Diffeernce between early and late model Tail lights?

[nextelbuddy]

im still new to E30s and always notice people wanting early tails for their late e30's. do they even fit with out modification? and if they do what is the desire of them? i tried looking for a side by side picture of early vs late but i cant find a picture like that.

[xwill112x]

late model tails have a horizontal reverse light section. the early style tails are not quite as big, and have a verticle reverese light section.

[gtdragon980]

not to mention the shape of a early tail is alot different than a late tail.

Early: http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9...lyplastic2.jpg

Late: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...r_20080409.jpg

[nextelbuddy]

so if the both have differnt shapes how are people just installing them early tails in their late model E30's? do the early tails still fit into the contours of the rear quarter panel, trunk and license plate area properly?

[xwill112x]

no you cannot mix early to late, or late to early. they are two different sizes.

[nextelbuddy]

no you cannot mix early to late, or late to early. they are two different sizes.

ok so that first picture the guy above me posted shows a small bumper car with early tails.. i guess that person had an early car and did a big bumper to small bumper swap then?

[randomquickness]

so can anyone tell me what kind of tails THESE are? I want to replace them with the same style but the ones on ebay that look the same are listed as 88 and newer and my car is an 87.

[nickflic3]

Do your self a favor and DON'T buy those tails. invest your time/money in other things like maintenance and suspension before you get to the exterior of your car unless you are simply painting things. When your done with all that and you really feel the need for custom tails, look in to all red tails or if you have the cash, startec tail lights. A bit rare but they pop from time to time:

All red:



Startec:

[Holland]

It's easy, early tails look like ass and late tails are sexy. It's the early fenders that everyone wants.

[nickflic3]

It's easy, early tails look like ass and late tails are sexy. It's the early fenders that everyone wants.

Lies! :hitler:

[Holland]

Lies! :hitler:

Not at all, and yes I do own an early car.

[nickflic3]

lol well I was first drawn to e30's by the look of the late model. I just don't think the early tails look like ass. But to each his own :)

[randomquickness]

Do your self a favor and DON'T buy those tails. invest your time/money in other things like maintenance and suspension before you get to the exterior of your car unless you are simply painting things. When your done with all that and you really feel the need for custom tails, look in to all red tails or if you have the cash, startec tail lights. A bit rare but they pop from time to time:

I like the way my tails look, they just need to be replaced. And don't worry, everything on this car is going to be worked over. I did not realize that my tails were "custom". Which tails were original to my car?

[nickflic3]

I like the way my tails look, they just need to be replaced. And don't worry, everything on this car is going to be worked over. I did not realize that my tails were "custom". Which tails were original to my car?

To each his own then...

These came stock:

[zJACKRABBIT]

what rear valence is that? i've got a early model and need a longer valence haha