BMW E36 Bumper Trim, Side Moldings & Door Cards: M3 and 3 Series Parts Guide

E36 trim is easy to order wrong, because many parts fit only one bumper or body style. BMW built the E36 3 Series from 1990 to 2000 as a sedan, coupe, convertible, Touring and Compact, and the M3 and M Technic cars used a different front bumper from the standard car.

This guide goes through the parts we list in our BMW E36 collection, starting with the exterior trim. For each one it says which car the listing names and what to check before you order.

First, Check Which E36 Front Bumper You Have

Look at the openings in the lower half of the bumper.

Standard bumper. Typically, one wide lower grille runs across the middle of the bumper.

M3 or M Technic style bumper. A large center opening sits between two smaller side openings, with a black trim strip running along the bumper above them.

A standard car may have been fitted with an M-style bumper later, so go by what is on the car, not by the model name on the trunk. If you can't tell, send us a photo of the front of the car before you order.

E36 M3 Front Bumper Trim

E36 M3 bumper trim strips scuff, fade and lose their clips, and they are the most visible trim on the front of the car. Both sets below are for the M3 or M Technic style bumper, with OEM references 51112265637 and 51112233779. The listings say they do not fit the standard front bumper.

Left and right only. The 2-piece front bumper trim set covers the two outer strips.

Full set. The 4-piece front bumper trim set adds the center pieces, so all the strips across the bumper match.

Center trim and tow hook cover. The center trim with license plate holder (OEM 51112265632) and the M Technic tow hook cover (OEM 51112265639) are sold individually. The cover's listing excludes cars with the M Aerodynamics Package, so ask us if your car has that package.

E36 M3 Rear Bumper Trim

The 3-piece rear bumper trim set includes the rear left, center and right strips, with OEM references 51128146093, 51128135488 and 51128135487. The listing names the M3 bumper, but parts sellers catalog these numbers for other E36 models too. Finishes vary, so replacing all three keeps the strips matched. Compare the photos with your car or ask us first.

E36 and M3 Bumper Grilles, Lips and Diffusers

This is where the bumper check matters most, because lower grilles for the M-style bumper don't fit the standard one.

M3 and M Technic bumpers. The slat-type center grille (OEM 51112233870) fills the large middle opening. Most M3s came with a mesh center grille, and this slatted type is the one used on Luxury Package cars. The metal side grille set covers the two smaller openings, one each side, and the 3-piece M Technic grille set comes with a center grille and both side grilles.

Standard bumper. The front bumper lower grille (OEM 51118165150) says in its listing that it does not fit M bumpers. The number can change with engine and build date, so send us your model and year if you want it checked. The matching standard tow hook cover has OEM reference 51118146078.

Splitters and lips. The left and right splitter flaps are ABS and fit under the M3 bumper. The one-piece front lip is listed for the E36 3 Series and the listing calls it both unpainted and piano black, so check the photos or ask us about the finish.

GTR-style diffusers. These are styling parts, not factory ones. We list a front diffuser, a metal rear diffuser and a front and rear set for the sedan, coupe and convertible. Ask us if you are not sure they suit your bumper.

Kidney grilles. We also list ABS kidney grilles for the E36, in diamond chrome and diamond chrome with a piano black frame, without emblems.

E36 M3-Style Side Moldings and Side Skirts

E36 M3 side moldings, also called side trim or door trim, are sold by body style because the doors differ. Pick the set for your car:

Sedan. Use the 4-door side molding set (1992 to 1998).

Convertible. Use the convertible side molding set (1992 to 1998).

Compact. The Compact molding set names the 318ti and 323ti, 1993 to 2000. Its listing says it does not fit the coupe, sedan or convertible.

All three are clip-on matte black plastic, M3 style. The photos show six strips and clips, plus M3 badges: fitted on two strips in the sedan photo, loose in the convertible and Compact photos. We don't currently list a set for the coupe, so coupe owners should ask us first.

Side skirts. The M3-style side skirts (OEM reference 82119403141) are a left and right pair in plastic, listed for the coupe and sedan, with four jack cover screws in the package.

E36 Door Cards and Door Panel Repair Brackets

A common E36 complaint is a door card whose upper section has come away from the door. If the panel itself is sound, a bracket and adhesive can be enough, and replacing the whole panel is the fallback.

