does my car take plastics or metal bumpers??? sorry!

[AntiblingE30]

OK i bought my car having no bumpers on it. Its an 88' 325is. Im sorry for asking such a dumbass question.

[McCoolidge]

It started with DB's, but you should put plastics on.

[fporro]

so, before there's a millon replyes....

coupe and sedans with big taillights are all plastic compatible ???

I know all cabriolets are plastic compatible.

[AntiblingE30]

will it take heavy modification for plastics?

[McCoolidge]

Not on an 88, 88 is all late model valences with just DB's on. (I think they were trying to get rid of parts) From what I know plastics are universal for 4-doors and 2-doors.

[Mike325]

87 and older = metal bumpers
88 with the tail lights like yours (reverse light horizontal) will take the plastic bumpers, even if it came with the metal ones.
This goes for 2 and 4 door models.

I am not sure about the cabby models. I think the cabbies can only take the metal bumpers because they did not get the updated rear arches untill 91-92.

[nando]

87 and older = metal bumpers
88 with the tail lights like yours (reverse light horizontal) will take the plastic bumpers, even if it came with the metal ones.
This goes for 2 and 4 door models.

I am not sure about the cabby models. I think the cabbies can only take the metal bumpers because they did not get the updated rear arches untill 91-92.

wrong, all cabbies came with the late rear arches, even the very first ones.

[SchnellerVert]

I am not sure about the cabby models. I think the cabbies can only take the metal bumpers because they did not get the updated rear arches untill 91-92.

Frank will chime in on this subject.

[parkerbink]

4/90

[fporro]

wrong, all cabbies came with the late rear arches, even the very first ones.

Yeap, all cabbies accept plastics without much fuzz, as showed on pic that SchnellerVert posted.

one of this days I'm gonna try to install plastics bumpers on a 88 Aluminum bumpered/big tail lighted car just to make sure.

[Mike325]

Hmmm, I didn't know that. The cabbies don't have the rear valance untill late though, correct?

[NC325iC]

mike325
ALL VERTS, thats all verts even in 87 have lower rear arches, if you need me to type it slower i can

having said that i had trouble mounting plastics to my car and got lazy and decided to keep my DBs

[fporro]

Hmmm, I didn't know that. The cabbies don't have the rear valance untill late though, correct?

Mike, rear Apron came later, not sure when.
what i did was add a Racing Dynamics rear apron to the plastics, it fit perfectly.
new is about $ 350, bought used and already painted Zinno for $ 200.

mike325
ALL VERTS, thats all verts even in 87 have lower rear arches, if you need me to type it slower i can

having said that i had trouble mounting plastics to my car and got lazy and decided to keep my DBs

Hey, I too had issues, the problem was the wrong rear bumpers shocks,
after that it was smooth sailing.