Shave corner lights, bumper adjustments

[Sammy Sandbag]

I know I'm not the first to do this, but there isn't a whole lot on the forum regarding shaving the corner lights. I had to do some bumper repairs anyways, so might as well. I think it really cleans up the front end. I also fixed the horrendous panel gaps.

http://www.eatsleeptinker.com/2013/0...gaps-adjusted/

Before:


After:

[tractorcrusher]

Wow, that little touch makes it look a lot better!

[CaliAgents]

The sidemarker delete is a very nice touch giving the car a cleaner appearance. I've been wanting to do it for quite some time now, especially after I saw Ghery's Z Coupe with this modification several years back.

Too bad BMW never produced a ROW bumper -such as those available for E46 and E92s- with the sidemarker delete for the Z3. Did you fill the sidemarker cutout yourself or have a shop do it?

e.g. E92:


e.g. E46:

[steve f]

Very nice look. I wish I'd seen this before I had the 2.5 painted last month. Maybe on the M when I have the bumper done next winter.

I did however remove the license plate screw holes on the front bumper and the holes for the reflectors on the rear facelift bumper.

More important, thank you for the write-up. It's great info that I'll be referring to as I re-assemble my car. That one will be bookmarked.

[dak911]

I kinda' think the corner lights (ugly as they may be) are important.
Anything that makes other drivers see you like DRL'S are definitely a good thing, my thinking is that there should be "dimmed" lights on the rear also...to may people are not paying attention, all helps.....(just my .02 cents worth)

[Sammy Sandbag]

Did you fill the sidemarker cutout yourself or have a shop do it?

I learned a long time ago that I have no talent for body work. A shop did it. This all started because the previous owner had used a wood screw to mount a front plate to the holder. I originally was just going to use bumper plugs and paint the lenses.

I kinda' think the corner lights (ugly as they may be) are important.

I always appreciate any added safety to our cars, but these are US thing only. During the day they aren't visible enough to be seen. At night you can't see them with the headlights overpowering them.

[tractorcrusher]

This all started because the previous owner had used a wood screw to mount a front plate to the holder.

I know the pain... and it was crooked. That's why I rock a europlate, covers up some nasty holes.

[dak911]

My concern is the car being seen from the side, sometimes (SOMETIMES) the DOT gets it right....DRL, ABS, 3rd (high mount) brake light, seatbelts, air bags...most people are not too bright and need to be protected from themselves...NOT US BIMMER FOLK HOWEVER

[MrManFitz]

Any idea of the rear bumper can be adjusted in the same way?

[s8ilver]

Any idea of the rear bumper can be adjusted in the same way?

Up/down at the rear is adjusted with the hex (14mm?) in the bumper support brackets (attach the car to the bumper beam), but many are frozen at this point in time and you're lucky to get them to move. There isn't really a fore/aft adjustment as the 4 front bumper rivets are supposed to secure the front of the bumper to the underside of the quarter panels, and any displacement there will shear them off. If you have a gap at the front, chances are your rivets have sheared. There's a little up down adjustment where the bumper bolts to the brackets with the plastic nuts (behind wheel liner) but not much.