http://bmwbuilds.com/bmw-to-no-longer-supply-parts-for-old-bmws/
i'm sure this is an april fools joke ... but, who knows
i'm sure this is an april fools joke ... but, who knows
a must read
- Thread starter rsporsche
- Start date
:razz:
Quite sad. Have they not figured out that despite building a nice car, they all look alike and are designed to appeal more to the masses than a true car enthusiast. Also, the thought process that I will dump my E3 and E24's for a newer BMW is faulty....MOPAR here I come.
12doplumbing
Well-Known Member
Doug Dolan
Well-Known Member
Note the date of the story and the tagline at the end (April Fool's)!
Is 7 years enough to be after any CPO warranty expires?
If they were really smart they'd design a 100k mile certain failure into key parts that are not easily rebuilt. Originally I thought they could design all BMW engines to drop a valve or break a rod at 100k miles, but unfortunately you can rebuild these using junkyard and aftermarket parts from Mahle, etc. I would require all electronics suppliers to design all complex electronics to fail catestrophically after 100k miles and 7 years, which even comes first. maybe the steering racks would be better choices of critical parts which can't be easily replaced with aftermarket or rebuilt. I'd say transmissions might be a good choice if they design in unique bearings and make controllers and gear sets unavailable.
i'm sure this is an april fools joke ... but, who knows[/QUOTE]
If they were really smart they'd design a 100k mile certain failure into key parts that are not easily rebuilt. Originally I thought they could design all BMW engines to drop a valve or break a rod at 100k miles, but unfortunately you can rebuild these using junkyard and aftermarket parts from Mahle, etc. I would require all electronics suppliers to design all complex electronics to fail catestrophically after 100k miles and 7 years, which even comes first. maybe the steering racks would be better choices of critical parts which can't be easily replaced with aftermarket or rebuilt. I'd say transmissions might be a good choice if they design in unique bearings and make controllers and gear sets unavailable.
i'm sure this is an april fools joke ... but, who knows[/QUOTE]
We will know in 12 months.
jefftepper
Well-Known Member
Though it is April 1st, the fact remains that those of us who drive older cars typically do not contribute in a meaningful way to the annual profit margins of the car manufacturers and their franchised dealers.
What we see as long term brand loyalty is very different than what many manufacturers see. As a case in point, new car leases have evolved from 60 months to 36 months (or less) to keep churning the customer base. For those folks afflicted with "Affluenza", it's a perfect world. So long as they don't mind making a car payment forever, they get a new car every couple of years and the "risk" of having to make repairs is handed off to less fortunate 2nd owners who tend to go to independent mechanics rather than the franchised dealerships. I would suggest that such a plan is as sustainable over the long term as eating your young!
On the other hand, what the hell do I know?
What we see as long term brand loyalty is very different than what many manufacturers see. As a case in point, new car leases have evolved from 60 months to 36 months (or less) to keep churning the customer base. For those folks afflicted with "Affluenza", it's a perfect world. So long as they don't mind making a car payment forever, they get a new car every couple of years and the "risk" of having to make repairs is handed off to less fortunate 2nd owners who tend to go to independent mechanics rather than the franchised dealerships. I would suggest that such a plan is as sustainable over the long term as eating your young!
On the other hand, what the hell do I know?
jmackro
Well-Known Member
Are you suggesting that BMW's Head of Sales really isn't named Pauline Yorlegg?
johnl
Well-Known Member
My first thought was "April 01" but there may be some truth to this. In my younger days I was under the impression that domestic builders needed to supply parts for a minimum of 20 years after model years.
Being in the parts business for over 40 years I've seen things that I never could have imagined. I've sold Bosch products since I broke into the business in 1971 and things that we stocked and sold in volume (common items) are simply gone. I don't need to tell any of you that once this happens and the people with vision buy up inventories and then name their price.
I hear good things about Mercedes Benz and that they will supply anything any time if you are willing to wait and pay the price. Bad, but maybe better than what others do.
