Correct Grille for '66 1800

[Luis A.]

Hello to all!

Very sorry for posting in English since I don't speak German but read the forum with Google Translate.  I have learned *very much* by reading the forum and the FAQ; Thank you to all!

I recently bought a 1966 1800 in Berlin and drove it home to the USA.  See my blog here: www.1966BMW1800.wordpress.com and have a question.

Which kidney grille is correct for 1966 1800, the one with 10 slats:


or the one with 8 slats>:


Danke Schon!

[Uli Horb a.N.]

Hi Luis,

10 Slots.
The Car in the Picture may not be original in every aspect, but I met the owner on friday on a Rallye I joined. It's still the first owner (may be in his eighties now)of this ´66 1600 he has still got the Sales receipt and every other bill of his car and its 450.000 kms.

[1502er]

Hi,

i think i know your car. Is this the BMW from Stehling in the Meilenwerk in Berlin> A very nice car, really.

[Luis A.]

Thank you for your replies.

Uli, thank you for the photo.  Interesting car; a little over-worked or maybe as we say "over the top"... Are there more photos of that car somewhere online>

Yes, this is the Gebr. Stehling car that was in the Meilenwerk in Berlin.  If you go to my blog all the way to the beginning, you will the photos there when we picked it up.

By the way, feel free to post in German since i can read it with Google Translate..

[1502er]

Here a photo of one of my projects for the future. It is a ´66 1600 BMW in wretched condition, but you can see the 10 bar kidney. Thanks god, i found a few weeks ago a good kidney at ebay for a really good price.

[Dirk02]

Hi Luis - the correct number of slots in the center grill on your '66 1800 is indeed 10. The 8 slots grille is from the later model 1800 (the 2000 body).
Best regards,
Dirk

[Cab167]

[Edited: some corrections - sorry, Wolfgang]

Hi Luis,

10 slots are right - but not this one:

»

I think its  from
1972 E3


or 1969 E9


Here is the 1967 1800:


1970 1800-2000:

1968 1800-2000-tilux



» or the one with 8 slats>:
this is BMW 02:
»


1970 1600


Pictures taken from original BMW brochures.

Sincerely yours
Achim

[Olli1800]

Hello Luis!

We discussed your car in an earlier thread:
Jetzt noch 2 tolle 4-Türer.

I guess, this is your car at Meilenwerk Berlin in October 2009:


As already pointed out by Dirk and Achim the car has the wrong kidney.
I was wondering why they picked the wrong kidney for the otherwise very nice restoration.

Have a great day in Miller-Town!
Olli

[Dirk02]

Hi Luis - as a follow-up;

Did you verify if the front panel has been modified to fit the un-correct kidney > Below is a picture of Don Dethlefsen's '65 1800TiSA when it was being restored (source: www.thewerkshop.net). Perhaps you can compare the kidney opening in Don's panel to yours.

If the openings are the same then it is just a matter of getting the correct kidney. The BMW Classic parts catalogue lists the center grille (51-13-5-780-112 from 02/62 to 12/68) as being available for $206.02. However, if you plan on ordering, I suggest you make sure you are getting indeed the correct one.

Again, congratulations with your beautiful car and good luck.

Dirk

[Luis A.]

Thank you Olli, I had not seen that thread.  I already replaced the incorrect Türknöpfe for the correct ones (easy to find).  I am searching for a correct 10-slat grille (not so easy to find) so if someone knows of one, please let me know!

[Luis A.]

Dirk,  thanks for pointing that out.  I will take off my niere grille and see what the opening is like and post a photo here.