BMW E30 Bumper Differences [Archive] - Beyond.ca - Car Forums

BMDUBS

01-03-2013, 06:27 PM

From 1983-1987 at some point in 98 the model year, Canadian and North American cars had the 5 mph federal bumpers. These were known to be heavy, ugly and highly undesireable. The option was to convert the bumpers to the much more svelte Euro or World market bumpers. They were significantly smaller and nicer in chrome with black rubbing strips.

Some time in the model year in 1987 there was a face lift and all the bumpers were the same world wide.

Here are some links with pictures:

83-87 US/Canadian front bumper
Link (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=e30+bmw+bumpers&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1167&bih=538&tbm=isch&tbnid=wi-nXhJkmjfsIM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D371047&docid=2ZcWBowq45WhLM&imgurl=http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq177/jpupster/Untitled-1copy.jpg&w=480&h=270&ei=GBvmUPrwMsL5igLBo4CwCA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=258&sig=109503969159907795753&page=2&tbnh=139&tbnw=262&start=10&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0,i:129&tx=168&ty=90)

83-87 Euro/World front bumper
Link (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=e30+bmw+bumpers&start=236&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1167&bih=538&tbm=isch&tbnid=XJDBlr701sv0OM:&imgrefurl=http://www.adverts.ie/car/bmw/3-series/bmw-e30-318i-coupe-chrome-bumper/679920&docid=e3BqtyIM9c7HBM&imgurl=http://c0.dmlimg.com/1fc1c1c2db5852e08ffc380475e2633662abccfbeedc05ea8be6a9d2363afde2.jpg&w=392&h=294&ei=NhzmUMegJdGUjALs34C4Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=161&vpy=81&dur=105&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=120&ty=108&sig=109503969159907795753&page=13&tbnh=148&tbnw=181&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:37,s:200,i:115)

83-87 US/Canadian rear bumper
Link (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=e30+bmw+us+rear+bumper&start=160&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1167&bih=538&tbm=isch&tbnid=TicCYL1Rs9xDyM:&imgrefurl=http://bringatrailer.com/2011/11/19/seller-submission-1988-bmw-325-ix-2/&docid=RnygcetimCiURM&imgurl=http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/plugins/PostviaEmail/images/1988_BMW_325iX_E30_For_Sale_Rear_0_resize.jpg&w=580&h=386&ei=AB_mUJ6KBK-UigKS8ICoCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=552&sig=109503969159907795753&page=9&tbnh=151&tbnw=219&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:67,s:100,i:205&tx=141&ty=92)

83-87 Euro/World rear bumper
Link (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=e30+bmw+us+rear+bumper&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1167&bih=538&tbm=isch&tbnid=gYIdnvOJ526J-M:&imgrefurl=http://dtmfiberwerkz.com/access/euro-mtech-style-rear-apron-p-555.html&docid=iLrQNW9MJUsTiM&imgurl=http://dtmfiberwerkz.com/access/images/IMG262042blur.jpg&w=681&h=600&ei=8B7mUPfFGqfxiwKog4GACA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=889&vpy=98&dur=992&hovh=211&hovw=239&tx=169&ty=131&sig=109503969159907795753&page=5&tbnh=157&tbnw=162&start=76&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:81,s:0,i:338)

1988-1992 face lift bumpers
Link (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=1988+e30+bmw+bumpers&start=102&um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1167&bih=538&tbm=isch&tbnid=K8pw_X1uZC9DdM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3263926/1988-bmw-3-series/&docid=0EaH8UiVmVmHeM&imgurl=http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/99/85/15929958_large.jpg&w=750&h=562&ei=HyHmUJbVCYWvigLtlIGgAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=445&sig=109503969159907795753&page=6&tbnh=132&tbnw=190&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:100,i:64&tx=92&ty=63)

Hope this helps...