E30 Zone

Just rang the local dealership to get a price on an AFM (£175 from GSF). £451 inc VAT!!!!!! I just couldn't believe it.

Is it normal for them to charge that much over the real price? Seems ridiculous

ring motormec.co.uk and see what they quote; any stuff they've sold me is bagged BMW O/E

The likes of GSF/Eurocarparts 'cherry pick' and only supply the most popular parts, whereas BMW can supply nearly every tiny part of an E30, most of which they will never sell.
Don't assume GSF/Eurocarparts are always going to be cheaper than the dealer though, or that their parts are going to be up to BMW's full quality standards.

For that price might as well fit the MAF kit from Millers Performance.

or buy a banger of choice from autotrader!! You could even drive it home

the everyday servicing stuff is relatively cheap, not much more than gsf etc, but unusual stuff is painfully expensive..

fuel tank over £400 from bmw, about £80-90 from gsf iirc?

the filler neck too is stupidly expensive.

Remember it's not alwys the same quality though. I bought a clutch master cylinder from ECP and it failed within a few days then the replacement failed straight away as well. Refunded and paid the extra for a BMW one.

Kedge wrote:Remember it's not alwys the same quality though. I bought a clutch master cylinder from ECP and it failed within a few days then the replacement failed straight away as well. Refunded and paid the extra for a BMW one.

I agree, oil, brakes, "branded" shocks and other sundries are usually OK. But if it's rubber or important you're best off going to the stealers.

Firefly2005 wrote:Just rang the local dealership to get a price on an AFM (£175 from GSF). £451 inc VAT!!!!!! I just couldn't believe it.

Is it normal for them to charge that much over the real price? Seems ridiculous

BMW price is the "real" price. GSF part is probably either a lesser quailty pattern part or a recon unit - unless it comes in BMW packaging (in which case, GSF have been buying-up redundant stock from dealerships).

Some BMW parts are recon as well though i think, like the water pump on the 318iS, they ask for an exchange. Although it's not compulsory, just saves you some money.

Is a new one definitely a better option than a recon? I mean a recon will have been tested won't it? It seems silly to pay more that what I bought my car for just to make it run more smoothly!

Is there anyway of going a level above the dealers? I tried to find a direct contact number for BMW's massive parts warehouse in Bracknell - stores all the parts imported into the UK from Germany, and then distributes them to the regional stores, which then distribute to dealers - but couldn't get hold of a number. I'd imagine it's all a closed system where you have to buy in bulk. Was also wondering if you could buy from Bosch direct without having to go through BMW - do they still make parts or all the parts we buy now just part of an ever-diminishing stock left over from the 80s?

essbee wrote:BMW won't deal direct with you. The Bosch one will probably be a similar price to the BMW one, Bosch make them for BMW after all.
The ECP or GSF ones ought to be OK - and you do get a 12 month warranty - my local ECP were good as gold when I took back a part under warranty (and TBH, I was doubtful that the part was actually faulty when I bought it. I rather think that the animal who fitted it for me damaged it!). No questions asked.
I'd have no problem with fitting the ECP/GSF part. I was just trying to explain why there is a vast difference in the prices you've been quoted.

Thanks a lot, that does make a lot of sense and I didn't know about the 1 year warranty - that's useful to know...

Very expensive.

I'm sure someone told me an OBC was something stupid like £800

maxfield wrote:Very expensive.

I'm sure someone told me an OBC was something stupid like £800

But thats hardly a service part.

march109 wrote:

maxfield wrote:Very expensive.

I'm sure someone told me an OBC was something stupid like £800

But thats hardly a service part.

Still expensive for what it is

My advice would be buy from gsf/ecp if they're eom parts... Some of the parts ecp end gsf parts are oem parts - ie the ones supplied to bmw stealers. eg head gaskets by reinz and elring. gsf/ecp will tell you who makes the parts you're after. A quick bit of googling will tell you if the manufacturers make oem parts.

There's no real reason to buy anything like this new.
BMW parts are of such a quality that it's unlikely that if you bought, say, two of any of these things from a scrapyard, then it's very unlikely that both of them would be faulty.
As a general rule, the only new spares you need for an E30 contain rubber.

Brianmoooore wrote:There's no real reason to buy anything like this new.

As a general rule, the only new spares you need for an E30 contain rubber.

and things that contain rubber also seem to be things that need to be proper bmw parts too in my humble opinion... buy cheap, buy twice! (or thrice in some cases!)

Remember all BMW parts (no matter how small ie. bulbs atec) have got a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty!
A lot of people claim to sell oem parts but BMW have got contracts in place with these manudfacturers to prevent them from selling to the aftermarket. although new block exemption laws will soon stop this!

bosch sparkplugs for an e30 m3 -

8squid somthing + vat each from bmw
2.75 inc vat each (off the shelf) at GSF

ok, so moneywise it's not the end of the world, but markup wise it's just stupid

I think parts bought from BMW only come with the 2 year warranty if they are fitted by an approved BMW workshop.

