E9 cross reference compatibility chart

N

nobrakese28

Well-Known Member
Messages
207
Reaction score
12
Hi guys,

Is there an existing cross reference chart for E9 to E3, E23, E24, E28, ETC....?

If not, I would like to start one, with the help of everyone on this forum. As these cars get older, parts are going to get harder and harder to find.

Let me know.

Thanks,

Marco
 
Marco,

a few years ago, i started trying to do this ... just based on part numbers. there were things that seemed like they should have been the same ... like turn signal switch for pre '74 e3 + e9. numbers were different + i had no way of knowing if they would work or could be made to work. i knew they looked very similar, but i suspect what was different was the wiring connector.

i think you will find that some early e12 parts fit in some places, where late e12 don't ... same is true with e24. this is probably something that we should undertake as a group ... and document what you have to do, to make the other parts fit and look correct. as we all know, parts all of a sudden become NLA, and occasionally become available - like the toolbox.

i also think that we probably need to break this idea up into things like
- electrical
- brakes / suspension / steering
- engine / engine electrical
- interior / exterior hardware
- drivetrain (engine / tranny / driveshaft / rear end)
- heating / ac
 
Interesting. My E9 and E24 owner view is pretty simple. The compatible parts I see are:

- Hella headlights
- M30 block/head
- Steering wheel (if you have specific years and poor taste)
- Getrag 265 5-speed transmission
- The little plastic thingies without which the doors bounce whose operation I will never understand if I live 1000 years

Beyond that I can only think of the air in the tires and the gas in the tank being transferable.
 
I think excel would be the ideal platform. I would even like to nail down parts needed for 5 speed and fuel injection conversion. Lots of information on these jobs, but it's rather scattered and incomplete.
 
I paste a part number into RealOEM or Penske and let it tell me which vehicles use that part. Not very sexy and not all in one place however. Plus, there are differences in Euro and US parts which we assume to be the same and aren't, such as headlight stalks.

When it comes to motor upgrades such as a 3.5 injected upgrade don't forget that we have valued suppliers and also members here who make a living doing this. We should not expect or even ask them to divulge something that has taken them years to perfect and upon which their livelihood depends. I would not share a spreadsheet with this info for that very reason. They freely share much of their expertise currently and I wouldn't want that to change.
 
i think the trick is ... what is similar in appearance, that can be grafted to work in the e9.

the headlight stalk that Chris has mentioned is a good point ... if nothing else, between a pre '74 (NLA) and a 74+. the same would be true about the turn signal switch.

we do know that the e24 rear disks (and perhaps calipers) fit the e9. i believe that the e12 sway bars fit the e9.

lets get this thing going.
 
Alright. I will likely start this when I return from vacation this Sunday.

Chris I understand your point and I don't expect people who do this for a living to divulge their information. That's hard earned.

But I plan on doing the 5 speed with along with the 3.5FI conversion and will be happy to share anything I learn, that's the purpose of these forums.

Just because the information is out there doesn't mean everyone can do it. There is a giant skill set along with experience needed.

Thanks,

Marco
 
Last edited:
HB Chris said:
don't forget that we have valued suppliers and also members here who make a living doing this. We should not expect or even ask them to divulge something that has taken them years to perfect and upon which their livelihood depends. I would not share a spreadsheet with this info for that very reason. They freely share much of their expertise currently and I wouldn't want that to change.
Click to expand...
a huge +1. i am so thankful for the information that many of these guys share with us ... i appreciate their advice and recommendations ... and mostly their time that they give to help us. i've got a few bottles of wine already set aside for SFDon.
 
that's a good start ... we need to look thru things and verify how applicable they are to the coupe - based on first hand / trial and error experience. there are many things that are published on our site that we need to read thru and update sections. i think it would be good to get people to take on sections. volunteers?
 
Me and my big spleen volunteer for the error experience. I will try a bunch of things every day until one works!

- Tried E9 key on E24 - No work
- Tried viceversa - No work
- Tried E24 fuse on E9 - No work
- Learned that no work means viceversa no work
- Tried a durable E24 toolbox on E9 - No work
- Measured E24 sway bar for E9 use - No work
- Tried E24 blue toolbox cloth on E9 - WORK!

Break for the day.
 
nobrakese28 said:
Hi guys,

Is there an existing cross reference chart for E9 to E3, E23, E24, E28, ETC....?

If not, I would like to start one, with the help of everyone on this forum. As these cars get older, parts are going to get harder and harder to find.

Let me know.

Thanks,

Marco
Click to expand...





There are actually several parts exchange lists. The trouble is accessing them and even then there are no accuracy guarantees. This often happens when you try to acquire a superseded part or when you discover that the part you are after was never original to your car. Then there's the problem with a new replacement part that will fit, but only with "slight" modification. That list would be quite long as would be the definition of the word "slight." This underscores the value of this forum and its open exchange of information. Thanks to Dang, Mr. Jacobs and the other posters.

Back to the original subject. In the mid '80s there was a privately offered mimeographed list of exchangeable BMW parts. I vaguely recall it being targeted toward upgrades/improvements rather than equal or original replacements. I would guess that someone who was active in the E9 registry might have a long-forgotten copy somewhere. As a secondary source, there are commercially available Hollander's manuals, typically used by serious jobbers. It should also be remembered that Bosch produced a vast number of parts found on the E9. Thus, if one knows the Bosch, rather than the BMW, part number . . . that same Opel-Taunus-Mercedes-Citroen-VW part may fit under your bonnet.



83250_1_.jpg
 
Ed G said:
Arde-
How many beers did that take?
Click to expand...

Oh, here is the daily list.

- Tried the E24 seat release knob on the E9 - no work
- Tried the E9 brake pedal on the E24 - no work
- Tried the E9 window switches on the E9 - no work
- Tried the E9 elephant skins on the E24 - no work
- PETA slashed my E24 tires for harming an elephant - daily break
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top