Advice on front bumper please

[S17ewo]

Hi all, apologies as I'm a newbie I'm totally clueless really, I've put myself a deposit on a 323i today.
Here she is:


Now I'm not a fan of the front valance (excuse my spelling)
I think I've worked out its removable, once the chrome bumper is taken off.....if this is the case what will I be left with? Will it be the same as the below valance but without the plastic splitter?

If so, what's the splitter called and how hard are they to get hold of?

As a secondary issue....I also want to do the single headlight conversion, is this simply sourcing the front headlight grills, removing the full beam and replacing the main beam with a full/main beam unit?

Again apologies about my lack of knowledge.
Many thanks in advance
Stew

[e21-Mark]

Nice car Stew!

Nothing wrong with asking questions mate.

The spoiler should just have screws along the top and the metal valance will be beneath it. It might need cleaning and/or repainting though, but you won't know till you whip the spoiler off. It'll probably come off without removing the bumper too.

Single headlights are quite sought after now. They're bigger than the twins and the whole units unbolt (3 bolts or big screws) and can be swapped in minutes. You'll need to have the single headlight plugs wired in too though, so that both dipped and main beam go to the one plug. If you can find just the grills, you can always fabricate some mounts for different 7'' headlights. They just need to be H4's.

Where are you based anyway? Someone might be able to drop by and lend a hand?

[S17ewo]

Thanks for your reply bud, what about the sexual plastic splitter, are they like gold dust too??

As for the headlights that's music to my ears, I can fabricate some mounts no problem in my trade as I have everything I may need at my disposal, I can also get hold of some brand spanking 7" headlights too so that begs the question where can I get hold of some grills?? I'm actually from Telford mate in the midlands but currently working in Afghanistan for the next 10 months! A friends picking the motor up for me on the 28th. Just need to find some localish storage to tuck it away in until I'm back!!! Is yellow lamin x illegal over headlights??

[polov8]

The splitter is part of the front valance panel and is all steel. Yours should look just like the bottom pic underneath.

[e21-Mark]

You'll just need to keep an eye out on here and eBay for single grills. They do come up sometimes. You might even find someone with singles who wants twins? Maybe.

[S17ewo]

That is music to my ears!!!!!

Next question, I've seen a few without wing mirrors, where do you source the blanking plates, and is it legal?

[S17ewo]

Tbf I think I've seen a lad offer some grills as a swap for a spoiler in the for sales, but I have emailed him and had no reply

[e21-Mark]

That is music to my ears!!!!!

Next question, I've seen a few without wing mirrors, where do you source the blanking plates, and is it legal?

Make them. Yes, but you'll be wanting alternatives.

[S17ewo]

Make them out of what..... So it's legal to roll without wing mirrors but you'd advise fitting some different ones....

[polov8]

Looking on Real OEM it looks like the passenger mirror wasn't a standard fit on some models as this page shows both inner and outer blanking panels:



http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=10

[e21-Mark]

The blanking plates are NLA but there also seems to have been some difference between facelift and pre facelift cars. I tried one of the outer plates and the shape was slightly different.

It's simple enough to make a pair though anyway. Just use steel and bond into place with sikaflex. That's what was done on MIB and it looked great.

[S17ewo]

Thanks for your replays guys. Like I say I can make some at work no problem but tbh I want to run without mirrors at all! Will only be driven once a week but would like to know for sure if its illegal! I read somewhere 1982 or before is legal with no mirrors appart from rearview

[e21-Mark]

You have to have a driver side one fitted.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_810.htm

[S17ewo]

What a shitter!!!

[nas80]

Yea thats a legal requirement. Ive seen show cars with no wipers arms (like no holes for them) before then drive off after a show down the road..

Id rather not get pulled by the fuzz. They would have u in front of a magistrate and they dont find it funny esp if you give them an excuse about a number plate affecting your intercoolers airflow and thats the reason its on a folding hinge. They will fine you hard man. Trust me lol