Help me out here guys, I can't remember is the rear panel (where the tail lights mount) on a 400i supposed to be body color or matte black? Was there a change in early vs. late cars? Thanks,
It should be matte black on early cars - I think the 400i series 2 cars (the ones with the revised interior and motor) had the panel in body colour as did 412s (I know you know this!). Aidan PS Did you see the grigio/burgundy 400i 5-spd for sale in Canada on eBay? Looks nice in that colour combo. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1&viewitem=&item=200084552176
Yeah, but it was a late night last night and my memory (and most everything else) isn't quite up to speed yet today. I wonder why when I do a search on ebay that car doesn't come up. Yet when I click your link, there it is.
You know Aidan I should have never sold you that car. What I should have done was taken out the sunroof and welded in a new piece, then painted her. Headroom problem solved! Your car is a really rare bird. If the criteria is a 400i with 15" wheels, cable releases instead of solonoids, standard fuse box, and standard koni rears instead of load levelers; according to my records we're talking about less than 20 cars that qualify. I'm back in the hunt but the 19 cars that were in the US like yours just aren't out there. Thanks for the tip on the silver car. Not my color scheme, but did you notice how clean that engine is? sheesh!
My 82, in Rossa Corsa, has a body colored rear panel. However, there is that white 82 in Texas that is a LATER car than mine, with a black tail panel. I think some owners painted their tail panels!
Alternatively you could have tried surgery on your own anatomy - it would probably be cheaper and less painful.;-)
<laugh> I keep getting my legs cut out from under me but I never seem to get any shorter. Nice to talk to you today. Kiss the baby for me.
AFAIK, ALL the 400i cars had the matte black rear fascia panel, along with black bumpers. All of those were changed to body color for the 412 series. My 1983 400i (silver/black) has the 412 paint scheme, which looks better to my eyes. To me, the black bumpers and rear fascia don't look aesthetic plus the black bumpers divide the car in half visually. Just MHO John
