My 1984 318i

[bimmerman08]

change that rear bumper

[new2bmw]

trim

ok, i am going to leave the kidneys chrome. My side door trim is black with the chrome strip on it, i plan on leaving this as i dont want to run into a problem with peeling or chipped black paint in the future. so i am thinking chrome around the side windows and the black lockstrips to tie everything together. I think the chrome may date the car but then again i see a lot of the newer cars are starting to use chrome for accents around windows again. what do you guys think?

[Jparkr]

shadow line is easy, pull the trim, dont tape off the car.. then use quallity paint with a real clearcoat w/hardner or w/e and youll never have problems.
one of the good paint guys will probibly help you with a good clear mix.
If they want to help that is.

[new2bmw]

shadowline

i have read many posts on shadowline. Has anyone had any success with it lasting for a long time? i always read about guys having it peel or chip and it looking like shit after a short amount of time.

[JasonC]

I think it will all depend on what wheels you get for the car. If they are blingy then stay with the chrome. If not, then paint the kidneys body color and shadowline the rest.

[new2bmw]

trim

Hey guys hows it going? Have a question for ya. A lot of people are telling me they think the car will look sweet with the chrome/aluminum trim. I am starting to think the same, but I want to get a few opinions from the guys who own e30's. Do you think I should leave the kidneys and trim chrome or should i blackout/shadowline everything? I will obviously go my own way but i am very interested to see what you think.
cheers guys
take care

[Dirtsquirt]

Honestly....

Your sideskirts are much too subtle to go with that bumper combo. You'd definitely have to have the E36 ///M style skirts that stick out and come straight down, like the ones Eurostyles sells. Them being molded into the rocker panels doesn't work IMO.

It really isnt that expensive to get a bumper sprayed...like $300 at the most. \


Consider it.

-Dan

[new2bmw]

m10

thanks , i have 2 m10 engines, the one in the car and another in the garage. I have a dinan turbo log manifold that i want to use on the second engine once i build it up a bit, then put it in this car. I also have an 89 325i that i will be starting to restore in the spring, it has the plastic bumpers and i love the body so no kit for that one.

[TwoJ's]

Nice job on putting in work. Get that m10 out of there though...

And here is an example of a "different" e30 that looks good:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=96847

[mattdk318i]

if you were closer i would have given you my Diving boards. Tucked and painted black they would look better. But if you remove both bumpers id go with M-tech1. Theres a few parts here and there you can buy. You dont have to buy them all at once

[new2bmw]

suggestions

Seriously you are going to have to remove that rear bumper. Get some nice wide wheels, and put a big intercooler up front, and you can pull it off, but the rear has to go. It's going to break off when you go over a speed-bump or down an incline anyway, because it is so disproportionately low compared to the rest of your car.

Also, I hope whoever sprayed it put more than one coat of clear. Its dull and needs to be worked. You need to wetsand that entire car with 2000 grit sand paper, then buff with a wool pad and medium/high grit compound, then work it with a foam pad and some low compound. That paint is dull and looks like shizz, but it can be polished.

Ok i will ride this bumper out till it gets trashed , then what bumper would you suggest going with? i want to keep the front, what would match up well with it? any kits you know of that have a decently priced rear bumper?

[new2bmw]

golde30

hey gold, not looking for meaningless praise, but if i wanted to hear to an asshole i'd fart.

[dude8383]

I'm speechless to say the least...and I don't really rag on anyone's whip.

I am however curious to see where this goes...

[trashcop 80s 80s]

Seriously you are going to have to remove that rear bumper. Get some nice wide wheels, and put a big intercooler up front, and you can pull it off, but the rear has to go. It's going to break off when you go over a speed-bump or down an incline anyway, because it is so disproportionately low compared to the rest of your car.

Also, I hope whoever sprayed it put more than one coat of clear. Its dull and needs to be worked. You need to wetsand that entire car with 2000 grit sand paper, then buff with a wool pad and medium/high grit compound, then work it with a foam pad and some low compound. That paint is dull and looks like shizz, but it can be polished.

[golde30]

i hope this is posted on eMOtech also, so they can make you feel better with meaningless props and positive comments....