Great write-up. I'm glad to hear my 2nd Gen Euro spec SEC bumpers are so rare. It's also probably why I'm having such a hard time finding original AMG body kits for the car. Maybe I should start looking in the European marketplace instead.
As an alternate solution, do you think an after market knockoff (like DarkOneSK) would diminish the value of my setup? Now I'm thinking the after market parts may not be such a good idea considering the rarity of the Euro bumpers. If I'm not mistaken, the after market kit requires removal of the current bumper and using the brackets. I certainly don't want to lower the value of the car!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snibble
Many people are looking for AMG bodykits for their cars, but not many know of the different types of AMG kits that were made. I decided to post a thread to help those not familiar with the variations know more on this topic. Not all AMG kits are alike, some were made specifically for US-spec bumpers and others were made for Euro-spec ones. You also have Japan-spec, but more on that later.
Then it gets more complicated. The Euro-spec bumpers were divided into 2 Generations. The 1st Generation ones made for Euro W126's built from 1979 to 09/1985 and 2nd Generation kits made for W126's built after 09/1985. If you have a Euro-spec W126, chances are you have a 1st generation Euro as there are VERY few generation 2 Euro W126's in the US.
The US spec bumpers were the same throughout the production line. Only the side panels differed(ribbed vs. non-ribbed) between the older (1980-1985) and later (1986-1991). So the Generation 1 and Generation 2 front and rear spoilers do not differ from one another.
I must point out, I've seen pictures of MANY different W126's tuned by AMG... but have not seen a US spec Generation 1 W126 tuned by AMG. Reason being, the 1st Gen US W126's were MUCH under-powered to the Euro counterpart that customers opted to purchase one in Europe and have it shipped to the US. **At the time, the US dollar was also strong to the German DM that it allowed many cars to be purchased and imported into the US as grey-market cars. Hence you can find so many Euro-spec W126's and some of those that are AMG-kitted.**
There is also a difference between kits designed for SEC's and the sedans. However, the main difference is particularly found in the front spoiler. From what I gathered, the difference between SEC and SE/L kits are seen only in 1st Generation Euro ones. The sideskirts differ in length between a SEC and SEL's and have different KBA and AMG part numbers to differentiate the 2 types. The rear spoiler/bumper are the same between the 3 W126 variations(SEC/SE/SEL).
In Gen 2 Euro kits, the front spoiler is interchangeable between the SEC and SE/SEL. The sideskirts come in 2 parts and can be shortened to accomodate the SE/SEC. The rear spoiler is the same between the 3 variations.
Japan-specs don't differ much from the 2nd Gen Euro. However there are a couple items that seem to be more popular in Japan than in other parts of the World. The front bumper on *most* W126 AMG's were fitted with an AMG bumper than had driving lights incorporated into them. It is a one piece bumper replacement with chrome trim attached to them. Though this was also offered in Europe to customers (per the 1990 AMG dealer catalog), it was rarely chosen over the more subtle AMG front lip. Japan-spec W126 AMG's often had the 3-piece AMG ducktail spoiler as opposed to the more subtle trunk spoiler.
Another variation to the AMG bodykits were found in the "widebody" SEC's, but these are much different than the normal-bodied counterparts. All the parts were different to accomodate the much wider parts. There was also a Gen1 and Gen 2 widebody kits... however no US-spec widebody kits were ever made.
Picture time!
The above is a nomal body, 1st Generation Euro AMG. The rear spoiler only covers the bottom of the rear bumper. The sideskirts have "ears" and protrude out and the front spoiler covers the edge as well as part of the front of the bumper.
The above is also a normal body SEC, but its got the 2nd Generation Euro AMG kit. The rear spoiler covers most of the rear bumper(not just the bottom), the sideskirts are flat and don't protrude out like the older generation and the front spoiler wraps only around the edge of the bumper.
The above is a US spec SEC AMG. The bumper on US spec cars protrude out more than Euro-spec ones, so the kit has to accomodate for that. The kit is similar to that of the Euro 1st gen kit in design. The rear spoiler only covers the bottom of the rear bumper. The front spoiler also covers the edge as well as a portion of the front of the front bumper. The sideskirts came in 2 styles, one as shown above with "jack holes" and ones without... as per Axel's examples shown below...