I rang 2 different dealerships close to me, enquiring about the same part...1 place was £41 and the other was £48?? that's just 2 dealerships, not that far from each other either...

Pal

M60 full gasket, seal and O-ring set from BMW + head gaskets = £550
Reinz set from ECP + head gaskets + head bolts = £260 odd

M60 is an expensive engine but that price differential is ridiculous.

Pal318is wrote:I rang 2 different dealerships close to me, enquiring about the same part...1 place was £41 and the other was £48?? that's just 2 dealerships, not that far from each other either...

Pal

£41.00 + VAT = £47.97 - I work in parts and different stores-men often quote with, and without VAT. There is no reason for a lowly stores-man to quote higher than the rrp + vat, he's on an hourly rate.

Having worked in the parts department of main dealerships I can say that generally (I've not worked in them all) there is a rediculous mark-up on some parts, they do sometimes seem to screw you over for some parts too. Especially some interior and exterior trim. But, sometimes the price of parts seem incredibly cheap, sometimes cheaper than pattern parts.

In my current job I deal with a LOT of o.e. pricing data for all Japanese and Korean manufacturers as well as prices for pattern part makers. And sometimes the after market stuff can't compete with genuine stuff.

And, some after market parts turn out to be made in the very same factory as o.e. parts. They are exactly the same part. Like if you buy a Mahle air filter for a BMW from a factor, that IS the same as BMW o.e.
It often is worth shopping around.

Martin.

JohnnyThunders wrote:

Pal318is wrote:I rang 2 different dealerships close to me, enquiring about the same part...1 place was £41 and the other was £48?? that's just 2 dealerships, not that far from each other either...

Pal

£41.00 + VAT = £47.97 - I work in parts and different stores-men often quote with, and without VAT. There is no reason for a lowly stores-man to quote higher than the rrp + vat, he's on an hourly rate.

Dude, that was with Vat

I always ask for a price with vat

Pal

Pal318is wrote:I rang 2 different dealerships close to me, enquiring about the same part...1 place was £41 and the other was £48?? that's just 2 dealerships, not that far from each other either...

Pal

All BMW dealers work from the same BMW price file so they must have both been looking at diferent parts.

infact I would say that one of them was quoting the price plus VAT ie. £41 + vat = £48.175 inc vat

hairydave wrote:I think parts bought from BMW only come with the 2 year warranty if they are fitted by an approved BMW workshop.

Providing that the parts have been fitted correctly they are covered by the BMW warranty. it doesnt matter if you are a mechanic or not.

JohnnyThunders wrote:

Pal318is wrote:I rang 2 different dealerships close to me, enquiring about the same part...1 place was £41 and the other was £48?? that's just 2 dealerships, not that far from each other either...

Pal

£41.00 + VAT = £47.97 - I work in parts and different stores-men often quote with, and without VAT. There is no reason for a lowly stores-man to quote higher than the rrp + vat, he's on an hourly rate.

whats all this lowly stores man chat! cheeky bar-steward! besides we arent all on an hourly rate. We are heavily commision based on accessories and parts sales!

Hey i'm a parts man myself! (kind of) - work for Honda and help out the parts manager when sales are quiet. Meant no offence.

gasgas wrote:

hairydave wrote:I think parts bought from BMW only come with the 2 year warranty if they are fitted by an approved BMW workshop.

Providing that the parts have been fitted correctly they are covered by the BMW warranty. it doesnt matter if you are a mechanic or not.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/genuineparts/genuineparts

Don't want to start an argument but regarding the 2 year warranty but reading the info in the link it seems quite clear.

(click on overview after clicking on link)

hairydave wrote:

gasgas wrote:

hairydave wrote:I think parts bought from BMW only come with the 2 year warranty if they are fitted by an approved BMW workshop.

Providing that the parts have been fitted correctly they are covered by the BMW warranty. it doesnt matter if you are a mechanic or not.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/genuineparts/genuineparts

Don't want to start an argument but regarding the 2 year warranty but reading the info in the link it seems quite clear.

(click on overview after clicking on link)

That was the case, but due to EU block exemption laws BMW can no longer use this policy. there have been tons of changes since 2005 (which is when that link was created). mainly involving the use of the BMW roundel, you will notice that no BMW parts or service staff or invoices for that matter have got the roundel on them. and this also includes non BMW staff fitting parts. BMW cannot say that a person is incapable of fitting there own parts, however when a part does fail the car must come into a BMW workshop and be checked that the part was fitted correctly.