Rick# I didn't ask for BMW parts, I just mentioned the problems and shared the BMW diagnosis with the indies so they know what they're dealing with. Only the third indie ($2,122) quoted me specifically with BMW parts.

#Sweep I'll agree about ordering parts online and getting the indie to charge for labor only.

The difference wasn't $500 but more like $195 between one shop and BMW (due to the CCA discount) and the other one, BMW was actually cheaper by $122.

No idea why only one indie proposed alignment and whether BMW included it without mentioning it specifically.

From what I've read, you only need to replace the rear bags in pairs, not the front ones, though I see what you mean.