Front Panel Removal is it possible?

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:15 pm

I want to put a new front slam panel on my E30, not the bumper the actual Front panel, it looks like its spot welded on?

Is it possible to remove these to put a new/replacement one on?

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:34 pm

Yes, drill out the spot welds, then remove (probably a few bolts too, use old one as a template, drill holes in your new one, weld into place filling the holes you have drilled with weld, then file it down smooth, use a drill to make it look slightly countersunk, spray it up and hey presto, looks like new.

Be warned though, the above is only if you do not have a spot welder, i have done the above with a No Gas Mig and it worked fine, but you need to be very very carefull as its a structural part of the car.

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:36 pm

Okay brilliant,

are these panel still available from BMW?

i might just get a good condition second hand one from a fragger.

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:09 pm

I advise you not to undertake this work yourself mate....

The slam panel is a structural part of the car and if you have a accident... Well lets hope you dont but you get the drift..

You also have to remove the wings, bonnet, radiator, fans, lights ect ect..

Now you have to remove it... It wont simply come off by drilling out the spot welds, you will need a chissel and a hammer and a fair bit of patience, you also have to do this with out damaging the surrounding areas...

When you get it sitting in place then you need to measure it up, then fit it up, then pull it all apart again to weld it up.. Assuming you can weld that is.

Definitely one of the easiest panel beating jobs but not really for someone who has no idea..

Sorry if this sounds harsh I in no way mean to offend...

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:16 pm

No no offence taken lol,

i already have everything off the car ie bonnet, wings rad, front bumper, lights etc and the engine will be out soon.

Can it be welded as m8782538 said above by drilling out the spot welds and the re filling them with weld etc?

surely if i get a second hand part (providing its straight and true) it should match up pretty well and then i can weld it on when in the right position?

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:29 pm

Yeah absolutely as above...

I have done it like that 100s of times, what im getting at its not as easy as he makes it sound.

Get a new panel not a second hand one... If you get a secondhand one you will get whats called a front cut, where someone has taken a gas axe and chopped off the front of the car... You yourself have to unpick the slam panel off the front cut without any damage..

Then you have to do it again off your actual car..

Then line it up and MEASURING I repeat MEASURING everything then trial fit.

The way you measure is when you have the wings off there will be bold holes on the inner wings that are used to attatch the wings to the car.. You then have to measure diagonals across the car from the same spot on either side.. You also have to measure height on both sides once you have it square then you can trial fit.... VERy VERY VERY important otherwise nothing will line up and it will look like a dogs breakfast..

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:41 pm

Ahhh okay i see, thanks for the advice, so when measuring you measure diagonal both sides to make sure its the same (ie square) and the measure the height of each end to make sure its square.

Measure twice fit once as they say

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:47 pm

exactly but you cant measure from the ground up as the ground might not be level. Measure from a bolt hole in the front of the chassis rail up to the top of the slam panel somewhere on both sides...

Bot holes are the best....

Also 1-2 mm difference is acceptable from the factory (called tolerance) Thats why things have adjusters..

Get it?

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:55 pm

Yes sure do

and thanks very much for your all your help,

My boss will help me out as he is a precision sheet metal engineer and done a bit of panel work.

I have sourced a brand new slam panel aswell.

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:59 pm

Good work mate

remember do it exactly as I have described... Trial fitting is a bitch and seems like a waste of time... But having things not fitting properly is alot worse.

I have been there.

Why dont you take some pics and show others how its done?

Post Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:01 pm

Yes i will be starting a project thread very soon, as the m42 engine is coming out and an M50 engine will be going in. Also got alot of work to do on the interior aswell so theres alot of stuff to do.

But yes i will take some pics before during and after

Post Tue May 03, 2011 9:01 pm

Is there a chance that an incorrectly fitted panel would cause problems with the bumper? My car's got a dubious history, and the bumper won't fit flush to the wing or panel on one side, although it lines up to the mounts and the wing lines up to the door on that side.

Post Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:44 pm

I know this is an old thread but it is never mentioned what the distance is from the front of the chassis legs to the uprights on the replacement panel. Surely this is also an important measurement. Does anyone know what it should be? Mine was so rusted when it came out it wasn't really worth taking measurements.