My turn..... heater control valve
 

Getting split vent temps.
Drivers side is close to 100 and passenger is 40.
I need a new heater control valve.
I have 104K
gotta have AC in Texas, no exceptions.
Buy BMW brand or go aftermarket?

How many miles and how long you going to keep it?

OEM - nough said.

2002 X5 3.0 327,500 miles
2014 428i 29,000 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird Under restoration

I'd buy the Genuine BMW one... it's not terribly expensive for the X5 and it's a part that goes bad often so I'd stick to a new BMW part. I've never had any luck with used heater control valves since they all fail in the same manner.

Stopped by the newest BMW dealer in the country
 

I went to Sewell BMW in Grapeevine Texas today.
They did have my part I needed.
Parts guy wanted 320 + tax to leave with it.
I asked if he could get closer to the internet price.
He offered a free soft drink.

I said thank you and left.

Hello parts houses!

You can get the exact same part from the same manufacturer that made the original part for BMW on line for a third the price. Only difference is it doesn't have the BMW markings on it and it costs a lot less. Go to FCP Euro or one of the others and they list parts as "OE". Those are the parts manufactured by the company that originally made them for BMW. Big savings, same part.

Go to Autobahn in Fort Worth. Ask for Charlie Smithson and tell him the guy with 327,000 miles on his X5 sent you. He'll know who you're talking about. ;) Charlie is the best service writer I've encountered in 30 years.

Wow you really went to the dealer and expected to get a great price on the part? You could have avoided wasting your time by just using the on line vendors for this part at a better price.

Thank you for that insight.
I never knew how stupid I was, till you pointed it out.

Greg don't take it the wrong way. I am just surprised that you went to the dealer to get the part given the many BMW and European vehicles that you have owned/fixed.