DIY Put a Rear bumper strip on the front

[Tico Frank]

A common issue BMW e30 owners have is the look of the front diving board (aluminum) bumpers with the license plate holder. In many states you are not required to have a front license plate so you either have an empty plate holder or you buy one to support your favorite team. Thats what I did.

First you must find a REAR bumper impact strip from another bmw e30.
Once you have the strip you need these washers, nuts and bolts.

Next remove that bumper. It only has 4 13mm bolts holding it on to the car.

Next remove everything from the front bumper. There are 4 13mm bolts holding the bumper shocks, and a bunch of 10mm bolts holding on the bumper trim.





Once you have removed the trim and shocks the aluminum bumper will be bare.
Now before you can install the new trim you will need to bend the license plate tabs back. I just hit them with a hammer.

Now take the washers and bolts and insert them into the trim.

Next line up the bolts with the existing holes on the bumper and secure them to the bumper.

Finally the bumper should look like this.

Now reinstall the front bumper to the car.

Voila, no more license plate holder.
One VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember is that you will need to relocate the turn signals that were on the bumper before to another location and there are several options.
#1 You can find some BMW headlights with the integrated blinkers.
#2 You can relocate the blinkers to the area behind the grill.
#3 Be creative?

[ryan.ororke]

Or you could buy this..

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=PEL-LPR325&catalog_description=Front%20License%20Plate%20Bumper%20Strip%2C%20BMW%20E%33%30%20%33%2DSeries%20%28%31%39%38%34%2D%38%38%29%20%20

either way a front plate here in WA is required when a cop is having a bad day.. ha

[E30_Pare]

That's 40^ dorrar?! Im jello u don't need to run license plates. That's the number one thing people out here in Cali get busted for when they roll to big car meets. I myself how ever think they make my euro bump look like ass. Always ran one on my diving boards though.




Never liked having to relocate the turn signals though

[jizo]

Or you could buy this..

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=PEL-LPR325&catalog_description=Front%20License%20Plate%20Bumper%20Strip%2C%20BMW%20E%33%30%20%33%2DSeries%20%28%31%39%38%34%2D%38%38%29%20%20

either way a front plate here in WA is required when a cop is having a bad day.. ha

[Blackout]

Can also turn City Lights into Turn Signals if you have European headlights.

[straight6pwr]

or you can be a baller and do something custom like this:

[E30_Pare]

That's was my favorite db car of all time

[e30trooper]

my city lights are my turn signals :D

[SoCalKidz]

Hmmm anyone know where i can put the turn signals?

[bigjake]

i ziptied mine to the valence.

[e30trooper]

Hmmm anyone know where i can put the turn signals?

But your plastic bumper .. . . . . .

[Tico Frank]

Kinda funny reading this now that I have swapped the DB and moved to plastic bumps. I was really happy with this setup but one day at the pick and pull I saw a color matched plastic bumper setup for $100 so I ditched the DB's.

[spike68]

or you can be a baller and do something custom like this:

Ill do everyone a favor and throw in the thread link.
Ive had this thing bookmarked since the day it was posted.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...t=chalk+cheese

There is a quick write up on how it was done on the 2nd or 3rd page.

[SoCalKidz]

But your plastic bumper .. . . . . .

Sig is my 91 325i. I also have an 87 325i 4 door lol

[straight6pwr]

Ill do everyone a favor and throw in the thread link.
Ive had this thing bookmarked since the day it was posted.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...t=chalk+cheese

There is a quick write up on how it was done on the 2nd or 3rd page.

link doesnt work, but ill just share the photos in this thread:

thanks.


here's a pictorial write up. its simple, but time consuming.

the only immediate issue with this solution is once you seal the headlight back up, replacing a dead LED would be near impossible. (i had one dead after a few months)