Did I get ripped?
 

I won a cargo cover for my '03 X5 3.0i, build date 8/03. A guy had it on ebay, I made him an offer, he agreed and I purchased via Paypal OFF auction i.e. for goods purchased.
He stated it was OEM and fit models '01-'03 X5's. It was in my color and is in like new condition.
However, it does NOT fit. I went to realoem.com and the part number they give based on my VIN does not match anything that's on the cover itself. It will not begin to fit my vehicle as the attachment points are all wrong.
It appears that it should slide in a groove into place and snaps into the bracket lock. What I got is physically impossible to lock into place. On my vehicle, the portion that is molded into the body trim has a divider that the brackets of the cover slide over and lock onto.
This cover's brackets are solid and have NO provision of a "divider groove" to fit over.
I hope he will refund my money since it was not though eBay and I have no protection. Hmmm, maybe that's why he sold it to me so reasonable? We'll see I guess.
Any ideas of where to get the part numbers off this cover? I found a paper tag with 11 digits but it does not match realoem.com as a valid part number.:dunno: I will keep you updated but any help w/regard to the above would be great.

Here is the parts breakdown from realoem.com based on my VIN:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...17&hg=51&fg=60

This shows TWO covers? Am I missing something here? The cover I got looks like the one on top or the larger of the two. Note the end brackets on the bottom one-they match more closely my bracket holders. But the cover I got has the end brackets that look just like the ones on the upper picture cover. Geez, can this be that hard? Does it take BOTH covers to make this work? My X5 has the electric seat backs that move forward/rearward as needed. Does this help? Anyone got any pics that would show me more detail than this parts diagram? Maybe I'm missing something here again???????????

Build date 8/03 was on the borderline for facelift, you'd have to know if you needed the old style or new style cargo covers... The old one is the top one shown in the link, has folds of leather that pull out with geared cross tubes that roll through tracks on the sides of the cargo area. The new one is the lower one in the link and is a spring loaded roller that just pulls out and hooks on the other end. If you bought the one you're not equipped for then you can probably sell it over the forums to on ebay to recoup your money.

If it was listed for 01-03 it should be the old style with the leather folds and cross tubes etc. If your X is manufactured 8/03 it might be an 04... do you have the old style headlights or new style?

I received the old style
 

Weasel: thanks for the good info. For sure my vehicle was built 8/03 as indicated on the drivers door tag on center post(not the door). What he sent me is the one on top.
What I need is the one on the bottom as it looks to snap right into place where the brackets go. I'll get you a picture but my X has the square-ish bracket holder whereas what he sent me is the elongated version.
My X does not have any type of groove running from the bracket holders toward the back of the vehicle. But it does have indention holes placed every so often from bracket holders to rear of car. That's what was/is throwing me off I guess. I thought the fold up version hooked in these holes?
Again, I'll snap a few pics so you can see.
Thanks again.
The guy is telling me to keep the cover and he will simply reimburse me w/o worry! I can't do that; if I sell it, then I'm sending him the money. Fair is fair among beamters, eh?:D

Yeah, sounds like yours is an early 04 models off the line... so you would need the newer version cover.

That is a quality seller right there. Nice to not have to get in a fight over the incorrect cover.