GSF vs Genuine Parts ?
Moderator: martauto
I would say there's some things that should come from a dealer but others that are not so critical.
But is the Propshaft centre mount bearing one of those Genuine only parts or would a GSF one for half the price be OK?
But is the Propshaft centre mount bearing one of those Genuine only parts or would a GSF one for half the price be OK?
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daimlerman
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I often see a GSF van around the back of my local BMW dealer....
GSF often offer two qualities of parts,the more expensive is usually an OE supplier to BMW.
GSF often offer two qualities of parts,the more expensive is usually an OE supplier to BMW.
Youth is wasted on the young.
I would go to ECP before GSF.. They mostly just label the products as premium and don't tell you the brand.. It's only when they arrive that you realise it's a brand that's even cheaper at ECP or CP4L
Just double checking, by ECP I take it you mean Euro Car Parts?
Can't find the part listed with ECP, which I why I looked to GSF
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/524bm0090
but there only appears to be one offering, not the usual budget and OEQ
I've got easy enough access to either store so don't really have a preference.
I'm kind of thinking if the one on the car is original it's done 150k, if a patern part does half that I still won't have to replace it in my lifetime. The saving can go towards something else.
Can't find the part listed with ECP, which I why I looked to GSF
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/524bm0090
but there only appears to be one offering, not the usual budget and OEQ
I've got easy enough access to either store so don't really have a preference.
I'm kind of thinking if the one on the car is original it's done 150k, if a patern part does half that I still won't have to replace it in my lifetime. The saving can go towards something else.
yeah, but as my accountant used to say "Jam now or Jam later"kieran325 wrote:Buy shit, buy twice.
If the half price part even lasts a quarter of the OE one then I'm looking at 30,000 miles. I'm quite happy to so the job again in 3-4 years (if I still have the car) for the sake of an extra £20 in my pocket now.
Jam now!
Last edited by eddypeck on Thu Aug 21, 2014 1:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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pony
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This!!!!kieran325 wrote:Buy shit, buy twice.
I usually get parts from BMW Dealer
Have used the odd parts from ECP
Castrol LSD Oil
Goodridge Brake Hoses
Powerflex
PAS Fluid
Brake fluid
Coolant
Engine oil
Water pump
ContiTech belts
Handbrake shoes and handbrake cables
Track rods
Out of ECP or GSF
Defo ECP
More branches, more parts, cheap prices
On my old 318, it failed MOT from excessive play on steering rack. Bought a reckon from Eurocar, spent about a day fitting it .... it failed MOT from excessive play on steering rack!
The MOT station shimmed it and Eurocar had to foot the bill, there was no way I was taking it out again.
The MOT station shimmed it and Eurocar had to foot the bill, there was no way I was taking it out again.
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daimlerman
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Go park up outside your local BMW dealer if you do not believe me!pony wrote:Proofdaimlerman wrote:I often see a GSF van around the back of my local BMW dealer....![]()
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Meatballs82
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Some of my larger customers are main dealers, it's true!pony wrote:Proofdaimlerman wrote:I often see a GSF van around the back of my local BMW dealer....![]()
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Meatballs82
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Most of the parts main dealers buy from us are for their non-franchise requirements, they get a better discount from us than they would do from the relevant main dealer.pony wrote:Whenever I buy a part from Main Dealer is always from BMW with their packaging etc
Well I'm not sitting outside a dealer
I said proof so bring proof!!!!

I rarely buy from the dealer - only stuff I can't buy from Euros. BMW prices are just insane now - £300 for a heater matrix, £35 for a pair of E36 front bump stops etc. Best is £1450 for a 320d turbo - they're £750 from Garrett!
- Brianmoooore
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Fitted a set of Q Drive front discs and pads (customer supplied) to a Fiat 500 a couple of weeks ago. Pleasantly surprised to see "TMF Friction" printed on the side of the pad, so, Q Drive or not, there's a bit of pedigree there.Andyboy wrote:kieran325 wrote:Buy Q Drive, buy thrice.
+1Andyboy wrote:I rarely buy from the dealer - only stuff I can't buy from Euros.
I used to buy BMW (boxed) oil filters from the dealer but now I go to ECP instead (Hengst, Bosch etc).
Almost every mechanic I see in the locality has deliveries from ECP on a daily basis.

