Front bumper valance help

[Corbacino]

My son bought this '87 325es in May. We suspect it had been sitting for 20 years (plate on it expired in 2002). We had to a bunch to get it running and it still needs a ton of work. I'm trying to figure out what kind of lower valance this thing came with. It is an 'M' badged 'es'. Any help would be appreciated. I thought i read about M tech 1? Is there a way I would be able to find out from the VIN ?

[clarkitect]

Have you tried a vin check at mdecoder.com? Realoem.com should also give you some part numbers applicable to your car when you enter the vin.

[82eye]

same valance as any n/a pre-facelift car. part number 41331933771. can find it on any car with the big bumpers.

the 'm badge' has nothing to do with it. it's just a piece of aftermarket vanity plastic added on from a driver who knows nothing. they were popular among the fuzzy dice crowd for about 20 seconds in the nineties. always considered in poor taste by enthusiasts. they were a good way to spot the poseurs.

[richardodn]

The 87 325es was the sport edition of the standard 325e. Engines are the same between those. You would likely have gotten the sport suspension (different springs/dampers), sport seats (they're not Recaros in the North Am market cars), rear spoiler (I think I spotted one in your pictures), and the es front air dam. I believe this is a picture of the same year 325is. The 325es would be similar, but the middle bottom slots are filled.

IMG_1649web.JPG

Yours is obviously missing. On the plus side it looks like you still have the brackets. Original brackets are made of unobtanium so hold onto them. You might even consider taking them off the car and storing them until such time as you find the correct air dam. However, there are after market replacements. On the minus side, those fog lights are also made of unobtanium.

[Corbacino]

Thanks richardodn. That is very helpful. Try to find that air dam will be tough but at least now we know better what we are looking for. I have since seen other posts debating the number of air slots in the es v. is air dams for oil cooler on the is in this date range. I guess we will keep looking...

BTW clarkitect, I checked realoem but it was not helpful for the part number. I think it was showing an e air dam / spoiler lip...

Thanks