What is this bumper?

[tonyloban]

I found this in my basement. My brother bought it a long time ago.

1. What bumper is it?
-it's metal

2. It looks like it needs some sort of trim, yes?

3. What would I need to put it on my 88 cabrio?

Thanks in advance.

[Bglad]

Thats the lower valance for a late model. You would need plastic bumper to complete it... and fogs.

[tonyloban]

Thats the lower valance for a late model. You would need plastic bumper to complete it... and fogs.

So it's pretty much just a stock valence from a late model?

Also, what's a valence... Excuse my noobiness please.

[tonyloban]

So it's pretty much just a stock valence from a late model?

Also, what's a valence... Excuse my noobiness please.

don't answer that. I was too lazy to google. Thanks for the answer. I figured it out. lol

[JasonC]

A valance is what's below a bumper (in most cases). And yes is a stock valance. You can put it on your vert. There is a write up on the main page of R3V. Plus you can keep your stock bumper but will have to figure a way to attach it to this valance. Cause I believe the bumper trim for 88 is different then the earlier and convertible trim.

[ky0u]

Hey, I added a bit more info from the last thread you posted. Here it is again just in case

That is not the bumper. e30's front bumper areas are made of two parts. The actual bumper and the valence. What you have in that picture is the late model Valence. (e30s had a slight appearance update midway through its run)

The piece in the picture bolts onto the body of the car and the actual bumper (which is chrome/metal diving board on your car) goes over it.

Early Model:


Late Model (Facelift):


These are the two variations of e30. The change happened in 1988 for Coupes and Sedans and 1992 I believe for convertibles. The pieces are directly interchangeable (for the front anyways). Prefacelift, the cars had shorter valences and metal bumpers (diving boards in the US) as seen with your car. After the facelift, the cars came with the valence in your picture and plastic bumpers like in the second picture I posted

Sidenote: in 1988, the transition year for coupes and sedans, the cars came with late model valences but kept the metal bumpers. So there's that little quirk but a lot of people source plastic bumpers and put them on. Other then that, the bumper combos are pretty straightforward.

[tonyloban]

Ah, thank you guys a bunch!

I was always confused about the 88+ bumper thing and why it didn't apply to my cabrio.

So from what I understand.. I should be able to put this valence on my car without many problems since mine is an 88? That's what I'm confused about.

What I'm thinking (correct me if I'm wrong):
I have a late model but not the late model valence. cabrios got them later, but I won't have to do much modification since mine is a late model. so the late model valence I have should be somewhat easy to install.

OR

Do I have a late model valence on my car already but designed for the diving boards?

[ky0u]

Ah, thank you guys a bunch!

I was always confused about the 88+ bumper thing and why it didn't apply to my cabrio.

So from what I understand.. I should be able to put this valence on my car without many problems since mine is an 88? That's what I'm confused about.

What I'm thinking (correct me if I'm wrong):
I have a late model but not the late model valence. cabrios got them later, but I won't have to do much modification since mine is a late model. so the late model valence I have should be somewhat easy to install.

OR

Do I have a late model valence on my car already but designed for the diving boards?

Your car, since it's a vert, is still an early model body. They didn't transition until 1992

[Farbin Kaiber]

Yes, get a plastic bumper, and shocks, and the side brackets and bolt it all on your car. Then get an iS lip and a pair of fog lights or fog light blank out plates.

[tonyloban]

NOOOOO! That's not what I wanted to hear. There's lots of write ups that I've seen on the early model with late model bumpers. I'll figure that out I guess on my own, but thanks for the clarifications.

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[MR 325]

All convertibles have the lower rear fender arches which means plastic bumper WILL fit the rear.

[tonyloban]

All convertibles have the lower rear fender arches which means plastic bumper WILL fit the rear.

But is that with lots of modification or is it the same as a late model?

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[Bglad]

Its all bolt on.

[Mr. Tasty]

Your car, since it's a vert, is still an early model body. They didn't transition until 1991

ftfy

[IronFreak]

I just stared at that gif for a good 5 minutes......^^^^^