OEM early body panels

[Kilawin]

How can you tell if body panels are original on the earlier E30's? Say '87 and before, I noticed they do not have the vin#'s on them. Do they have any other kinds of markings to look for?

[Motorsports]

The arches are lower on the later models.

[TwoJ's]

How can you tell if body panels are original on the earlier E30's? Say '87 and before, I noticed they do not have the vin#'s on them. Do they have any other kinds of markings to look for?

The VIN is behind the rear bumper on both sides.

[Kilawin]

how about the hood, fenders, doors, and such?

[GaryE30]

The arches are lower on the later models.

I assume he's talking about body panels that can be replaced easily with new. These require a lot of work because they're one with the body.

[TwoJ's]

Hood, fenders, doors all have vin numbers on them. If they are all taken off, I'd assume they have either been replaced, or the car was completely stripped and painted.