OEM m3 bumper differences?

3764 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by HKE46Boy, Feb 11, 2003

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · Feb 8, 2003

I'm researching putting an OEM m3 bumper on my 3-er.

when i called Pacific BMW to get a quote on the bumper, they told me there are TWO different bumpers based on production date before mid 2001 and after. Can someone with some reliable information let me know the difference ?

i know it's not gonna fit, but i'm looking to custom fit it. It is not set that i will do this, but if the price is not too extravagant and i can find a shop with balls here in SD, then i'll look into this some more.

Currently, i have a Rieger M3 style front bumper which i will consider selling for more than 200 off retail(600-650shipped) if anyone is interested after i decide what i will do.

choice:
1) stay rieger, go all around
2) retrofit, get some m3 mods

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

EviLSydeSiLk

· #2 · Feb 8, 2003

I just ordered the Rieger front. If i was you just keep it. There is very little difference between that and the OEM M3 other than the fact that you will be paying La Jolla or Imperial Auto Body alot of $$ to mod the OEM to fit your car. Do a :search: you'll see that the people that have done it said it took too long and cost too much $$ when u can still have the OEM M3 fog's on the Rieger. :thumbup:

BGReddy00

· #3 · Feb 8, 2003

yea i agree go with rieger....its not worth all the hassle of doing all that work....

carbonworks

· #4 · Feb 9, 2003

The 2002 E46 M3 bumper is lighter than the 2001.

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 9, 2003

from what i heard, the mounting between the two bumpers are also different.

one uses the two long screws, while the other uses clips...

does anyone know about this ? please advise asap thanks !

lyon123

· #6 · Feb 9, 2003

do you have any pictures of your car?

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 9, 2003

it's just a stock 330ci with rieger front... if i can get some assurance that i can mount an OEM m3 front, then off comes the rieger ... anyways.. any clue what are the differences between the two different OEM m3 fronts ?

i just know 1 is lighter than another, is there mounting difference too ?

thx

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 10, 2003

bump ! help me ... what are the difference between the two production date OEM bumper ? which would be easier to mount on a 3-er ?

Kent50

· #9 · Feb 10, 2003

I checked into this a while ago. I was told by 2 dealers that the way the bumper mounts is different. If you have an early production 01 then get the early bumper and later production get the later bumper. In other words match the production date on your car to the correct production dated bumper. If you do that then the bumper will mount up just fine. The only issue will be that it's to wide for the car which any body shop can take care of for you.

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 10, 2003

read above.. i'm trying to retrofit onto a e46 coupe.. not an m3 lol... how are the mountings different... which would e easier to mount

e46boy

· #11 · Feb 10, 2003

OMG.. everytime you post, ppl are going to say stick with what you have man.. come on.

you asked for ppl's opnions.. and you got it.. so stop worrying about it and get some damn sides and rear

:banghead: :banghead: :tongue:

Micro64

· #12 · Feb 10, 2003

BIG QUESTION!
Please help!!

I am interested in changing the stock e46 bumper

I checked out teh Rieger M3 Look Bumper
http://www.rpi-equipped.com/riegerBMW.htm

It says it is $567. Is that a fair price? i thought of getting the tornado front but it costs too much and the m3 front is still better and cheaper..

BAVARIAN323i

· #13 · Feb 10, 2003

TheFallen said:
from what i heard, the mounting between the two bumpers are also different.

one uses the two long screws, while the other uses clips...

does anyone know about this ? please advise asap thanks !

Translation: one is a POS and the other is decent when it comes to low speed accidents

Kent50

· #14 · Feb 10, 2003 (Edited)

"I checked into this a while ago. I was told by 2 dealers that the way the bumper mounts is different. If you have an early production 01 then get the early bumper and later production get the later bumper. In other words match the production date on your car to the correct production dated bumper. If you do that then the bumper will mount up just fine. The only issue will be that it's to wide for the car which any body shop can take care of for you."

That is what I was referring to. The early (Before mid 01) M3 bumper will mount right up to an early Non M Coupe. It will be wider and you will need to change to the M3 fogs though. You cannot mount a later M3 bumper because it mounts differently.

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 10, 2003

awsome kent50, just a quick additional question.. the dealer said the bumper doesn't come with ANY mounting parts.. is there any that i'd need to get ?or can the body shop figure that out ?

BGReddy00

· #16 · Feb 10, 2003

the body shop should be able todo it...if they can do all the work of fitting it they will be able to mount it...

TheFallen

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 11, 2003

okay, so if i have a 2002 330ci, then i should get the post-november 2001 OEM m3 bumper right ? kent ?

Kent50

· #18 · Feb 11, 2003

That is what my BMW dealers tell me. You may want to run it by your local dealer to be sure. There have been a few people on this site that have put the M3 bumper on their cars also. You may be able to search and look at the results.

HKE46Boy

· #19 · Feb 11, 2003

Go with M-Power!

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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