Euro Bumper conversion

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:38 am

I am running into difficulties with my Euro bumper conversion on my 76.
I searched previous posts but did not find the answers I was looking for.
The rears are easy. It's the fronts I am having trouble with.
At first, I thought the Euro brackets went IN the frame rail. The hole is not deep enough. Then I read on this board somewhere that the brackets bolt up on the outside of the frame rail. Well, I am not sure if "outside" means outboard or inboard. (REALOEM is not clear.) Besides, the nose panel is in the way. Do I cut the nose out to make room for the bracket to slide in? Which side?
I thought I would ask before I started hacking away. I don't mind cutting but there is no point in cutting parts that I don't need to.

GripGreg · Post by **GripGreg** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:37 am

Well; you might need a friend to lay on their back & hold the bumper in place so you can see what you like & then mark just where it is.
When my mechanic did just that, on his hoist, it became clear & easy where I wanted my rr bumper, after the idiot ran into the back of my Euro 6.
If it wasn't for a small dent at my right rear body by the bumper, you couldn't tell at all.
Good luck,,,,Greg

pappentl · Post by **pappentl** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 5:24 am

The brackets bolt up on the outside (outboard side) of the frame rails. You'll see some indentations on the US spec rails where the captured nuts would be on the euro spec rails. You can weld a rod to some nuts and slide these down the frame rails to replace the captured nuts.

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:24 am

Thank you Tom for your reply. It's exactly what I was asking about.
I will trim the nose a bit around the frame rail and slide the bracket on the outside of that said rail and see how it all goes.
Cheers and happy holidays.

pappentl · Post by **pappentl** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:15 pm

If you're not in a hurry after the holidays I can send the picture of the euro rail that I cut off a parts car a few years ago.

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:28 pm

That would be great Tom. Thanks.
My email address is bimmerfan02@hotmail.com
Happy Holidays.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:20 pm

You don't need to cut anything on the car.

Make some plates to slide into the frame rail:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BaRF ... G_1216.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

Once you have marked your frame rails for the Euro brackets, drill them:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-btNa ... G_1249.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

I used some string to get the brackets into the rail and used a center set screw to keep it in place while I installed the bumper bracket. I later removed this center screw:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aA-e ... G_1251.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tenJ ... G_1258.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

Here is a shot of the euro bracket installed, before I repainted it:)

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2 ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FrVe ... G_1261.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

Here is what it looks like at the front of the rail:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nPe0 ... G_1291.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

In my case, by body man had cut off some brackets from the euro bumper bracket, so I made these:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nUpR ... G_1292.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_ ... site"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ltoN ... G_1303.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

I did not weld them on until I had the brackets adjusted to where I wanted them:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c ... site"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LDpe ... G_1312.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

It all turned out great:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/z ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9oKN ... C_0070.JPG" height="266" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

hffvdbl · Post by **hffvdbl** » Mon Nov 30, 2015 10:56 pm

This was very helpful, thanks