Author Topic: Tow trucks suck. (Read 4188 times)

ak96ss · « **on:** April 23, 2006, 12:53:56 PM »

Well, after the events last week, I have a newfound dislike of negligent tow truck drivers.

For more details, see my post here.

Anyway, I�ve pulled the front bumper and valance off, and it looks like the lower support is tweaked. Now that the engine is running (it was the fuel pump that died) the fan is striking the shroud, although only slightly. So, the radiator was shifted slightly.

My question is: are these parts replaceable? Based on the diagrams at RealOEM (which are somewhat hard to decipher as far as how parts match up), it would seem that I either need

41131971102, Front Panel

OR

41131911155, Support Left and
41111911122 Cross Member Front

The problem, of course, is that these parts are all welded (tack-welded?) in place. I need the parts circled in red here:

Notice the lower right corner there - that is where the front valance bolts up, and where the winch hit. Almost a perfect hit - right where it could do the most damage.

Anyone ever replaced these parts, or had them replaced? Any thoughts on the expense involved? If it was a bolt-on deal, I could do this myself, but I can�t weld crap.

D. Clay · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2006, 06:29:13 PM »

Definately take the car to a body shop that is knowledgable about BMW's. My own car had the same damage from a parking curb sometime prior to my buying it. I've since learned that a lot of E30's look like this in the front. Mine had been repaired by realigning everything "somewhat" and then repairing the lower front panel with body filler and leaving off the "is" lip. When I was prepping for paint this winter I was stripping the lower front panel and all of the body filler came out with the paint and texture base. The new "is" lip didn't fit the contour and the fog light fillers and brake ducts had tabs broken off. I looked underneath and saw the same wrinkled up lower structural panels that you have. Have them straightened and a new front panel and "is" lip put on. Make sure the tabs and mounts for inset pieces aren't broken. After trying for hours to align the lip and inset panels unsuccesfully, I broke down and (finally) found a straight used panel and bought new plastic pieces. It's hard to find a good used one as most of them have been hit on curbs, driveways, etc.
Tow trucks are required to have liability and cargo insurance.
Hope it goes well for you.

ak96ss · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2006, 07:26:32 PM »

So did you replace those structural pieces, or just have them bent back in to shape?

I've already planned on buying a new front panel/valance and spoiler lip, but I fear I may not be able to mount them properly without replacing those pieces circled above. I'm going to drive it to a local body shop tomorrow and get their thoughts on it.

D. Clay · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2006, 05:56:56 PM »

I have done a little body work in the past. Just light stuff. I took several pictures of an unwrecked E30 to go by. With the straight front panel, it was easy to see where the structural pieces needed to be. The structural pieces on mine are wrinkled a little but are in proper alignment. If the tow truck's insurance pays, I would have a shop do it all. BMW dealers usually have shops they recommend. I don't know of any dealers that do their own body repair. They are mainly in the real estate business. i.e., they need to make so make money on the space a car occupies. Thay usually wholesale all trade-ins that sell for less than $10K