Diving boards VS plastic bumpers aging differently?

[ForcedFirebird]

a LOT of hours spent polishing.

Actually didn't take long. 7" polisher with 220 grit to remove the anodizing, DA'd them to 320, then handed them off to a shop with 2' polishing wheels. Took them about an hour each to fine sand and polish. Removal of the anodizing without removing too much aluminum was the big pain.

[88BlackS-ETA]

i replaced my 88 chrome bumpers to plastic bumpers and threw the chrome ones in the garbage

[helalo]

i replaced my 88 chrome bumpers to plastic bumpers and threw the chrome ones in the garbage

[88BlackS-ETA]

How did you get your aluminum bumper to shine like that?

Probably something along these lines like I did. Polished all my trim and my bumpers.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=4494996&postcount=1

[Kershaw]

a LOT of hours spent polishing.

[bluebenz]

They can look good ;)

How did you get your aluminum bumper to shine like that?

[ForcedFirebird]

If only they all currently look like that ^ there might be more buy-in.

They can look good ;)

[mjimport]

If only they all currently look like that ^ there might be more buy-in.

[bluebenz]

I am very partial to the early style bumpers. As previously said, the chrome or aluminum bumpers give the car a classic look. The plastic bumpers are better integrated, but give the e30 a more 90's look, which is not what I was looking for when I bought my e30.

[flyboyx]

So I guess the 89 325is was the pinnacle of stock e30 design for several reasons:

1. facelift(rear valance)
2. first year of plastic bumpers that don't look like ass
3.
4. no airbag
5. later front valance
6. still keeps the pop out rear windows

am I missing anything else?

ftfy 8)

[fight4life28]

I think metal or alum's give the e30's an earlier look then the 80's.. The plasic bumper look so new that it takes some of the old car look right out them and turns them into another 90's car.

[straight6pwr]

i'm in the plastic camp.

the car still looks classic: the lines, headlights and proportions do that well enough without needing chrome. chrome just seems tacky to me, like big shiny watches and bling jewelry, its trying too hard for attention. also, the plastic bumpers are better proportioned than any of the other setups, and have cleaner lines.

paint-matched euro bumpers look just as nice, but don't go well with the late model rear valance (which is the best rear valance of all the choices)

[Stanley Rockafella]

So I guess the 88 325is was the pinnacle of stock e30 design for several reasons:

1. First year of enclosed spare/ muffler (rear valance)
2. classic alum look
3. lighter bumper assembly
4. more durable bumper assembly
5. later front valance
6. still keeps the pop out rear windows

am I missing anything else?

[325i Vert]

I can agree with ^ for sure.

[mr2peak]

nope.

Plastic bumpers with core and all the support are about 5+ pounds heavier than the aluminum db and it's shocks.

Now you can remove the honeycomb and save about 10-12 lbs, but then if you even get tapped, the plastic will shatter.

This has been beaten to death for years in the racing community..

I'm gonna trust this, even if it doesn't seem right. Trust the guy with the most investment in the choice.


The Diving Board bumpers were an afterthought. Crash standards changed, and BMW needed a quick fix to be road legal in the USA. Once they had a bit more time, they came up with a more elegant solution..

But hey, diving board cars come with smaller tail lights and higher rear fender arches. So it's kind of a wash in the end.