Bumper swap FROM HELL!

[direction88]

I have been trying to do a plastic bumper swap on my 88 325is and have run into the same problem twice on the rear. The bracket on the re bar is 66mm and the shank on the bumper shock is 76mm. Pics below





I have bought 2 sets of rear shocks now and they are both the 76mm height so I can only assume that the brackets are wrong (despite being told by everyone I talk to that the brackets are the same size on all plastic bumpers). Please share your thoughts? This simple job has turned into a real shit show because of this parts situation!

[VacMan]

Those brackets are defintely wrong. Seems to me that all the US plastic bumpers I've seen have a bracket centered on the bumper between the holes in your pics. As they sit those brackets will make the bumper sit way too high, IMO.

[direction88]

That is really strange. I got the bumpers from a local guy up here in Vancouver and he said the car was a NA spec coupe.

[gearheadE30]

Is there a junkyard near you that you can go to for verification? The mount is centered on my bumpers as well.

[direction88]

Well since the back bumper situation seems to be going nowhere fast I decided to try the front. Again I ran in to a bunch of fuck ups. The wires and plugs I was sent for the swap dont fit into the turn signals on the bumpers I have. My car has 3 wires for the turn signals that needed to be spliced with the 3 wires from the plastic bumper signals. The signals on the bumper I have look like they use a 2 plug wire?

[lordofthewaters]

I'm not sure about the shocks, I don't remember what the diving board shocks look like, but I'm thinking maybe you have those. Did you measure against your originals?

But you do have to have the plugs that come with the plastic bumpers.

[direction88]

I'm not sure about the shocks, I don't remember what the diving board shocks look like, but I'm thinking maybe you have those. Did you measure against your originals?

But you do have to have the plugs that come with the plastic bumpers.

No they are the plastic bumper shocks for sure. I removed the ones that were holding the diving boards on and they are quite different. So are the plugs I am holding in the picture not for the plastic bumpers then?

[VacMan]

The shocks are plastic bumper shocks, and the plug you're holding is for the plastic bumper indicators (3 leads.) I have no idea what those bumpers came from, but they're not NA spec as far as I can tell, or at least they're nothing like any US ones I've ever seen.

[lordofthewaters]

No they are the plastic bumper shocks for sure. I removed the ones that were holding the diving boards on and they are quite different. So are the plugs I am holding in the picture not for the plastic bumpers then?

Sorry. I had to wait till I got home to see the pic. Yes like Tim has said, they are the right plugs.

[direction88]

Ok so how can I determine what bumpers I have? Thanks for the help so far guys. You have no idea how frustrating this has been.

[Funkmasta]

looks like it is a difference between US and world bumper shocks.

[xLibelle]

the mounting brackets and lights can be ordered pretty cheaply.

I'd like to know where these came from though.

[direction88]

the mounting brackets and lights can be ordered pretty cheaply.

I'd like to know where these came from though.

You and me both! Thanks Joe!

[direction88]

Update!

The bumpers are from a euro spec car. Not sure how my buddy got his hands on it when he was wrecking it without knowing that but at least we are now that much more informed. "Knowing is half the battle"

[direction88]

Update! (From HELL)

Here are the less than impressive results (I am beginning to think that the euro plastic bumpers will never fit properly and or the car was in an accident and the front end damage was hidden under the plastic rubber covers on the diving boards)













^ for some reason the bumper is flush on the bottom? Can anyone tell me what could be causing this horrible fit?