E30 Zone

Hello! I've just bought a 1987 325i and I'm trying to update it a bit. you see, I'm living in America where they have the aesthetic ability of giraffes and have for some reason stuck huge ugly metal bumpers on the car.

If you know an online site or someone that has them please help me out! I've learned that it's extremely possible to put the "euro spec" bumpers on anything before an 88'

u can also try a bumper tuck.they are tutorials on various E30 websites.

I've seen those online and they look alright but there really is a big difference between the us and international style. besides, after you tuck the bumpers you loose any protection you might have had in a regular crash. I've heard of horror stories where accidental touch at 5-10mph ruins radiator and screws up engine.

Welcome to the Zone.
If I were you, I'd go the whole nine yards and stick a Tech 1 bodykit on.

as Cloud suggests you could look for the tech 1 bodykit and bumpers found in Europe and Japan, this is the kit that was found on cars manufactured prior to Sept 1987 (and convertables upto about 1990)

or you could fit the later tech 2 kit, good link here:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/tech/bumper/bumper1.htm

requires a little more work.

as for parts keep checking the zone for sale section, but shipping is going to be expensive, alternativly check Ebay.de and find a friend who speaks German

good luck and welcome to the zone

mrlee

I really love the Mtech 1 kits and they don't need very much modification so that would be great, I'm not sure on the prices and how they compare to the regular bumpers. Most people say that buying them from overseas and shipping is just as expensive as buying them here because they are so rare.

Thanks, I'll keep searching. I'll find them one day.

I've seen some cars with 'diving boards' and quite liked them, they look good with deep valances IMO.

Or am I just plain wrong.......

mrLEE30 wrote:as Cloud suggests you could look for the tech 1 bodykit and bumpers found in Europe and Japan, this is the kit that was found on cars manufactured prior to Sept 1987 (and convertables upto about 1990)

Or normal chromie bumpers???

mrLEE30 wrote:as for parts keep checking the zone for sale section, but shipping is going to be expensive, alternativly check Ebay.de and find a friend who speaks German

Unless the sellers in the US..

[quote="Dresden]Most people say that buying them from overseas and shipping is just as expensive as buying them here because they are so rare.[/quote]Not sure on that mate. But over here they go for around £120 which is roughly $179.413. Shipping will probably be about that again, but you'd have to check that.

djk wrote:
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: New member, restoring
I've seen some cars with 'diving boards' and quite liked them, they look good with deep valances IMO.

Or am I just plain wrong.......

Just plain wrong dude.. Nah they look quite funny (I'd use it to drive into mates cars...)

Oh and welcome dude. GL with your choices.

You should be able to put normal chromie bumpers on an E30 from 87 or before, and plastic "facelift" bumpers on a 88+ car. Dont know if theres a difference in the shells of a Euro and US spec E30. I just thought it was engines?? the whole ETA (and ECE for everywhere else??) thing.

Someone please correct me if i'm wrong as its more just an educated guess...

Maybe consider a wanted on the Zone wanted section and put "USA" in the title to attract the attention of the american folks.

My 2 cents!!

Thanks Nay C and all! I've looked up a lot about the different specs on Euro/Amer models and it seems that the trim is the only main difference. There are also a few models in Europe that are not available here such as the Italian e30. (they didn't get the M3 though, Ha!)

I'm looking mainly for the chrome bumpers only, the Mtech is really nice but overpriced and not the look that I'm going for.

Yeah, they are pretty much ridiculous over here with the prices. It's easily $500 if you find a retailer, though I'm sure a private dealer would go much closer to the quoted price.

It's true, they really are that ugly. BMW decided that we wouldn't like good taste here so they tried their hardest to create something more ugly than the ugliest thing of the ugly world. They are Germans so of course this was no problem.

Eta refers to the 325e which is the 2.7L that limits the revs at 5000. It was built for more economical driving. The
325i 2.5L (what i have) is built for high output. And yes, the chrome bumpers will bolt on because it's an 87.

I have planned for this car to lower the suspension with either Bilstein or Koni and H&R or Eibach, maybe put a GC fake coilover on it. After that I will try to find BBS RS rims and a brake package. Paint will be next (not sure what color yet but i have all new body parts) window tinting, shadow line trim, smileys and red taillights. The interior seats are to be reupholstered and a new dash is to be found.

Audio is already installed, Nakamichi H.U. with new MB quart 5.25 components and Image Dynamics sub/amp.

a lot to do...but first, the bumpers...and a digital camera