DIY: Euro Bumper Install - Early Models

[Farbin Kaiber]

I'm pretty new at this.
I have an E30 from 1986, and I was wondering if there was any way I could change/buy or install the newer bumpers from 89+ on my bmw.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/tech/bumper/bumper1.htm

and,

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=75117

Should tell you everything you need to know.

[scabzzzz]

I'm pretty new at this.
I have an E30 from 1986, and I was wondering if there was any way I could change/buy or install the newer bumpers from 89+ on my bmw.

Yes, the front bolts on directly. No to the rear. Its too long on the sides. You'll have to shorten it by an inch or so to make it work but yes it works.

Now go search!

[e30austin]

Just did euro bumpers on my 05/86 325es. This was a great DIY. Thanks to all who contributed.

I'm going to add a few things that I think would be helpful (that wasn't explained all the way in this thread.)

- front lights: the gray wire needs to be removed. You can cut the gray wire and its connector all the way off and plug it right in, or you can just break the black connector completely and use the small spade connectors and plug them right into the light housing.

- mounting the bumper on the sides: you can use the factory screw and clip, but I opted to nut and bolt it, mainly because my bumpers didn't have any hardware when I got them, but it seemed to work a lot easier, and I really hate the gap on the sides.

[DIIRTY-30]

This info helped my friend out a lot..

[bradnic]

Euro Chrome vs US DB rear bumper mounting area comparison

Found a couple of pics scattered around. Levent's Nina rear pic in the first post is darn good, but I thought folks would appreciate a direct comparison pic. fporro and TDE30s description of mounting mods needed for the rear can be seen pretty clearly.

US rear is the bottom pic - holes for the bumper shocks and the trim above the aluminum DB bumper. Both areas are sealed in the euro car. Good pic to share with your body guy.

The same bumper mount brackets are used for each side. In Levent's pic you can see he uses the leftmost holes to mount the brackets on both sides of the car.

[bradnic]

In the pursuit of having my euro bumper turn signals serve as parking lights and turn signals, I found this: http://www.customled.com/products/ma...ic_blinker.htm

Basic Diagram:


I'm going to buy a set and see how it works. I don't want to spend too much trying to figure out a complex relay system to accomplish this.

did you ever install it? how did it go?

[kronus]

the blinker genie can just be a relay, fyi. You'll need some resistors on the signal leads, but the bottom diagram is what you're after cause all it is is an XOR gate:

[bradnic]

thanks Kronus. do you have install pics anywhere?

[bradnic]

Water gets past those flaps now that the old db covers are gone.

Curious.. did this actually happen to anyone here? I certainly understand the argument. Near as I can tell the vent flaps let the air out when you shut the trunk - try it yourself with the bumper off and you'll see them flap open then close. Don't know what other purpose they serve, but I really don't want to 'disable' them either

[uturn]

No issues with the flaps on my vert. On the hardtops, the sunroof rear drains are ported to that vent.

[bradnic]

No issues with the flaps on my vert.

THANKS for the confirmation! Leaving them alone then - will keep an eye on it.

On the hardtops, the sunroof rear drains are ported to that vent.

Really? that sounds strange.. not sure what the purpose of that would be.. will take a look on one of my hardtop cars.

[Saleh88]

Question

How can I tell if I have an early 1988 bmw 325is model or a late? The previous owner changed the body kit to the euro kit. So is there any other way to tell?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge on my part.

[scabzzzz]

How can I tell if I have an early 1988 bmw 325is model or a late? The previous owner changed the body kit to the euro kit. So is there any other way to tell?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge on my part.

Post a picture?

The taillights will be larger/taller on late models. And the rear bumper from a euro that is metal will only fit the early model cars. Its shorter on the sides than a plastic bumper. Other than that, everything else about the early/late model cars is the same.

[scabzzzz]

Btw guys, I dont really pay a whole lot of attention to this thread. If you want or think I should add something to the original post so that people wont keep asking the same questions over and over, let me know and I'll put it in the OP.
For isntance, fog light or turn signal diagrams, bumper holes, yada yada. I tried to cover all the important stuff along with Levents efforts originally, but it looks like the community has beyond elaborated.

[808ETA]

Curious.. did this actually happen to anyone here? I certainly understand the argument. Near as I can tell the vent flaps let the air out when you shut the trunk - try it yourself with the bumper off and you'll see them flap open then close. Don't know what other purpose they serve, but I really don't want to 'disable' them either

I figure 8 years is long enough, how did it work with your vent flaps? Did water ever come in from there?