Is there really a difference in the American E30 grill?

[frankiej]

What's the difference between the American grill and the "Euro" grill? I hear American's talking about it on other sites.

[Simon]

The american grill has cutouts over the lights, where as the euro grill has an eyebrow over the lights.

You might be able to see from the below pic, an example of american grills.

[frankiej]

Ehhh... I can't see the pic My network blocked it. Do you have one on a web site?

[jonny320is]

sod all I think, look at the ETK and there doesn't appear to be any visual difference, although I haven't compared part numbers.
Theres a difference in lights, you'll hear americans talking about 'euro smilies' lights.

[Simon]

OK, a quick google, and I found this, which shows the difference quite clearly...

http://zoso.no-ip.org/images/318i-eurog ... byside.jpg

[frankiej]

Great job Simon. I couldn't find that. I guess we all can rest assured now that there is INDEED a difference.

Thanks again Simon.

[dannyboy759]

But all e30´s have the top grill, the M3 has the bottom one!
All the talk ive heard from the Us about euro grills is to do with the M3 in the respect that there M3´s have the normal e30 grill(top one) and our M3´s have the bottom type.
Ill stand corrected if any other e30 has the bottom type as im not totally 100% but all the "normal" e30´s that ive had have had the top type and the M3´s that ive had have the top one.

[eko]

All US spec E30`s were fitted with the bottom grill

[dannyboy759]

All US spec E30`s were fitted with the bottom grill

Not the M3 though, surely

Im sure they had the top one!

[eko]

All US spec E30`s were fitted with the bottom grill

Not the M3 though, surely

Im sure they had the top one!

Not 100% on the M3 but deffo all lesser models

[alex-e30]

whats the reason for having different grills?

[dannyboy759]

On the M3 it was weight saving, for what it was worth! and cooling

[Simon]

US spec grill is just that. Fitted to all US E30's including the M3. Hence why the yanks pay silly money for our grills.

[dannyboy759]

Ahh

Yeah with you, what i was getting at was the US M3 grill has the extra plastic in it like lesser euro models, but the euro M3 has the cut out version, never even noticed the cut outs before!!

[dannyboy759]

[mrLEE30]

the american versions had different lights they are a larger diameter and they are a sealed beam/dual filiment system where both lights go to main beam whem turned on, but only the outer lights are on for normal driving, their side lights are the indicators(they are always on and flash on and off for the indicators, and you lot think the pre face lift lights were sh1te try the yank versions, terrible!! i think the later cars did change to the smilies (or ellipsoids as they call em) but not sure if the grill changed with them.

below you can see the two grills, left is my partially us spec sport right is my Japan spec cab

[beardymat]

gives the e30 a slightly surprised wide eyed look which is just kinda wrong

one of the things i like about the e30 is the moody look of the front that the grill gives it

[frankiej]

I just found out that the "Euro" grills go for about 75 USD in the States... with the exchange rate, I guess that's worth A beer in the U.K. The USD is garbage.

[mrLEE30]

"Euro" grills

not Euro grills... just non yank grills!! As i said my cab is from Japan

and i will thank you not to remind me of the exchange rate as i am effectively paid in dollars