Repair brackets. These are aluminum and sold by body style: the coupe and convertible pair and the sedan set of four. The listing's advice is to fit the bracket to the door first, apply adhesive to the prepared panel, press the panel onto the bracket, then hold it with masking tape while the adhesive dries.

New door panels. For a sedan with panels past saving, the 4-piece door panel set (1990 to 1998) replaces all four. The listing doesn't name a color and the photos show dark gray, so ask us before ordering if you need to match your interior. We don't currently list new panels for the coupe or convertible, so on those cars the repair brackets are the option.

Door check straps. If a door no longer holds open, see the coupe and convertible check strap or the sedan rear door check strap, each sold individually. The coupe and convertible listing's placement line says rear, so confirm it with us for your door.

E36 Door Seals, Trunk Seals and Sunroof Parts

The door seals below fit the body side of the door opening, not the door itself. Their listings say so. Check this against your car first.

Sedan. Choose by how much you are replacing: the 4-piece door seal set, the 5-piece door and trunk seal set that adds the trunk seal, or the 6-piece door, trunk and sunroof seal set that also adds the sunroof seal. The sedan's rear window seal is a separate listing.

Coupe. The 2-piece door seal set fits the body side of the two door openings, and the coupe trunk seal is sold on its own.

Sunroof. The E36 sunroof sliding seal has OEM reference 54128165954 and its title names the coupe. A second listing with the same number names the 3 Series generally, so ask us which suits your car. The sunroof repair kit has 17 pieces: two slider brackets, 12 slider clips, the motor gear and two lifting brackets.

BMW E36 Seats and Interior: Vader Foam, M Rain Fabric, Visors and Trim

Vader seat foam. The M3 Vader seat foam set is for both front seats: two bottoms, two backs, two thigh supports and two headrest foams, plus two headrest plastic inserts. It is listed for the E36 M3 coupe from 1992 to 1999 and the M3 sedan from 1994 to 1998.

Seat fabric. For the M Rain pattern, start with the embossed M Rain fabric. There is also a silver M Tech fabric listing that names the E36 M3 coupe. The silver fabric is sold by the meter, already laminated to foam. The listing says 1 meter covers the center panels of two seats and 2 meters a full interior. New fabric may not match a worn seat, so ask us before repairing only one.

Seat belts. Faded belts can be re-webbed with the seat belt fabric, in M Stripe or BMW Motorsport. The listing is for 17 meters, enough for two front and three rear belts. A seat belt is safety equipment, and rules on re-webbing vary by country, so have a specialist do the work and check the retractor and any pretensioner.

Visors and trim. The black leatherette visor pair with mirrors is for the sedan, and its listing says the mounting clips are not included. The A-pillar trim pair is textured black plastic. The double cup holder fits the center of the interior, and the Clubsport sill plates are a pair for the M3 coupe and convertible from 1995 to 1999.

Dash mat. The molded carpet E36 dash mat helps keep sun off the dash. Its listing notes that the photo is a sample image.

E36 Fender Liners, Hood Insulation and Decals

The E36 front fender liner set covers both sides, the hood insulation pad has OEM reference 51488135546, and the Hella-type license plate reflector panel comes in several colors for the sedan only. There is also an E36 decal set.

BMW E36 Parts FAQ

Does E36 M3 bumper trim fit a standard E36 bumper?

No. The front bumper trim listings say they are not suitable for the E36 with the standard front bumper. Check the openings on your bumper first, as described at the top of this guide.

Which E36 side moldings fit a coupe?

We list side molding sets for the sedan, convertible and Compact, and not for the coupe at the moment. Send us your car's details and we'll tell you whether we can help.

How do I fix an E36 door card that has come away at the top?

Our aluminum repair brackets are made for this repair and are used with adhesive, which the listings don't include. If the panel itself is warped or broken, replace the panel instead.

Do your E36 door seals fit on the door or on the body?

On the body side of the door opening. The coupe and sedan listings both state that they don't go on the door itself.

What are E36 Vader seats?

"Vader" is the enthusiast name for the heavily bolstered sport seats fitted to many, but not all, E36 M3s. Our foam set rebuilds the padding on both front seats, so check that your seats are the Vader type first. It doesn't include the seat covers.

Browse BMW E36 Parts

Everything in this guide is in our BMW E36 collection, and other older models are in our classic BMW parts collection. If you also own an older BMW, our BMW E30 interior and trim guide covers the previous 3 Series the same way. Not sure which part fits? Contact us with your model, body style, year and a photo of the bumper, and we'll confirm before you order.