When will you sell your X5?

[bcredliner]

IMO, your sample number of one each of a few parts is not large enough to draw any conclusion on whether or not BMW parts quality has declined or not. It's a blanket generalization about all BMW parts from a few one off examples. You still might be right and I agree that some, perhaps many, agree with you. I merely have a different point of view.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

IMO, your sample number of one each of a few parts is not large enough to draw any conclusion on whether or not BMW parts quality has declined or not. It's a blanket generalization about all BMW parts from a few one off examples. You still might be right and I agree that some, perhaps many, agree with you. I merely have a different point of view.

I've literally had pallet loads of parts delivered to me. As in orders so large that they were freighted on a pallet. My sample size is hundreds of orders and many times that more parts. I merely cited a few of the most egregious examples off the top of my head.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

I've literally had pallet loads of parts delivered to me. As in orders so large that they were freighted on a pallet. My sample size is hundreds of orders and many times that more parts. I merely cited a few of the most egregious examples off the top of my head.

What are you doing to be ordering so many parts?

[X5only]

Sounds like nick325xit 5spd is a parts reseller - a repair shop or a parts dealer.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by X5only

Sounds like nick325xit 5spd is a parts reseller - a repair shop or a parts dealer.

No, I just have a really expensive and foolish hobby. If I were smart, I'd have a 911. (Yes, we have one, but that's my wife's.)

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

What are you doing to be ordering so many parts?

Well, for one, my E30 M3 cost me (up front) $3,500. I think you can make a guess as to why I bought so many E30 M3 parts. That's where the pallet loads came in.

As for the rest, well, you can see how many cars we have in the signature. Maintenance, engine swaps, etc. I have the bad habit of deciding "this would be better with that engine" a little too much.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

Well, for one, my E30 M3 cost me (up front) $3,500. I think you can make a guess as to why I bought so many E30 M3 parts. That's where the pallet loads came in.

As for the rest, well, you can see how many cars we have in the signature. Maintenance, engine swaps, etc. I have the bad habit of deciding "this would be better with that engine" a little too much.

To conclude BMW parts quality has declined with any certainty it would be necessary to do a sampling of some number of parts based on the total worldwide sales of that part.

As an example if BMW sells 100,000 of a part, the sampling generally would be 10% or 10,000 of that one part. The percentage can vary based on the reason(s) for the sampling. So if BMW sells 100,000 of the gasket you mentioned, your purchases would need to be 10,000. The gasket would have to be installed and fail. And confirmed that a comparable gasket didn't fail using the same criteria. The number of failures acceptable out of the 10,000 would be a quality control decision. Using 1% that would be 100 documented failures of the gasket you rejected and less than 100 of the gasket you did use.

[Mr.Couch]

I run one of the largest independent repairs shops on the east coast & spend 30+ thousand with BMW OEM, 18+ thousand with OE parts each month. I have not seen any specific decline in BMW OEM parts in the past 7 years at this facility. I can tell you this, with experience I know which aftermarket or OE parts to buy vs BMW OEM. Example, I have had multiple OE valve covers for M54 & N52 fail sub 1,000 miles since install & would only go with BMW OEM valve covers for any car that comes through our shop. This is just one example of hundreds but you get my point. In that same breath, for the GS7D36SG DCT transmission, URO & other OE transmission pans w/ gaskets are on par if not better than BMW OEM. I wouldn't expect most hobbyists to have the similar experience with this as someone who works at a repair facility but OE aftermarket parts should not be thrown to the side as lesser quality / value than BMW OEM.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by Mr.Couch

I run one of the largest independent repairs shops on the east coast & spend 30+ thousand with BMW OEM, 18+ thousand with OE parts each month. I have not seen any specific decline in BMW OEM parts in the past 7 years at this facility. I can tell you this, with experience I know which aftermarket or OE parts to buy vs BMW OEM. Example, I have had multiple OE valve covers for M54 & N52 fail sub 1,000 miles since install & would only go with BMW OEM valve covers for any car that comes through our shop. This is just one example of hundreds but you get my point. In that same breath, for the GS7D36SG DCT transmission, URO & other OE transmission pans w/ gaskets are on par if not better than BMW OEM. I wouldn't expect most hobbyists to have the similar experience with this as someone who works at a repair facility but OE aftermarket parts should not be thrown to the side as lesser quality / value than BMW OEM.

Mr Couch, I think your above experience could be highly valued by a DIY-er . I'm curious, what's your take on OE suspension components relative to BMW OEM? How about the OE cooling system components? I maintain my family's four bimmers myself and we're soon adding a fifth one - my maintenance costs are nothing to sneeze at . Your input would be very valuable. Over the years I discovered Mahle Behr radiator to be as good as BMW OEM radiators, at least on the M52, N54 and N62 engines. I also tend to stay clear of OE electronic components but I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake here by making a swiping dismissal. One strategy I use to keep costs down is to leverage FCPEuro's lifetime replacement guarantee even if their prices tend to be on the higher side due to their business model.

[Mr.Couch]

Originally Posted by X5only

Mr Couch, I think your above experience could be highly valued by a DIY-er . I'm curious, what's your take on OE suspension components relative to BMW OEM? How about the OE cooling system components? I maintain my family's four bimmers myself and we're soon adding a fifth one - my maintenance costs are nothing to sneeze at . Your input would be very valuable. Over the years I discovered Mahle Behr radiator to be as good as BMW OEM radiators, at least on the M52, N54 and N62 engines. I also tend to stay clear of OE electronic components but I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake here by making a swiping dismissal. One strategy I use to keep costs down is to leverage FCPEuro's lifetime replacement guarantee even if their prices tend to be on the higher side due to their business model.

I would be happy to help. I'll answer here your question but to not cloud or misdirect the thread my email is [email protected].

In most cases, Lemforder, TRW, Corteco (in that order) are fantastic choices for OE suspension components across BMW models. All three of those companies provide their services to BMW OEM to build suspension components for them. While the standard of testing or QC of those companies isn't maybe the same standard as branded BMW OEM parts I can say it's not very far off.

In regards to cooling system components, depending on what parts you are replacing, Graf, Pierburg, Geba have high quality / BMW OEM supplied parts for lets say waterpumps & such. If speaking about hoses, I have very good experiences with Gates but usually stick to BMW OEM unless the price difference is outlandish. Expansion tanks, ALWAYS BMW OEM. Radiators, Behr, Mahle, or OEM as I've had a few QC issues with Nissens even though I believe they are a BMW OEM supplier for some models.

I usually run BMW OEM electronics. In regards to FCP Euro, we have an account with them but rarely use them. I understand the comfort level with their warranty on parts as a hobbyist but as a repair facility we don't use them often. I will say, FCP Euro has a fantastic wholesale department & sales team.

I always use OEM gaskets unless we are on a budget. For instance, I've used 4 different companies offerings for OFHG's as well as cooler gaskets & they ALL leak prematurely. BMW OEM QC crushes the competition when it comes to very small margin for error parts like a rubber gasket or seal.

Oil filters, Sometimes Mann, Mostly Mahle, Rarely OEM (Unless it's part of one of our larger services like crank hub or rod bearings or if requested.).


I hope this helps

EDIT: Sorry if I missed a company or two that make quality parts. There are so many out there and these stand out to me off the top of my head.
Notable mentions - URO, Textar, SHW, VNE, LUK, Continental, Dayco, Sachs, Bilstein, Hengst