be set.

That valence is a standard facelift sheetmetal valence. It came on all e30s built after 88, with the plastic bumpers. There was an overlap period where the cars shipped with diving boards and the late model valence during '88.

(this guy has tucked the DB's, i am not crazy about the look. Like i said in my previous post i think the later model cars had shorter shocks that look much better)

fyi the euro bumpers do not go with that valence. Early euro bumpers require early sheetmetal valences (either us or euro look pretty good)
US sheetmetal (my car)

Euro Sheetmetal


none of these are my cars. Another note, both of those cars have painted the lower plastic valence to match body color.

[CMBusch]

Thanks for all your help! Yeah I think I'm going to go that route once I finished everything else up. (engine, brakes, other more important stuff)