E30 Zone

i'm gonna get a new blue sensor for my 325i, and note that gsf sell these for 11.75 posted, so are these as good as the genny bmw ones at nearly 20 quid?

i put one from ecp (guessing they use the same person) in my car 4 days ago, had no problems, fiddly to get off though.

yeah, ended up breaking the parts and going to bmw and doing the job twice

What did you break?

And where do you go to get genuine BMW parts? The dealer, or is there a website?

Try a search on the blue sensor m8. I'm sure most peeps only fit OEM parts in situatuins like yours. I think some stuff is good value but if it is sensitive or difficult to fit you'll only wana do it once!!

Cloud wrote:And where do you go to get genuine BMW parts? The dealer, or is there a website?

Have a look at the zone forum index!!

Brianmoooore wrote:

Cloud wrote:And where do you go to get genuine BMW parts? The dealer, or is there a website?

Have a look at the zone forum index!!

Thanks.
I are idiot.

broke a prop coupling and prop centre bearing not to mention the 2 waterpumps that failed

Just had 2 drop links fail from GSF after a mere 1500 miles. Recently had a 330ci e46 come back with the brake wear light back up after barely 500 miles. Reason? GSF wear sensor don't fit the BMW plug properly.

I learned something.
Thanks, I'll stay away from GSF in future.

Also be careful if you have a modified car. GSF in particular like to use it as an excuse for not honouring warranty claims.

I bought a pair of rear driveshafts, and they promptly started spraying grease out of the outer CV joints. It's a manufacturing defect, where one metal part is crimped onto another. I spoke to the guys at GSF, and they knew the car was modified and said the warranty was void because I had a big engine fitted.

I can understand this if I took the shafts back because they had worn out, or broken due to the extra power, but these shafts would have leaked grease on a 316. Engine size/power is irrelevant in this case. I didn't bother wasting time arguing in the end, as it turns out it's a common problem with the shafts that GSF supply. As much as it annoyed me, there seemed little point in fighting for a pair of replacement shafts that would do exactly the same thing.

I'll certainly never buy ANYTHING from GSF again, especially from the Worthing branch

Ian.

GSF are ok for bits if you know what your buying, like the brakes i got from there (brembo discs/textar pads) but i have had problems with my local branch over a waterpump where the gut on the counter basicly lied to my face and wouldn't accept that he had supplyed the wrong one. I now make a 50 mile detour to the sheffield branch where they are much better at customer service.

depends what i need.

i buy sparkplugs from gsf, they had the ones for the m3 on the shelf, correct stock bosch parts, for about £10inc vat for the set of 4. bmw wanted £11 +vat each! for the exact same parts made in the same factory and supplied in the same box. oh, and i'd have to wait 2 days for them

I've bought brake pads and discs from them before...they were OK, the parts were OEM Pagid, ATE and Textar and cheap...certainly cheaper than a main dealer for the same thing...

Depends what it is, tbh...I doubt I'd buy their pattern parts, but if the things were OEM, then why not?

I guess you pays yer money and takes yer choice. I've been advised that GSF sell various different brands of pattern stuff and that some is as good as OE and some is utter rubbish. I guess the most important thing is having a parts guy who knows what he's on about - some BMW dealers can't be arsed with you if you don't have the part number, your car's chassis number, the supplying dealer's phone number and the first owner's inside leg, others will root round for tiny trim clips for pennies just to help you out - the same applies for GSF/ECP types.

got one down the road from my work very good also euro car parts most of there stuff is genuine but half the price for some reason use them on a daily basis

I work for GSF.

Like people say, some bits are good, like sparkplugs, brakes, you get good price and the decent name.

I wouldnt touch the random branded stuff though, I bought a blue sensor from work, it lasted 3 months. Granted it cost me about 6 quid with staff discount, but the BMW one was just over 20, and hasnt caused me a problem since.

ian332isport wrote: I'll certainly never buy ANYTHING from GSF again, especially from the Worthing branch

Ian.

It was worthing branch I got my drop links from as it happens.

I got a few bits of crap from the Worthing branch for my '36...

Namely a wear sensor for the brake pads... Never again!

Also, when you buy an oil filter from them (if you do.. I wouldn't advise it) check the idiots have put the right one in the box...

tbh... i think gsf parts are shit.. they dont fit right and they dont last as long as bmw parts. i buy all my parts from the dealer!! if i cant get it from the dealer i will buy the highest quality parts from euro car parts(proberbly made by the same people who make bmw's parts) saying that i think i will get a new radiator, as i havent put one on yet and the car's shell has done 120k and it hasnt been replaced.
i wouldnt dream of buying a head gasket set from gsf... no @ucking way.

With reference to the title of this thread, don't always assume that GSF (or Eurocarparts) are always cheaper than the dealer on all items. Certain things can be cheaper direct from your dealer, and there are plenty that are a similar price.

i work for gsf and in the past for ecp and found them both the same parts wise!
we do do good quality parts but if you buy a cheaper option thats exactly what your buying!
like brian has just said check the dealer price first ive found them cheaper on some items!
and ask gsf/ecp what quality your buying if its aftermarket/cheapy cheapy dont buy it simple

Over the years I have probably spent £1000's at Euro Car Parts / GSF. Like previously said, they are very good value for some parts, less so for others.

I am lucky to live reasonably close to Wembley head office ECP, which is open all day saturday / sunday. My local BMW dealer will not take card payments over the phone, and won't make orders without payment first which means if I have to order anything from them it takes 2 visits! They shut to early for me to get to on a weekday and at the weekend the shut at 12 on Saturday - basically it takes over a week to get parts from them. Yes I can order parts over the web from Cotswold, but sometimes just want a part ASAP.

I ve not had any problems with ECP parts (have with a few sensors / thermostat from GSF) but I have also had problems with a thermostat and a gasket (which just fell apart) from BMW. I also was very dissapointed after to paying £20 odd for timing cover gaskets for a m42 from BMW and they were not exactly a good fit..

Swings and round abouts.

You Only Get What You Pay For !!!!!

is the word to describe things for e30s

I use GSF sll the time for parts for my car and works cars never found a problem with any part I have got yet,yes you pay for but there is normally some cheap shit and something a bit dearer to choose from I never get the cheapest part.Any good trader should warrant your parts but most things are void if fitted unless they have supplied you with the wrong piart

last time i used gsf my parts where fine (portsmouth branch) only went there as snows bmw (portsmoth) dealer was so bad my mate and i both had a go at the poor guy behind the counter, the guy's at amerging village were most helpful and had most parts in stock

Ive used both GSF and ECP for years for a variety of different vehicles. Never had a problem and in some cases they have actually been genuine parts. There is tat there also but common sense shoud prevail.