What is the difference between US grills and Euro grills?

[erik325i]

the one that does not have a black piece is euro?? i thought it was the other way around

It depends. Some kidneys are partially blocked off, and others aren't. When I was in Germany, I even saw one e30 with kidneys that were COMPLETELY blocked off...

-Erik

[vivalegreg]

the one that does not have a black piece is euro?? i thought it was the other way around

[e30 gangsta]

the one that does not is euro

[vivalegreg]

is there a difference in the kidneys as well?? what does the euro kidney look like and what does the us one look like??

i have two different ones

one has a black plastic strip behind the columns at the top and one does not...which one is which??

[KenC]

also, the us spec lights are normally the sealed beam type, so the entire light units are replaced from the front if they blow, the euro lights have bulb/reflector system (both pre and post face lift) so the light units do not need to be taken out from the front (as the bulb is changed from the rear of the light). it avoids the us spec cars requireing the grill to be removed to change the bulb.

good thing the US and Euro spec lights have nothing to do with the grills.

[sethla]

Can someone tell me if these are the correct part numbers for the euro grills?

51131876092 - Right

51131876091 - Left

[Van Westervelt]

also, the us spec lights are normally the sealed beam type, so the entire light units are replaced from the front if they blow, the euro lights have bulb/reflector system (both pre and post face lift) so the light units do not need to be taken out from the front (as the bulb is changed from the rear of the light). it avoids the us spec cars requireing the grill to be removed to change the bulb.

Yeah, I remember that being a PITA. Almost had to re-aim them every other time too if you weren't too careful. Ellips and euro grills are the way to go IMHO.

[mrLEE30]

also, the us spec lights are normally the sealed beam type, so the entire light units are replaced from the front if they blow, the euro lights have bulb/reflector system (both pre and post face lift) so the light units do not need to be taken out from the front (as the bulb is changed from the rear of the light). it avoids the us spec cars requireing the grill to be removed to change the bulb.

[KenC]

It has to do with the cutouts for air direction through the grilles.

[E30_pilot]

Sorry to bump this up...but what the hell is the differences between euro grills and Evo euro grills? I saw a set of "EVO" euro grill with euro kidney sell for about over $100 on fleabay.An e30 m3 owner won the bid. I just got a set of "evo" grills from the uk for $60 shipped.My buddy said the guy at the junker told him they were "evo" grills.

So whats the deal? They look the same to me.
Maybe I should snap a pic.

[Jand3rson]

US Spec Headlight Grills:




Euro-Spec Headlight Grills:



Notice how the top part of the grills on the Euro-spec units continue all the way across the top of the headlights, creating kind of an "eyebrow".

The Euro-spec grills are blocked off more in different areas in order to direct more airflow into the radiator. They also have a provision for the european headlight-wiper system (The small hole in-between the headlight lenses on the bottom). If you have the European Ellipsoid headlights they have a handy little opening for changing the citylight bulb.