Were Fog light mount holes in the front bumper original?

[Markos]

@Markos - the front bumper center part section was/is definately available both WITH and
WITHOUT the holes in the lower part. The only correct OEM part WITH the holes is one with
the holes in the correct (!) location. The center parts shown in the two eBay ads are OEM correct.
The odd thing however is that there only seems to be ONE part number for both
51 11 1 811 256 to supersede 51 11 1 810 516. (However, EPC errors are many, so NOT
so strange after all ??)

Hmm, I’ve never seen them without but I certainly trust that they exist. My measurement was for the driving light diameter and distance, not the fog holes.

As far as the rears go, BMW must have used externally mounted rear fogs early on.

This BMW ad that I posted shows an early 2800CS with a rear fog minted in the factory rear bumper holes.

 

[bert35csi]

I have a NOS center section with the top 2 holes (year ???). The backside still has the virgin factory beige coating that is unmolested.

 

[HB Chris]

I have to agree that holes on the underside are always present, topside is not original however.

 

[Keshav]

I have to agree that holes on the underside are always present, topside is not original however.

I think the original rectangular fog/ driver lights were mounted underneath the bumper and not above....

 

[m5toureg]

I think the original rectangular fog/ driver lights were mounted underneath the bumper and not above....

-
Jawohl ! Agree !

 

[JFENG]

The lower holes are perfect for a license bracket that positions the plate low and behind the nose of the bumper

 

[Markos]

I have to agree that holes on the underside are always present, topside is not original however.

I wonder if dealers were provided a template? The headlight wipers included a template to cut the grill .

 

[Strato102]

My Italian delivery CSI has the holes, green switch, etc. For sure the lights were a dealer accessory, sent by BMW to dealers. Porsches of that era could be ordered with lights from the factory either under the bumper mounted under removable plates or above the bumper through the horn grills. These lights were on the build sheets. Videos of the Porsche assembly line would show some coming through with the lights mounted. You see the workers testing them at about 2:30. Speaking for myself, I have never seen such a photo in regards to BMWs

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[Gary Knox]

I have dug deeply in to the recesses of my memory, and I'm quite sure the '73 e9 I bought from the original owner in Boston in the summer of 1975 DID NOT have holes in the center bumper section. I sold the car in 1980, so it's been a LONG time since I looked at it! I have an immense dislike for unused holes, and I'm sure I would have gotten chrome insert buttons to fill them in the '73 had they been there - and have no recollecton of doing that.

On the other hand, the restored and Europeanized bumper '74 e9 I bought in 2015 DID HAVE the holes on top of the center secton,, but it also had driving lights installed in them. My vision processing unit didn't care for that look, so I removed the lights and installed the chrome buttons to fill the holes.

 

[Lotuss7]

I had this question when I first purchased my car. Investigating I found the bumper brackets were drilled as well. These definitely look as if they are factory holes. Paint, symmetrical location and squareness as if done on a drill press.

Bumper itself?? Mine is drilled and precisely symmetrical. But done at the factory?? Can’t say for sure but I do see evidence of chrome inside the holes.

 

[Lotuss7]

The car had Hella driving lights mounted.

 

[bluecoupe30!]

My Coupe has the holes in the bumper. When I first got this car in the 80's (a Vancouver delivery originally) there were 2 chrome plugs in place. I later found a set of Cibie Oscar Plus driving lights in Norway, and they fit right in! Distance between openings, 52 cm.

 

[Markos]

A few factory photos..

 

[Mot27cars]

A few factory photos..

View attachment 110429View attachment 110430View attachment 110431

And they are rectangle lights vs round!...?

 

[HB Chris]

BMW only listed rectangular lights but a dealer could add whatever the buyer wanted I assume.

 

[HB Chris]

Hmm, I’ve never seen them without but I certainly trust that they exist. My measurement was for the driving light diameter and distance, not the fog holes.

As far as the rears go, BMW must have used externally mounted rear fogs early on.

This BMW ad that I posted shows an early 2800CS with a rear fog minted in the factory rear bumper holes.

I’ve never seen holes in rear bumper inside of the rear guards. There are holes in mine in the center and also outboard of the guards, and you can’t hang a rear fog there as it will interfere with exhaust tip. Rafter pic below!

 

[Pinstripe inc.]

BMW only listed rectangular lights but a dealer could add whatever the buyer wanted I assume.

Mine were installed by the dealer as a demo. While rarely used, to me, they are an embodiment of European design. The Cibie thin design were the best.

 

[Markos]

I’ve never seen holes in rear bumper inside of the rear guards. There are holes in mine in the center and also outboard of the guards, and you can’t hang a rear fog there as it will interfere with exhaust tip.

Here are the factory pic of a 2800 CS with a rear fog. I don’t have a rear bumper anymore but my recollection of the hole placement matches yours. I would imagine that especially for the rear fog, they drilled a hole.

 

[Stan]

I have a feeling that there was a great deal of variety. Holes in different locations, above and below, inboard and outboard of the dagmars, and no holes.
On my coupe there were holes, inboard and below.