hi did any E21's have a factory different front end?

[lordpercy]

Hi All

i have started my very slow resto of my E21 Baur....82 plate RHD..i owned it in early 90's, sold it, tracked it down25 years later and now need to restore it back to factory standard.
i have a couple of questions...someone has fitted a horible 80's body kit. i have already removed rear and side skirts... the rear skirt included a bumper so i need to source a new rear bumper.

i cant remeber from years back but i think my original front bumper was the chrome etc....the one on now is a front bumper/spoiler combined colour coded.

am i right in thinking all cars left factory with Chrome bumpers?.

and also...my car is very very low and having trouble even getting a trolley jack under...think springs are lowered and have been cut...
what does anyone think about fitting standard springs?. and can they still be sourced?. i see plenty of lowered springs, but as i saw want my car factory standard.

i will soon have lot more questions im sure.

thank you for any help

steve
Baur 320/6 RHD

[Duracel79]

Hi Steve,

Nice to hear you found your old car (my dad has a similar story with an old Austin 7 and a 50 year gap).

Sounds like the front may have had a motorsport style bumper/spoiler added on. I'm pretty sure all Baur's came with chrome bumpers.
Maybe get a picture up and we'll be able to see what it is:
http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15956

As for parts and your springs, you'll be amazed at how much is available at your local BMW parts counter or Walloth & Nesch.
Have a look here for other sources of parts:
http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5185

Regards

Ben

[lordpercy]

Hi

thank you, i will upload pics....yes i reckon a motorsport bumper/front panel.

is the factory one an easy fit (i have to completely respray car anyway)

and what is your advise, still with stock springs/shocks?. i like to keep oem where possible.

whenever i remove any bolts brackets, i am removing all rust, then priming and painting with a zinc paint.

i have the complete brake system to renew...but difficult to even jack the front end...

engine runs though, i think fine but exhaust completely shot.

another question, when i take off front wings and under car...what do i coat the area in, should it be body colour or say a por 15 (once i have removed rust of course.

thank you

steve

[Duracel79]

Hi Steve,

Shocks/springs is a very personal taste issue, not everyone likes it the same way.

My personal opinion for a nice road going Baur would be Bilstein B6 shocks with ~30mm lowered H&R or Eibach springs. Going lower to ~60mm is probably too far from what you mention.

Have a look at Jeroens thread here for a nice Baur example.
http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=7562

After a good derust and weld repair, Por 15 would be good. Then paint colour on top which I think should either be the same as the rest of the body for non-metallic colours.
For metallic it is usually a non-metallic or un-lacquered finish of the same colour.

For the front panel are you actually missing the lower valence or does the front spoiler just cover things up?

Ben

[lordpercy]

Hi

thank you for the reply...

i will take some pics and trying to get front end off...i think i am missing the front valence.

the rear though, the body kit covered over....but missing the chrome bumper (ouch!)

had side skirts on...which upon removal, sills are very bad..completely through for most of them...i am looking for a garage that can weld in new panels...but think it needs a jig
as when i did jack up front end, doors did not open. back on wheels doors back to normal, so body is flexing badly at present (as there is no sills left really.

remainder has faired better...some rust to panel where lights sit,,,,some interior where the 'holes are' incidentally, the circular holes in floor, what was their purpose.?
and should i either weld a plate over, or cut a square, and buy the floor panel, and weld part of it in?..the repair floor panels do no look like they have these large round holes?

thanky uo for any help....going to be a very long resto........love the colour though Kastanienrot

and i cruised down blackpool strip, roof down (with ladies of course!) back in 92....many owners later (and much corrosion!), took 2 years to find her again. this one is for keeps now!.
(nice touch previous owner kept all paperwork...searching through found my reciepts from 91/92/93)

Steve

[brockzila]

Have you removed the bumpers?

Are the chrome bumper underneath?

Could be a zender kit.