Are all early e30 tail lights the same?

[CMG]

I'm trading a guy a pair of early Startec tail lights and i am going to give him an oem early pair in return. I can just send him the tail lights off my e30 m3 if there is nothing special about them or i can go to the junkyard and get a non m e30 set. So my question is, thru the whole run of early e30 all models m3 and non m are they all the same part number and manufacturer or are there different early?

[hippiester]

there are early and late tails, ones bigger than the other

[mitchlikesbikes]

there are early and late tails, ones bigger than the other

[ELVA164]

All the OEM US-spec lights are the same. Everything until model year 88 has the smaller lights, model year 88 and on (aside from the convertibles) have the larger late-model lights.

[NMusolino]

They're the same.

[CMG]

Thanks NMusilino so they all have the same part number for early usa tails. Happen to know if euro is the same? Were there different manufacturers or only one (like difference between bosch and hella)? I'm talking about the whole thing, bulb housing and lens.

[Chinampa]

european taillights had a spot wired in for a rear foglight

[JasonC]

The US lenses have a small plastic bar on the fog hole. It's easily removable. There's also a couple of different backing plates. Euro had a wiring for the fog, also there are backing plates that have a little window in them for when the lights are on, the light will shine in the trunk.

[kronus]

The US lenses have a small plastic bar on the fog hole. It's easily removable. There's also a couple of different backing plates. Euro had a wiring for the fog, also there are backing plates that have a little window in them for when the lights are on, the light will shine in the trunk.

the US lenses don't have a reflector where that bar is in the fog hole, it's just plastic there.

[CMG]

The US lenses have a small plastic bar on the fog hole. It's easily removable. There's also a couple of different backing plates. Euro had a wiring for the fog, also there are backing plates that have a little window in them for when the lights are on, the light will shine in the trunk.

Those backings that shine into trunk sound cool match for the startec, i'll have to see what comes with them.

[Navarone]

Fitment is all the same but there are small differences, the one I ran into, other than the colors not matching, was that the gasket had cutouts on one but not the other tail light. I haven't looked at mfg dates to know, but these are on my 85.

[CMG]

I will be using new sealant gaskets and matching pairs

[CMG]

I just checked the ones i'm getting with the startecs have 5 bulbs so I think that means euro foglight right?

[CMG]

So what is the difference between the 4 and 5 bulb backings? In my m3 it has 4 bulbs but the startec came with 5 bulb. Is the 5th bulb for euro rear fog? Can i use the 5 bulb kind in the m3 without fogs and it will work fine?

[JasonC]

the US lenses don't have a reflector where that bar is in the fog hole, it's just plastic there.

Thought mine had the reflector in it. Maybe not, it's been a while since I looked in one. I do remember when I put in the rear fog it was bright like a stuck brake light.

So what is the difference between the 4 and 5 bulb backings? In my m3 it has 4 bulbs but the startec came with 5 bulb. Is the 5th bulb for euro rear fog? Can i use the 5 bulb kind in the m3 without fogs and it will work fine?

you can use the 5 bulb backings, just the rear fog will not work cause there isn't anything going to that spot on the US cars.