are rocker panels swappable?

[Romak]

I'm looking to buy a 95 318ti on craigslist but the guy slid it into a pole. I went and looked at the car and the rocker panel is quite buggered up along with the door. I know doors are ti specific but are the rocker panels? could i just find and e36 and cut a a piece from the rocker panel and weld it in or are they different as well? Here's the link to the car the picture of the damage, its hard to see but its better than nothing.

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/2161750645.html

thanks

[Ji Money]

I think the rocker panels AKA side skirts are compatible with any E36 sedan's. The rear bumper is ti specific.

I found the info from this thread but I'm not the best person to go to for info though.

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=28622&highlight=side+skirts

[Romak]

Sorry it wasn't as clear as i thought. I'm not talking about side skirts but the body structure itself. I guess you could call it the frame/ bottom section that butts up against the door, that the door sill is mounted on. Maybe this is more clear:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CG53&mospid=47505&btnr=41_0856&hg=41&fg=20

Number 3 but i just need the section along the bottom of the door not the full piece so is it the same on all e36's? can i take a piece from any e36 car or did the ti have a specific length or curve to it?

Hopefully that clears up my question

[cooljess76]

The plastic sideskirts are interchangeable with e36 coupes, sedans, verts and compacts.

However, the metal panel that the sideskirts snap onto(rocker panel) is ti specific:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partxref.do?part=41218191126&showus=on

FYI, you can cross-reference part numbers on realoem as well. Just copy the part number in question, back out of the diagram page, towards the top of the page click on the "search part number" button, the click on the search vehicle by part number link.

[Ji Money]

Sorry it wasn't as clear as i thought. I'm not talking about side skirts but the body structure itself. I guess you could call it the frame/ bottom section that butts up against the door, that the door sill is mounted on. Maybe this is more clear:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CG53&mospid=47505&btnr=41_0856&hg=41&fg=20

Number 3 but i just need the section along the bottom of the door not the full piece so is it the same on all e36's? can i take a piece from any e36 car or did the ti have a specific length or curve to it?

Hopefully that clears up my question

No I'm sure you were perfectly clear. It's me who isn't so good with the car skills. Looks like cooljess76 got that answer covered though.

[Romak]

Thanks for the reply. I assumed they were ti specific like many parts on these cars. Other than the fact that it has damage that would need to be fixed, is it a good find? seems low for a ti compared to some of the other prices i've seen. I know most on the forum will be biased and say get it but what possible issues could i be looking at with the car having 225,000 kms (140,000m)? Is rust common on these cars in wetter climates?

Thanks

[Ji Money]

Rust would be normal on cars that see winter use with all that salt on the road. If the damage isn't bad and if you could do the repair, then I would say that's a good buy. It's got a nice color and even 5-speeds seem rare now a days.

[cooljess76]

If those are real BBS LM's and not replicas, then those alone are worth the asking price. get yourself a new door and a rocker panel and you got yourself a nice little car.

[Romak]

haha i figured if those rims were real they would be worth some money. They might be i don't know for sure but thanks. I'm gonna call a wrecker in california tomorrow to see if i can get a rocker panel and door shipped. I might possibly buy this car. Btw how can i tell if the rims are real? any for sure signs or are replicas pretty bang on these days?

[Ji Money]

That's a tough question I don't know. Maybe they got some serial numbers on the side or something. Hopefully some one else has knowledge on BBS rims.

[cooljess76]

They'll be stamped if they're real.

[Romak]

stamped how? bbs logo or serial number? outer lip or inner where i would have to get behind and look?

Looked at the car again today body damage seems more extensive than first thought. The front bumper is also creased right in the middle. Anyone know a cheap source for front bumpers? I guess it would be the time to upgrade to m-tech bumper if i need a new one anyways. After close inspection of the skirt on the bottom of the rocker, it seems to be a painted piece of sheet metal? i thought these skirts were moulded plastic? any insight on this? seems very odd maybe its been changed?

thanks

[Ji Money]

Painted sheet metal? Hmmm, I thought it was plastic material too. You could find used bumpers around this forum for sale. M-Tech sells fast though.

[dave45056]

By the way, I think you could cut a piece out of another e36 and weld it in place if you just need to replace a 1 foot section or something. Yes the entire part is ti specific, but the cross section of the metal at the sill is the same.

[Romak]

Looks plastic but feels like sheet metal maybe just my inexperience with body panels like this is throwing me off here some pics of the damaged rocker and skirt

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/8130/20110117170742.jpg (http://img808.imageshack.us/i/20110117170742.jpg/)
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3059/20110117170612.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/20110117170612.jpg/)
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8426/20110117171855.jpg (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/20110117171855.jpg/)
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/181/20110117170543.jpg (http://img408.imageshack.us/i/20110117170543.jpg/)

[cooljess76]

It is sheet metal. In '95, only clubsports came with plastic sideskirts. '96-on, only certain models including sports came with them. The plastic sideskirts mount over the sheet metal rockers. You may be able to cut the bottom section off of another e36 and weld it onto the ti, it's the door jambs/sills that are different. If it doesn't come out perfect, you can always buy a set of sideskirts(they come with a template to drill mounting holes in the rocker panel) and they'll cover up any imperfections. DDMtuning.com sells cheap bumpers and sideskirts. However, if I'm not mistaken, the sideskirts they sell are about 1/2" longer than OEM and fitment is a little off.

[Romak]

Thats what i thought they didn't seem to be plastic. I know a guy that can do the work and i have a source for parts it just depends on the amount of labor he has to put into it and what he's gonna charge. If it's reasonable i'll buy it otherwise i might have to pass. Im hopeful that he gives me a decent price this ti looks like a nice car! Also i need more than just a small section of rocker otherwise i would find any donor e36 and scoop a piece.