cabby confusion

[e30-320i]

just spotted a white e30 convertible in a garage on the way home so i pulled in to check it out it was pretty clean but the thing that confused me was it was on a g plate but it was pre-facelift are all cabs chromies or did they change the spec at a different time.

[Hyperion]

i think the cabs got the face lift a little later than the other cars. not sure about the years, but i am sure someone will give u a definate answer.

[BrAdZ]

89/90 they changed to facelift

Mines 88 cab on F - Chromie

[orangecurry]

as above
I have a chrome F-plate, and used to have a facelift on an H-plate

[Zayyan]

After the saloon's facelift the chrome bumpers on the cabs were painted black.

The "real" facelift with the bigger rear lights and the plastic bumpers was around the time of the E36 saloon appearing.

[orangecurry]

what you been drinkin' Zayyan?

my May 1989 is chrome, and my H-reg (can't remember exactly when it was registered) was proper colour-coded plastic, so if they painted chromes, it was for a very short time!

[johnna]

Mine is 1990 H plate... looks like chrome......

[tylerma]

Mine is 1990 H plate... looks like chrome......

yep that looks like chrome

[johnna]

Hmmmmm....... just as I suspected........
nothing gets past me!

[tylerma]

Hmmmmm....... just as I suspected........
nothing gets past me!

[Zayyan]

Odd, I'm sure all the F, G and H plate cabs I've seen have had black painted chrome.

I know Nick's (Chaos') cab has painted chrome - maybe it was an option and I've only seen ones with this option

Or maybe the black was clip on trim and it's been taken off over time.

[mustard]

error

[mustard]

error

[tylerma]

Odd, I'm sure all the F, G and H plate cabs I've seen have had black painted chrome.

I know Nick's (Chaos') cab has painted chrome - maybe it was an option and I've only seen ones with this option

Or maybe the black was clip on trim and it's been taken off over time.

I think Nick's cab was a pre facelift though
they might have only done the black chromie thing on black cabs and tech 1 sports

[mustard]

error

[mustard]

Another 90 H Chrome, I believe they changed for the 91 model year ie late 1990

[Zayyan]

Odd, I'm sure all the F, G and H plate cabs I've seen have had black painted chrome.

I know Nick's (Chaos') cab has painted chrome - maybe it was an option and I've only seen ones with this option

Or maybe the black was clip on trim and it's been taken off over time.

I think Nick's cab was a pre facelift though

But so are all Fs and Gs and most Hs?

they might have only done the black chromie thing on black cabs and tech 1 sports

Maybe....

[jordano]

ive got an f-reg and its crome and my mums g-reg is painted crome

[DaveD]

this is frtom an american site so.................

By Change

* Airbag: Standard equipment partially through the 1990 model year (1/1/90 production date)
* Colored bumpers/newer front valance/fog lights: starting 10/90 build date. This was part of a significant change that impacted the front structure and rear structure of the body.
* Taillight change: The ETK shows a tail light change in 10/90 for Convertibles.
* Headlights : 1988 & 1989 had Ellipsoid headlights. Others had Sealed beam.
* Automatic Top : Optional after 1990?
* Gas trunk lid shocks: ETK shows a change in 4/89. Before 4/89 had a single gas shock to hold open trunk. 4/89 and later had dual gas shocks to hold open trunk.
* Cooling System: ETK show change in production date of 09/87. Pre 9/87 Cooling systems had the potential to allow the power steering pulley to cut through the lower radiator hose if the motor mounts/rubber stopper fail. Main differences: Radiator, hoses, oil cooler, expansion tank...
* Fuel tank changed in 09/87. Went from 55 Liters (14.5 gallons) to 63 Liters (16.6 gallons).
* Seat Belts: 10/91 changed to include a belt tensioner. (TIS document #72 03 91 (3352)). After sensing impact, seat belt tensioner spring retracts seat belt receptacle by ~55mm.
* Motronic: Early production had Motronic control unit "0 261 200 153", which had problems. It can be replaced with 173, 380, 524 or 525, provided the variant code (4 figit hex code on sticker) is the same (per Jim Conforti message on Internet Newsgroup)
* 3rd Brake Light: ETK shows a change in 06/88. The newer style has a lower profile.
* AC: Changed from R12 to R134A. Based on notes in ETK, happened in 3/92. Based on documents in TIS, happened in 9/92.
* Auto tranny: Changed in 07/88. Currently looking for details of the change.
* 5 spd tranny: Changed in 06/88. Currently looking for details of the change.
* Rear windows: Zip-in rear window starting in 09/91.

[e30-320i]

thanks for all the replies lads the cab was no good for me anyway as it was only a 320i and imo it was over priced at Ԛ£2995 but now what year to be looking for if i ever decide what i want to do.