early vs. late model doors

[JGood]

I have a set of 4 perfect condition sedan doors off an 89 325i, and I'd like to paint them and put them on my 85 325e which has dented and rusted doors.

Questions:

Is shape of the rear doors exactly the same? I'm sure the front are, just wasn't sure if the rear was, due to the later arches.

Is the wiring the same?

Will the early interior panels fit onto the later doors?

[mikeedler]

the window "scissors mech." is different, but they are interchangable too.-- the doors are the same.

[e30this]

Hey tell your buddy I said thanks alot for coming up to get them parts. Im sure he told you I made him a sweet deal for all the parts he got. :)

[JGood]

Hey tell your buddy I said thanks alot for coming up to get them parts. Im sure he told you I made him a sweet deal for all the parts he got. :)

Yeah he seems pretty happy, it seemed like a hell of a deal.

[JGood]

the window "scissors mech." is different, but they are interchangable too.-- the doors are the same.

Cool. Yeah I just checked realoem, the doors are the same part number, which is good.

[Jean]

The wiring connectors are different on the early/late cars, I am talking about the plugs near the door hinges.. the ones on my 84 and the 89 looked very different.

[JGood]

The wiring connectors are different on the early/late cars, I am talking about the plugs near the door hinges.. the ones on my 84 and the 89 looked very different.

That sucks. Maybe I'll hit up a junkyard and cut a set of connectors out so I don't have the hardwire the doors on. It should only be 6 wires - window motor, lock actuator, and light switch.

[StereoInstaller1]

If the doors are off, just swap harnesses.

Early harnesses in late doors should be just about pin for pin, and the wire colors are the same...so if you gotta swap a plug or three, just do it.

Another thing you might consider is swapping the window motors from front to rear on the new doors. The rear doors are gonna have far less use, right?

Luke

[JGood]

If the doors are off, just swap harnesses.

Early harnesses in late doors should be just about pin for pin, and the wire colors are the same...so if you gotta swap a plug or three, just do it.

Another thing you might consider is swapping the window motors from front to rear on the new doors. The rear doors are gonna have far less use, right?

Luke

It's no big deal, just curious if anyone knew for sure.

I put all 4 windows down every time I drive (no A/C). Also, none of the motors are original. I've replaced all the motors/regulators at least once in the past 8 years.

[StereoInstaller1]

Wait...you swapped motors in the late doors?

[xLibelle]

as stated above everything will work/swap and things are pretty much the same.

But just for notation sake, the doors are not perfectly the same in regard to angles and bend radius'.
I found this out the hard way when trying to make my 91 perfect. Figured an 84-86 door would be fine. Once hung and aligned, you could look down the side of the car and easily see the difference in lines.
I assume that once painted and done, it would have been pretty hard to tell from looking at it from the side of the car.

All that I wanted to be on record for is stating that the forms that the early and late models were punched with are not the same.

[JGood]

Wait...you swapped motors in the late doors?

Haha no, and I guess that's what actually matters doesn't it? Either way, I'm just going to leave the motors as they are. I use all 4 windows every day.

as stated above everything will work/swap and things are pretty much the same.

But just for notation sake, the doors are not perfectly the same in regard to angles and bend radius'.
I found this out the hard way when trying to make my 91 perfect. Figured an 84-86 door would be fine. Once hung and aligned, you could look down the side of the car and easily see the difference in lines.
I assume that once painted and done, it would have been pretty hard to tell from looking at it from the side of the car.

All that I wanted to be on record for is stating that the forms that the early and late models were punched with are not the same.

That's interesting. I'm surprised they have the same part number. Is it possible yours was aftermarket?

[Brian 89 325i]

Well I have a late model door on my 87 and it sticks out just a little right where the handle is. There is no possible way to adjust it in any more, and everything else lines up perfect, so I'm thinking this would be the main difference. I'll take a picture to better illustrate what I'm talking about.

Brian