Early model rear end on late model car

[Cairn]

I bought a 1991 325i convertible about 2 months as my first car planning to restore it. It was in a rear-end collision 15 years ago and as a result, was claimed to have a new tail-piece. Unfortunately, I found out today through grinding away to treat rust that the repair was actually done by hammering the existing piece and adding a healthy amount of bondo, making this rust repair unlikely. What I thought was surface rust in different areas would have made the tail-piece salvageable, but knowing how there's probably bondo everywhere rust is seeping through cracks in paint leads me to believe I'm better off getting done what the original repair lied about being done.

Since the rear arches were also poorly repaired, I have been fantasizing on having the entire rear end cosmetically redone. My question is: If I was to obtain an early model tail-piece, quarter panels, and taillights, would their larger wheel arches work with the smaller wheel wells of my late model car? I intend on achieving the euro chrome bumper look with ECS' euro bumper kits.

I bought the car for the Canadian equivalent of $2000 USD and it came with a hardtop and a beautiful Pacific Blue interior. It has no underbody rust and runs well albeit consistently taking 6 seconds to start when cold. I thought it was a good deal not knowing about the accident repair being cheaped out on, and I'm interested in knowing if you guys think my goals are realistic for this car.

Thanks! This is my first post to this forum I believe.

Cairn

[AndrewBird]

If you are wanting the early model rear to get the different fender arches, that won't work without a ton more work. The inner fender and many other sections are different, not just the outer skin.

Keep in mind too, the tail lights are different from early to late.