Grill and Kidney history?

[rdeeble]

Can anyone provide a quick run down on grill and kidney history over the years? What years were all chrome vs black slats, shallow vs deep, size changes in light bucket etc .... -rd

[Brandon]

Can anyone provide a quick run down on grill and kidney history over the years? What years were all chrome vs black slats, shallow vs deep, size changes in light bucket etc .... -rd

'67-'71 1600 had all chrome metal grilles

'68-'73 2002 had metal grilles with black slats with two slats on each side chrome

Late '72 and all '73 had the shallow headlight dishes...previous to late '72 the dishes were deep.

'74-'76 had all black plastic grilles. This year also had a different design for the kidney grille.

'67-'73 grilles will not interchange with '74-'76 grilles...the nose sheet metal is slightly different.

[josh72ooh2]

Did BMW only make the '67-'73 chrome grilles or was there ever an aftermarket supplier?

[jimk]

Did BMW only make the '67-'73 chrome grilles or was there ever an aftermarket supplier?

Black slat covers. If you want chrome, use a hot air gun and lift them off. They are slightly crimped on the ends with a pinch dot. Look closely.

[josh72ooh2]

No.. that isn't what i am asking...

i am referring to the NON plastic grills. Did somebody, other than BMW ever make them? or were they a BMW only product?

Yes, The black slats can be removed, added...

but beneath those slats, is a aluminum/chrome base.

[rdeeble]

'67-'71 1600 had all chrome metal grilles

'68-'73 2002 had metal grilles with black slats with two slats on each side chrome

Late '72 and all '73 had the shallow headlight dishes...previous to late '72 the dishes were deep.

'74-'76 had all black plastic grilles. This year also had a different design for the kidney grille.

'67-'73 grilles will not interchange with '74-'76 grilles...the nose sheet metal is slightly different.

So then are all the kidneys the same except for 74-76?

[rdeeble]

'67-'71 1600 had all chrome metal grilles

'68-'73 2002 had metal grilles with black slats with two slats on each side chrome

Late '72 and all '73 had the shallow headlight dishes...previous to late '72 the dishes were deep.

'74-'76 had all black plastic grilles. This year also had a different design for the kidney grille.

'67-'73 grilles will not interchange with '74-'76 grilles...the nose sheet metal is slightly different.

So then all kidneys were the same except for '74-'76?

[Arshloch]

68 and 69 2002s had the same silver grilles painted as 1600, but they were painted black and had no appliques. Like on my car. Even my cluster is showing a little bit of 1600 silver color under the black spray.

[EricB]

I believe there are also deep dish and shallow dish headlight mounting assemblies so that the headlight faces match o=up with the grill. I have had a hard time finding the right light buckets to fit my grill since the replacment is deeper than the original grill from the car.

[bmw_jeff]

[quote="Brandon"

'67-'71 1600 had all chrome metal grilles

Slight correction here...1967 grilles were unique to 67 in that they have 10 vertical slats vs. 8 on all other years. They shared their kidney with the NK sedans of 64-66.

[rdeeble]

damn! that is one sexy grill and kidney...

[bmw_jeff]

damn! that is one sexy grill and kidney...

Yeah I don't know why they went to the 8 slat version, the 10 slat is much nicer.

[codigoRojo]

I agree that the 10-slat looks much cooler and really want to put one back on my 67 1600-2. A previous owner replaced the original with an 8-slat, which is decent but not perfect. I posted in parts wanted but don't think that gets as many views as general discussion.

I looked at Maximillian and they show only one center grille for all cars 1966-73, presumably the 8-slat version. They also show the NK sedan center grille part number 51135780112 for all cars 1962-68. Can anyone tell me if this is the correct part for a 67 1600-2? I'd rather not spend $267, but I'm sure it would be beautiful. Also if anyone has a nice 10-slat center grille they'd part with... Muchas gracias.

-Rojo

[c.d.iesel]

black early Ti kidney's

kidney's mit muff

[BillWilliams]

Jeff's whole car is sexy!