E36 Help needed - Update - Annoyed !

[capri_rob]

Following last nights little accident I need some bits for my E36 touring.

Unfortunately as I don't know what the underside of the car should look like I'm a bit stumped as to what I need to get.

I know I need the corner support that bolts to the bumper where it curves round.
I also need a foglamp mounting ( the lamp itself is OK, but the mounting is Fubar )
And I believe there is an airduct from behind the lower bumper air intake which is joined to the supports at either side of the car.

Does anyone have a picture of the underside of an E36 with this all in-situ so I know what im looking for ?

Could really do without this

[Andyboy]

Best thing is to buy a cheap complete bumper with all the bits and swap them over. The corner bits you refer to are nicknamed 'pork chops'. They bolt to the underside of the bumper with 8mm bolts and then link to the arch liner. The air duct relies on the 'pork chops' being there to keep it all tight and stop it from dropping out.
All E36 bumpers have the foglight mounts, even cars without fogs.

[capri_rob]

Yep the "pork chops" are both damaged - I could probably get away with the drivers side one but the passenger side has had it.

Been over to Shropshire BMW today who had loads of E36's but not the bits I need so ended up ordering from Cotswold - not too bad £26 for the 2 x corner bits and the foglamp mount - could have been worse.

Can't find a centre section on realOEM that matches my car, and the guys at coswold reckon that a centre part is only fitted to cars without aircon or with the MTech bumper - mine has aircon and standard bumpers so they reckon it doesn't have one. I can't remember either way but as they can't find one listed for cars with aircon it will have to go without.

Hopefully it will all go back together OK

[nickso]

how long can you wait? im maybe breaking my e36 touring, some bits off it might fit. problem is i wont be dismantling it for a while yet.

[capri_rob]

Bits are already on order and paid for and should be here next week.

If you've got an autochanger in the boot and grey carpet I'll have first dibs on the trim panel that hides it

If you could take a pic of the underside of the bumper if yours has an undertray attached to the centre that would be very useful - especially if its got standard bumpers and aircon

[nickso]

no aircon but its got standard bumpers, pissing with rain right now so no pics

its got grey carpet but no autochanger, theres a hole for it though so it may be the right one.

[capri_rob]

If its got no aircon its probably got the undertray - which Cotswold reckon aircon equipped cars don't have I can't remember whether mine had it or not so don't worry about it.

If its never had an autochanger fitted it almost certainly won't have the right panel - the standard cars have a flat panel which mine had, if you fit an autochanger or there was one there from new you need a panel with a "hump" in it. These are stupidly expensive from the dealers and difficult to track down secondhand

[nickso]

hmm my 318is has aircon but it has m-sport bumpers.

ill check for the hump as mine has been messed with in the stereo department.

[capri_rob]

New "pork chops" and foglamp mounting arrived today thanks to the guys at Coswold - put it all back together - went to clip the foglamp into the new mounting and the plastic surrounding the metal spring clip that holds it in place snapped as I put it into the new mounting !

I would expect this from a Ford or Vauxhall but not on a BMW !

The Light unit itself is fine, but the breakage of the plastic clip that holds it in has rendered it fubar.

To make matters worse it looks like the foglamp units from ECP ( £20 ) come complete with the mounting bracket that I have just paid £16 for

[pacerpete]

Tiger seal is your friend . Apply liberally and wedge foglight in with folded cardboard etc. Several hours later , sorted. Unless you ever need to remove it !

[capri_rob]

I've tried to glue the plastic back together with epoxy - will let it set overnight and try again tomorrow. Its such a small piece of plastic but unless it holds together the whole light unit is useless - Tiger seal will be a last resort Pete - hows the executive 944 coming along ? Should I be expecting a rise in the Isopon share price anytime soon ?