Model Year Differences

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These changes are for US cars. I don't know how different things were in Europe. Ellipsoid headlights:
Picture of ellipsoid headlights

Sealed Beam headlights:
Picture of sealed beam headlights

Airbag: Standard equipment partially through the 1990 model year (1/1/90 production date)
Colored bumpers/newer front valance/fog lights: starting 10/90 build date. This was part of a significant change that impacted the front structure and rear structure of the body.
Taillight change: The ETK shows a tail light change in 10/90 for Convertibles.
Headlights : 1988 & 1989 had Ellipsoid headlights. Others had Sealed beam.
Power Top : This change may have been linked to the facelift.
Gas trunk lid shocks: ETK shows a change in 4/89. Before 4/89 there was a single gas shock to hold open the trunk lid. 4/89 and later had dual gas shocks to hold open the trunk lid.
Cooling System: ETK shows a change in production date of 09/87. Pre 9/87 Cooling systems had the potential to allow the power steering pulley to cut through the lower radiator hose if the motor mounts/rubber stopper fail. Main differences: Radiator, hoses, oil cooler, expansion tank...
Fuel tank changed in 09/87. Went from 55 Liters (14.5 gallons) to 63 Liters (16.6 gallons).
Seat Belts: 10/91 changed to include a belt tensioner. (TIS document #72 03 91 (3352)). After sensing impact, seat belt tensioner spring retracts seat belt receptacle by ~55mm.
Motronic: Early production had Motronic control unit "0 261 200 153", which had problems. It can be replaced with 173, 380, 524 or 525, provided the variant code (4 figit hex code on sticker) is the same (per Jim Conforti message on Internet Newsgroup)
3rd Brake Light: ETK shows a change in 06/88. The newer style has a lower profile.
AC: Changed from R12 to R134A. Based on notes in ETK, happened in 3/92. Based on documents in TIS, happened in 9/92. There should be a sticker under the hood telling which is in the car.
Automatic transmission: Changed in 07/88. Currently looking for details of the change.
5 speed manual transmission: Changed in 06/88. Currently looking for details of the change.
Rear windows: Zip-in rear window starting in 09/91.