Sold: 1986 E30 325i Cabriolet, Alpine White
I'm an Eicher man myself Brian. They used to be shite but the current stuff is okay. At £40 odd for E36 front discs and pads you can't really go wrong. ECP were having a clear out of Eicher gear - bought 3 sets of E36 front and rear discs and pads, about 50 quid the lot.Brianmoooore wrote:Fitted a set of Q Drive front discs and pads (customer supplied) to a Fiat 500 a couple of weeks ago. Pleasantly surprised to see "TMF Friction" printed on the side of the pad, so, Q Drive or not, there's a bit of pedigree there.Andyboy wrote:kieran325 wrote:Buy Q Drive, buy thrice.
- Kos
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i will use KMS GSF and ECP depending on who has the better quality part but some things i will go to the dealers for
just bought a meyle boxed PAS pump for the e24 from KMS for £135, checked against the chassis no it was the right one for my car and nows its fitted i'm having issues. they can't confirm if its 100 110 or 130bar pump. i need a 110bar one.
off it comes tomorrow and i'll get my original one rebuilt, if i cant i'll just fork out £315 to the dealers.
just bought a meyle boxed PAS pump for the e24 from KMS for £135, checked against the chassis no it was the right one for my car and nows its fitted i'm having issues. they can't confirm if its 100 110 or 130bar pump. i need a 110bar one.
off it comes tomorrow and i'll get my original one rebuilt, if i cant i'll just fork out £315 to the dealers.
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I'm after a set of discs and pads for an E36Andyboy wrote:I'm an Eicher man myself Brian. They used to be shite but the current stuff is okay. At £40 odd for E36 front discs and pads you can't really go wrong. ECP were having a clear out of Eicher gear - bought 3 sets of E36 front and rear discs and pads, about 50 quid the lot.Brianmoooore wrote:Fitted a set of Q Drive front discs and pads (customer supplied) to a Fiat 500 a couple of weeks ago. Pleasantly surprised to see "TMF Friction" printed on the side of the pad, so, Q Drive or not, there's a bit of pedigree there.Andyboy wrote:

I get most parts from ECP or GSF. Stick to the premium brands and you'll be fine. Oil I tend to get from Halfords, Wilco or the supermarket depending on whose got a deal on.
The main dealer still has its place though. I got a load of clips for the gutter trim last week. Ordered Tuesday, in stock by 08:00 by Thursday. Fantastic service for a car thats been out of production for two decades.
A lot of the parts prices have rocketed though. The OBC light bar was the best part of £100 the last time I checked. I'll stick to soldering in new bulbs!
Exhausts are still fairly priced though IMO. I got quoted £600 for a new 2 piece exhaust for my 320i. Expensive yes, but will last far, far longer than some sh!tty Klarius system.
The main dealer still has its place though. I got a load of clips for the gutter trim last week. Ordered Tuesday, in stock by 08:00 by Thursday. Fantastic service for a car thats been out of production for two decades.
A lot of the parts prices have rocketed though. The OBC light bar was the best part of £100 the last time I checked. I'll stick to soldering in new bulbs!
Exhausts are still fairly priced though IMO. I got quoted £600 for a new 2 piece exhaust for my 320i. Expensive yes, but will last far, far longer than some sh!tty Klarius system.
Well that was rubbish!
The GSF Propshaft mount arrived without the bearing, which is clearly shown in the product image.
No where dose it state bearing not included or image for illustration purposes - so I'd expect to get what is shown.
The fact they don't appear to sell the bearing separately would suggest it comes as one piece.
Do they usually come as one bit or separate items?
The GSF Propshaft mount arrived without the bearing, which is clearly shown in the product image.
No where dose it state bearing not included or image for illustration purposes - so I'd expect to get what is shown.
The fact they don't appear to sell the bearing separately would suggest it comes as one piece.
Do they usually come as one bit or separate items?
I've seen both but they normally tell you if it's just the carrier.eddypeck wrote:Do they usually come as one bit or separate items?
Got mine from here a few years ago, Lemforder part and includes bearing:
http://www.c3bmw.co.uk/StockItem.asp?ca ... m=unassign
Great link, thanks. I need to find places like this for BMW. Got a fair selection saved to favorites for VW to supply my '86 Golf GTI but it's like starting from scratch and learning all over again with this.
well after a bit of a moan, they're sending me a bearingeddypeck wrote:Well that was rubbish!
The GSF Propshaft mount arrived without the bearing, which is clearly shown in the product image.
No where dose it state bearing not included or image for illustration purposes - so I'd expect to get what is shown.
The fact they don't appear to sell the bearing separately would suggest it comes as one piece.
Do they usually come as one bit or separate items?