Above is a Euro spec Gen1 AMG kit for the SE/L. Same style kit as found on the SEC but with longer sideskirts. The front spoiler also covers part of the front of the front bumper as shown below.
__________________
1990 560 SEL, 1991 560 SEC Euro, Japanese Import
Birmingham, MI
Just curious, are the rear euro bumpers from gen-1 and gen-2 the same?
No, they're very different and the spoiler/skirt for the Series 1 cars will not fit the Series 2 cars, and vice versa.
The trunk lid spoilers will fit all models; Series 1, Series 2, SE, SEC, SEL, SD, etc. (but not the widebody cars, of course ).
__________________
Regards,
Axel
1990 SEC, Arctic White w/gray interior, M119.960 326 Hp. engine from 1992 500 SL, 722.370 transmission from 500E (reinforced clutches), 2:82 Differential, Euro Headlamps, 1st Gear Start module, One-Touch Window module and Keyless Entry module all from BergWerks, Bilstein HD Shocks on front axle, H&R lowering springs front and rear, AMG 3-piece 17" rims, 8.5" in the front and 10" at the rear.
Great write-up. I'm glad to hear my 2nd Gen Euro spec SEC bumpers are so rare. It's also probably why I'm having such a hard time finding original AMG body kits for the car. Maybe I should start looking in the European marketplace instead.
As an alternate solution, do you think an after market knockoff (like DarkOneSK) would diminish the value of my setup? Now I'm thinking the after market parts may not be such a good idea considering the rarity of the Euro bumpers. If I'm not mistaken, the after market kit requires removal of the current bumper and using the brackets. I certainly don't want to lower the value of the car!
The kit that DarkOneSK has on his car is made to fit the Series 1 Euro bumpers and will not fit your Series 2 Euro bumpers.
This was a great post and thanks for the great pictures. I agree, this should be a sticky. Does anyone know the part numbers from the various kits? Is there a site that lists AMG part numbers? Thanks again for the great post!!
According to my 1986 catalog there are indeed two versions of the Gen I frontspoiler available for the euro SE/SEL:
- Nr 88005 type 1 frontspoiler
- Nr 88006 type 2 frontspoiler (necessary with 8 x 16 rims)
The thing is, the frontspoiler with number 88006 is also available for the euro SEC, according to the catalog.
Now I don't know which one is which. I thought the one of Axelwulff was Gen I, type 1. However, that would mean that the Gen I, type 2 spoiler (the one with the lips towards the fenders) should fit SE/SEL/SEC. But didn't Snibble say that this one is not exchangable between SE/SEL and SEC?
I'd love to know, as I own the same spoiler as Axelwulff does and I'd like to ship it to someone in the US who has a Gen I euro SEC.
Good to know I can safely send him my Gen I rear spoiler...
According to my 1986 catalog there are indeed two versions of the Gen I frontspoiler available for the euro SE/SEL:
- Nr 88005 type 1 frontspoiler
- Nr 88006 type 2 frontspoiler (necessary with 8 x 16 rims)
The thing is, the frontspoiler with number 88006 is also available for the euro SEC, according to the catalog.
Now I don't know which one is which. I thought the one of Axelwulff was Gen I, type 1. However, that would mean that the Gen I, type 2 spoiler (the one with the lips towards the fenders) should fit SE/SEL/SEC. But didn't Snibble say that this one is not exchangable between SE/SEL and SEC?
I'd love to know, as I own the same spoiler as Axelwulff does and I'd like to ship it to someone in the US who has a Gen I euro SEC.
Good to know I can safely send him my Gen I rear spoiler...
That is an interesting question.
I got an AMG Series 1 front spoiler for the Euro SE/SEL from Renntech. It was the version with the "ears" going up the wheel arches and I tried to see if it would fit a Series 1 SEC bumper that I had. No luck.
That particular SE/SEL spoiler will not accomodate the SEC fog lights.
I use an SE/SEL Series 1 Euro bumper on my car with the AMG front spoiler with the "ears". I modiefied it to be able to use the SEC fog lights and then I added some stainless steel mesh.
I've never had the opportunity to test fit the front spoiler without the "ears" on an SEC bumper, but I suspect there will be some issues with the fog lights.
and ones without... as per Axel's examples shown below...
Linear Mode