Being in the parts business for over 40 years I've seen things that I never could have imagined. I've sold Bosch products since I broke into the business in 1971 and things that we stocked and sold in volume (common items) are simply gone. I don't need to tell any of you that once this happens and the people with vision buy up inventories and then name their price.
I hear good things about Mercedes Benz and that they will supply anything any time if you are willing to wait and pay the price. Bad, but maybe better than what others do.
no matter if it is fools day or not, that behaviour is a fact, i am not telling that will be the new policy of bmw explicitely, but somehow they are nvisioning that sort of future, in my old days at GM-opel, we were able to run a pilot project every five and a half years, now the pace is two years and soon it will be six months, it is our fault, i am strongly against that future, i try to repair the things that i own and use, if i can not i send to a shop
keeping spares available is a ruinous business, that clearly does not help much,...
keeping spares available is a ruinous business, that clearly does not help much,...
Good joke....but watch the trend
I am waiting for a 'hot shot' journalist or better yet BMW exec to read this and think....oh that's probably a good idea and actually try to make that into reality....
I also have opinions on some stating old cars can be coverted into electric....for me that is a big no-no as each classic is distinguished by those hundreds of mechanical parts...I can close my eyes and hear each one...a fabulous feeling....
'Futurists' should take the 'soul' from those things that don't have a 'soul' to begin with and not vice versa....
MF
I am waiting for a 'hot shot' journalist or better yet BMW exec to read this and think....oh that's probably a good idea and actually try to make that into reality....
I also have opinions on some stating old cars can be coverted into electric....for me that is a big no-no as each classic is distinguished by those hundreds of mechanical parts...I can close my eyes and hear each one...a fabulous feeling....
'Futurists' should take the 'soul' from those things that don't have a 'soul' to begin with and not vice versa....
MF
Argument
I guess the flip side of the argument is with changing technology, why keep old parts around? Just simply make-on-demand per 3d printing/ scanning and rapid prototyping....maybe that is the takeaway point here...
For new cars....probably, with hand-made classics --probably not.
MF
I guess the flip side of the argument is with changing technology, why keep old parts around? Just simply make-on-demand per 3d printing/ scanning and rapid prototyping....maybe that is the takeaway point here...
For new cars....probably, with hand-made classics --probably not.
MF
look at the name that is quoted ... read it slowly. of course its an april fools joke.
johanaxelson
Well-Known Member
yeah, at least three clear indicators to it being an April Fools.
Critical thinking is a thing of the past
Critical thinking is a thing of the past
I hope no one thought i did not see its a fictitious article...I usually just read the first two lines anyway...
I have been reading my fair share of quirky info regarding cars lately and when more goofy information gets 'too close' then I'll post my thoughts (general or not)...
What is apparent is times have changed particularly in our hobby....
MF
I have been reading my fair share of quirky info regarding cars lately and when more goofy information gets 'too close' then I'll post my thoughts (general or not)...
What is apparent is times have changed particularly in our hobby....
MF
I had to read this twice. April fools it is. They had me for a while....
fooled me pretty easy, even on april 2, as I wrote…..
And then they foist this crap about how all the parts are recyclable. I don't recognize BMW any more. When I was at their Munich HQ last summer I spent about two minutes looking over the bloated excess they call BMW.
And then they foist this crap about how all the parts are recyclable. I don't recognize BMW any more. When I was at their Munich HQ last summer I spent about two minutes looking over the bloated excess they call BMW.
Always look on the bright side!
"I have had to take time of work due to the stress of dealing with their ‘Christmas lists’ of replacement parts which led to the breakdown of my marriage and my wife running off with an Audi parts manager.”
You would think this would be reason enough to KEEP the parts around for another 20 or 30 years!
Where is Arde's comment on this line???
"I have had to take time of work due to the stress of dealing with their ‘Christmas lists’ of replacement parts which led to the breakdown of my marriage and my wife running off with an Audi parts manager.”
You would think this would be reason enough to KEEP the parts around for another 20 or 30 years!
Where is Arde's comment on this line???