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Thread: E34 parts interchange

  1. #1
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    E34 parts interchange

    Hey folks,
    Are all the E34 bodies basically the same from '88-'96? I see more 540 parts cars here than the 535 or 525 variety.

    Chris

  2. #2
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    If you're talking about just body shells, yes, *basically*; few exceptions might be some engine bay structural components.

  3. #3
    moroza's Avatar
    moroza is offline MORΩN ΛABIA BMW CCA Member
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    I've owned 5 E34s and worked on countless others. The bodies are identical as far as I can tell (apart from the obvious - wagon vs sedan, sunroof vs hardtop). Spot-welded mounting brackets under the hood differ between models. AFAIK everything aft of the firewall is the same*. Furthermore, Tourings are identical from the B-pillar forward and from the floor down.

    *EDIT: I'm talking just about the sheetmetal, not interior, electrics, aso.
    Last edited by moroza; 05-13-2018 at 04:22 PM.

  4. #4
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    The doors after 91 are different and can not be used for the earlier cars.

    The mirrors also changed in 91.

    You have the wide and narrow grills

    The Hvac panel changed in 11/90

    The lock actuators and locking mechanisms changed after 91.

    95 the door panels got better.

    From 89-90 you have projector fog lights and projector head lights, and then again in 95

    89-early 90 had the stupid Drivers side wiper that pressed down harder on the wind shield the faster you go.

    The early cars had screw holes in the roof for the rear shade, so you could screw the roof holders on.

    The early (88 makes) had the antenna that went up and down like the e28.

    The 89/90 535i had the rear cig lighter and the rear lights

    The early e34 up to 91 in some had the fan sword relay (it sucked)

    Oh and 93 and after there were no more LSD diffs on ASC, except I think on the M5




    So a few changes beyond just the engines.


    Andy

  5. #5
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    moroza is offline MORΩN ΛABIA BMW CCA Member
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    Good info, Andy. I was talking just about sheetmetal/body, per the OP. What's this about doors being different (beyond the locks, I assume)?

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by moroza View Post
    Good info, Andy. I was talking just about sheetmetal/body, per the OP. What's this about doors being different (beyond the locks, I assume)?

    That makes sense, I miss read what the OP was asking.

    The locks changed as well as the wiring so you if do use late doors on the early models the electric locks and mirror will not work, same goes for early to late.


    Andy

    I also forgot that the early e34 had different steering wheels that will not work on later styles. 89-90 then 91-95.

  7. #7
    moroza's Avatar
    moroza is offline MORΩN ΛABIA BMW CCA Member
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    If the wiring and locks were transferred... can they be transferred?... will early and late doors interchange then?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by south42 View Post
    The doors after 91 are different and can not be used for the earlier cars.

    The mirrors also changed in 91.

    You have the wide and narrow grills

    The Hvac panel changed in 11/90

    The lock actuators and locking mechanisms changed after 91.

    95 the door panels got better.

    From 89-90 you have projector fog lights and projector head lights, and then again in 95

    89-early 90 had the stupid Drivers side wiper that pressed down harder on the wind shield the faster you go.

    The early cars had screw holes in the roof for the rear shade, so you could screw the roof holders on.

    The early (88 makes) had the antenna that went up and down like the e28.

    The 89/90 535i had the rear cig lighter and the rear lights

    The early e34 up to 91 in some had the fan sword relay (it sucked)

    Oh and 93 and after there were no more LSD diffs on ASC, except I think on the M5




    So a few changes beyond just the engines.


    Andy
    Top list, awesome thanks.
    I got a 09/90 (the first of the m50s), but when shopping for parts I have to mention/select 91 so I get m50 gear and not m20 stuff. Also I've noticed a lot of general differences already - sometimes the hard way, as a lot of the older stuff is rarer now unless 535 specific, so when I shop for cheap e34 parts I often get later model 525 stuff not knowing the difference (and sellers don't either) and it doesn't work/fit.
    I think as a 9/90 car mine is weird as it has projectors, fogs, rear lights but no rear cig - some kind of a left overs/starting to cut back era while they were planning the new 91+ 525.
    E: but I want to thank you for the tip on the doors, I would have never known.
    Last edited by fo3; 05-16-2018 at 11:16 AM.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by moroza View Post
    If the wiring and locks were transferred... can they be transferred?... will early and late doors interchange then?
    The early locking system used actuators divorced from the latch, mounted separately connected by a short rod. Not sure if the late doors would have provisions for that actuator or if the late latch bolts to an early door.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by ross1 View Post
    The early locking system used actuators divorced from the latch, mounted separately connected by a short rod. Not sure if the late doors would have provisions for that actuator or if the late latch bolts to an early door.

    I have not done it, but have heard that it takes a lot of work to do it since the handers/brackets are different.


    Andy

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