Post bumper swap pics!!!

[LikeCDoos]

looks great, huge improvement.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Ok, let me get this straight.

From 84-87, the E30 coupes and sedans had higher arches and aluminum bumpers, as well as smaller style taillights. Putting the newer 89-91 plastic bumpers on is a bitch.

In 1988, the car was redesigned with larger taillights and lower arches, but retained the previous years' aluminum bumpers, though with a different mounting. Putting plastic bumpers on these are a simple swap in and out.

From 89-91 the car continued with the new style taillights and lower arches, as well as the plastic bumpers. In 1992 it was replaced by the E36.

Now that all makes sense to me.

But here we have a 1991 E30 cab, with smaller taillights, and a direct fit plastic bumper swap? Uh...

This is the impression I was under. From 84-91 the E30 cab had higher arches and smaller taillights, as well as aluminum bumpers. Same as coupes, bitch to put plastic bumpers.

Then for one year in 1992 they received larger taillights and plastic bumpers.

Why is it, that this 1991 cab was so easily modified to fit plastic bumpers? Was the cab redesigned in 1988 along with the coupe but left with the smaller taillights and aluminum bumpers until 1991?

[Digitalwave]

Cab's weren't out in 84, and they all have the higher fender arches, so they can ALL take the bumper swap easily.

The swap isn't a bitch on 1984-1987 E30's, the front bolts right on, you just have to shorten the length of the side sweeps on the rear bumper.

[Dave]

Mine will be its royalblau cousin here in a few more weeks. Getting the bumpers and valance painted now . . . . :D

[Bimmerfanatik]

Cab's weren't out in 84, and they all have the higher fender arches, so they can ALL take the bumper swap easily.

The swap isn't a bitch on 1984-1987 E30's, the front bolts right on, you just have to shorten the length of the side sweeps on the rear bumper.

Ok, I forgot that the cab wasn't made in 84, my bad :)

You're saying ALL the cabs, even the 1992, have higher wheel arches? And I thought the higher arches were part of the issue with getting the rear bumpers to fit.

And putting plastic bumpers on a non-plastic bumper (84-87) E30 is more than just trimming the side sweeps, from what I read in Jordan's write up, you have to modify the mounting holes in the body too. Does this go for the cab as well?

[KenC]

All cabrios have LOWER rear arches. Thus, putting plastic bumpers on them is a direct swap.

[Erick]

All cabrios have LOWER rear arches. Thus, putting plastic bumpers on them is a direct swap.

Ahh... makes more sense. From what TJ said I couldnt see the reason why coupes required trimming of the bumpers.

[Bimmerfanatik]

All cabrios have LOWER rear arches. Thus, putting plastic bumpers on them is a direct swap.

Yep, now I'm completely confused.

I didn't think the cab got lower arches until 91, but you're saying right from the start it had lower arches? Ok, so plastic bumpers don't need modification of the side sweeps to fit a cab. Got it.

What about the mounting issue that comes up on the 84-87 coupe? Does this exist at all on the cabs?

[Erick]

What about the mounting issue that comes up on the 84-87 coupe? Does this exist at all on the cabs?

Ok... here it goes... again:

The 84-87 e30 coupes and sedans have higher arches, as opposed to the 87-92 cabs and the 88-91 coupes and sedans with lower arches.

Only those with higher arches require trimming of the bumpers.

So to answer your question: No, it does not apply to any e30 cabrio.

[KenC]

All cabrios have LOWER rear arches. Thus, putting plastic bumpers on them is a direct swap.

Yep, now I'm completely confused.

I didn't think the cab got lower arches until 91, but you're saying right from the start it had lower arches? Ok, so plastic bumpers don't need modification of the side sweeps to fit a cab. Got it.

What about the mounting issue that comes up on the 84-87 coupe? Does this exist at all on the cabs?

The cab was a separate car from the coupe. All cabs have the lower arches, period. No modification is necessary to mount plastic bumpers to any cab no matter what year it is. (Perhaps it is confusing because the cabrios retained the aluminum bumpers until 1991).

Coupes (and sedans) from 84-87 have higher rear arches. Coupes 88-91 have the lower arches.

[Bimmerfanatik]

What about the mounting issue that comes up on the 84-87 coupe? Does this exist at all on the cabs?

Ok... here it goes... again:

The 84-87 e30 coupes and sedans have higher arches, as opposed to the 87-92 cabs and the 88-91 coupes and sedans with lower arches.

Only those with higher arches require trimming of the bumpers.

So to answer your question: No, it does not apply to any e30 cabrio.

No no, I got that part, sorry, I wasn't clear. What I'm referring to is the modification to the body to mount them properly. Modifying the slots and whatnot where the shocks mount.

[Erick]

There is no modification to the body... just the bumpers.

FYI: http://www.r3vlimited.com/Tech/bumper1.htm

[Digitalwave]

There is no modification to the body at all on any car, except on 84-87 coupes you have to cut the tow hook off the front.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Hello? I'm not crazy guys :) This is what I'm talking about.

[Erick]

Good point. See what reading gets you? ;)

It's not something like cutting half of the frame off, but yeah, it falls under the body modifications category.