Early vs Late model chassis

[Holland]

Early 325's also have the 48mm strut tubes.

[Jean]

Doesn't the 83 318i have a completely different rear seat, and the chassis part that it bolts to higher? I thought I saw that on a thread here.

the bottom part of the rear seat is different in how it mounts on the VERY EARLY e30s, 318 and 325...but aftr 85 it was the same as the rest.

dont the 83-85 318 have rear drum brakes and not disc

yes, but that's a simple trailing arm swap away.

[kman_e30]

dont the 83-85 318 have rear drum brakes and not disc

all the early 318s have drums brakes in the rear as far as i know

[TobyB]

hmmm, 2/86 eta has 2 loops welded to the chassis as tow hooks...

but no, the shells are structurally identical. The rear quarters, tail panel and front
rad stuff is cosmetically different.

t

[bmwguy325is]

early models have 2 front tow hooks and late models have one that threads in the bumper shock.

The early cars the tow eye screwed into the bumper. You had to remove the front plate.

[ApexGoblin]

dont the 83-85 318 have rear drum brakes and not disc

[CW325]

early models have 2 front tow hooks and late models have one that threads in the bumper shock.

[bmwguy325is]

The entire rear sheet metal of the car is different. Thus why the rear wheel arches are different. Plus the larger tail lights.

[Holland]

Doesn't the 83 318i have a completely different rear seat, and the chassis part that it bolts to higher? I thought I saw that on a thread here.

[Cinnabar325is]

At what point did they switch from 14.5 gallon tanks to 16.4? For the year I've owned this car, I've been operating under the assumption it was a 14.5 gallon tank...

[Jean]

And possibly 83-84 318i as well. Then you have iX specific stuff, and M3 stuff.

All this been covered, and realoem.com is good at finding these things :)

[ApexGoblin]

just checked and 84-85 325e had a smaller 72mm bearing rather than the standard 75mm bearing on most e30 models

[ApexGoblin]

No.. smaller brakes/swaybars yes. But all these aren't exactly MAJOR/CORe components?

true they arent, but i said well if there wasn't any MAJOR/CORE component difference we might as well make a consolidated list of what is different for all the newbies who are wondering

[xwill112x]

Seat belt latch/ releaser is different. I prefer the early model anyway, they dont jam up as easy as the late model ones.

[Jean]

No.. smaller brakes/swaybars yes. But all these aren't exactly MAJOR/CORe components?