e36 nose panel + guard differences

[qube 3570]

Hi guys,

On my e36 there is some damage to the passenger side front corner and I am looking to replace the nose panel and the fender/guard instead of getting it repaired.

I have done some research and just want to confirm my findings.

nose panel will fit from any coupe/sedan/compact/touring/vert but as mine has prefacelift grills I need the nose panel from a prefacelift in order to fit the existing kidney grills back on. in other words, prefacelift grills wont fit on a nose panel that has originally had the facelift grills. correct?

also, the guard will fit from a coupe or vert but not from the other body types.

Thanks guys!

Edit: oh also, mine has the wider motorsport plastic trim on the guard, can i use a non msport trim'ed guard and fit the plastic right on?

Edited June 14, 2015 by QUBE

[Nobimmer 694]

What guard do you need? I have an e36 guard that is being used as a garage ornament at the moment. I need to get rid of it, i suspect it's a sedan one because I have only ever owned a sedan. You can have it either way. It's blue too, I don't know what variation though.

Let me know if you want it, if it fits.

[Gaz 1061]

Yes to all three.

[qube 3570]

Hey ash. Its the passenger front guard for my coupe (see projects for my thread) so ill pass. Thanks for the offer though!

I actually found both parts at pickapart in mangere in the right colour (boston green) so i might as well pick it up since it will just bolt straight on.

Im just not sure what year car the nose panel is off cuz the grills have already been removed from it.

[Nobimmer 694]

Ha jeezus I must be going colour blind or my monitor is way out of whack. It def looks blue to me. Wtf.

[qube 3570]

Do a factory reset on your monitor lol.

Is there a way to tell if the nosel panel fits facelift grills or pfl?

[Toast 117]

The shape is different, from memory the only part changed on the facelift is the nose panel and kidney grills, so unless you're attached to the prefacelift look you could always just buy the cone and go from there?

[qube 3570]

I do prefer the pfl grills but the problem is finding fl grills if the nose panel is for the fl.

[Yuen 16]

Pre-facelift: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-M3-S50_3.0L/ES71508/

Facelift: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/Nose_Panel_-_Grille_Surround/ES71534/

The facelift is more curved on the outer edge.

If you want to keep the car 'period correct' then get the pre-FL nose panel, because the guard you're replacing will be pre-FL.

Non-M Sport and M Sport guards are the same so you can put the M mouldings on as long as you get a coupe guard.

[will 169]

PFL e36 will have the larger e30 type side repeaters and the 'squarer' grills, the FL e36 will have the thin side repeaters and the more angular grills. I just look for what side repeaters the car has to tell me whether it is PFL or FL.

[qube 3570]

I was able to find a boston green nosel panel off a pfl hatchback at pick a part for $24. No luck on the guard though yet

[Yuen 16]

Great score!