Chromed trim plate

[bert35csi]

Just picked up a real nice chromed brass trim plate that sits behind the rear licence plate off a 2800 CS. Compared to the bare aluminum trim piece that came on the later coupes, the chromed unit looks much better in appearance and weighs substantially more. When exactly did BMW changed over to the cheaper looking aluminum trim piece, was it with the introduction of the 3.0 CS? There is no part # differentiation between the chromed and aluminum pieces in the CS parts catalog.

Bert
72 3.5 CSi
88 M6

 

[pmansson]

Late 72 or very early 73 or thereabouts.
I have the proper brass/chrome part on all my cars and it makes a noticeable difference. That´s how BMW designers/engineers intended it to be. The crap alu replacement was a strange change in my mind.
Similar story to the C-pillar emblem surrounds, but in that case the chromed ones were made of a peculiar zinc alloy with didn´t support the weater and chemical elements very well. Practially impossible to rechromw without a silversmith filling in the pits with some filling which will take the copper and chrome baths.

 

[Bill Riblett]

I have 2 '72s: 2240288 and 2240298, and they both have aluminum panels. The 2000CSs all had chromed brass tail panels and also on the door lockpost trim.