BMW Parts

Ohmess

Ohmess

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So, I requested a brake booster check valve from Penske, a simple part that BMW used in the following US vehicles:

1502-2002tii   (03/1966 — 07/1977)
3' E21   (02/1975 — 12/1983)
1500-2000CS   (09/1963 — 01/1972)
5' E12   (02/1972 — 07/1981)
5' E28   (11/1980 — 12/1987)
2.5CS-3.0CSL   (12/1968 — 11/1975)
6' E24   (10/1975 — 04/1989)
2500-3.3Li   (08/1968 — 02/1977)
Z3 E36   (04/1996 — 06/2000)

Penskie tells me that BMW won't allow orders of this part in their system, and after waiting more than a week for BMW to decide whether to sell me one of these, I pulled the plug on my order.

Here is the email I sent to their parts manager:

Hi Lisa - I think they put you in a tough spot, and I want to work with you, but as a customer I just cannot let them push me around like this. I know this is a small dollar transaction to BMW, but I have been a BMW nut for thirteen years now, participating in the club and publishing in the magazine, etc. That said, I wonder if I am backing the wrong brand.

It is not expensive to provide us the parts we need to keep beautiful examples of the BMW heritage alive. It is less than a rounding error in their financial statements. (I am a CPA, and I know what I am saying here).

The BMW Classics North America representative I met in Pittsburgh in July told me BMW will never sell their parts designs. I understood this to mean they intended to continue to supply those of us who love their older cars with parts, which is great. On the other hand, if they want to protect the design without being bothered to actually supply us with the parts we require, we will feel justified in pirating parts because BMW won't supply them. I would prefer to respect BMW's rights in its designs, and I understand how this impacts pricing. In particular, I would pay for a BMW part if they would actually supply one. But they cannot leave owners who need parts dangling without an answer to the question "where do we get parts." This makes those of us who support the BMW brand feel like we are being taken for fools.

If we are not worth the trouble, why don't they just come out and tell us?
 
Yar me hearties!!!

On the other hand, if they want to protect the design without being bothered to actually supply us with the parts we require, we will feel justified in pirating parts because BMW won't supply them.

The Pirate
 
Well stated Chris. Having had MB's for quite a while - including older ones - their Classic support is fabulous. But - they rarely made a car as pretty as the e9!!!!
 
Apparently when the 532 part number was superseded with the 533 part number, the fact that this part was installed on US vehicles was dropped. Thus, when Lisa tries to order the part, it appears in the system as a European only part and her order is cancelled in BMW's system, even though there is a substantial inventory in the US. She wrote to BMW over a week ago asking them to fix this, and they are thinking about it.

I feel for Lisa, but if we just sit back and say, "oh well, I guess I'll just let BMW fix this whenever they get around to it" they will never improve their customer service. Lisa and I talked about this and she has been pretty vocal with BMW about the value to them of our brand loyalty.

Unfortunately, even with three BMWs, attending BMW events, writing for the BMWCCA, wearing BMW clothing, decorating my garage with BMW stuff and whatnot, I don't contribute a whole lot to BMW's 2015 financial profitability. The brand manager/MBA types who are rewarded on current profitability can make a lot more money selling one new car to a fickle consumer (who will sour on the BMW experience if it isn't 100% reliable and if they have to lift a finger to maintain their vehicle) than they can keeping me in the fold.
 
There is a special order form for NON –USA(non US parts release form) parts sales that needs to be filled out. Tell your dealer to look for BMW bulletin number B31-1214-0633 (this number replacing Bulletin 06-1209)
NONUSpartsForm_12_2014 is the number on the bottom of the bulletin.
You need to fill out the form and submit a copy of your title/registration. I did this when I ordered my tail light.

On a similar note - I spoke to the BMW reps at SEMA about who to contact at BMW regarding reproducing N/A parts. Last year the rep I spoke to said they wanted to know what we are looking for and to tell my dealer. Unfortunately, my dealer doesn't know who to tell. They took my info, but I have not heard back from them yet. Maybe someone on here knows?
 
Last edited:
Ohio Jon said:
There is a special order form for NON –USA(non US parts release form) parts sales that needs to be filled out. Tell your dealer to look for BMW bulletin number B31-1214-0633 (this number replacing Bulletin 06-1209)
NONUSpartsForm_12_2014 is the number on the bottom of the bulletin.
You need to fill out the form and submit a copy of your title/registration. I did this when I ordered my tail light.

On a similar note - I spoke to the BMW reps at SEMA about who to contact at BMW regarding reproducing N/A parts. Last year the rep I spoke to said they wanted to know what we are looking for and to tell my dealer. Unfortunately, my dealer doesn't know who to tell. They took my info, but I have not heard back from them yet. Maybe someone on here knows?
Click to expand...

Hi John -- I believe the BMW NA person I spoke to at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in July about their classic car program was Ludwig Willisch -- President and CEO of BMW NA.
 
Jon -- Lisa has submitted the form to BMW, with my VIN, etc.

Viphoto -- After I week, I found and ordered a substitute part elsewhere. So, I am not still searching for a solution here.

I only posted my saga to vent a little bit and get an amen from the choir.
 
They get many of their parts from BMW and the replacement looks nothing like the original. Something we have to accept these days.
 
I have had an ongoing parts issue with BMW as well.

My local BMW dealer does not seem to have problems ordering the parts but BMW seems to have problems filling the orders.

In September it has been 2 years since I ordered new headlight grills.
I got the left one in a couple weeks in a dusty box.
The right one did not come but the order was not cancelled. IIRC there was no stock.
We left the order placed and nothing happened for 5 months.
I live in Atlanta and go to Hilton Head and Amelia Island Concours.
I attended an event in Hilton Head in 2012 and sat at a table at a dinner for BMW owners with a bunch of guys from Group Classic. This was the first time I had seen them with a booth at a car show and thought wow this is great. I did not own my coupe yet but did own my E28 M5 and there were a few parts that were NLA that I asked them about. I got some cards so I could contact them.
So after the 5 months I attended Amelia Island Concours and Group Classic was there. I found a couple of the guys I had met previously and asked them about the headlight grills.
They said to email them when they get back to Germany and they would check.
I did that and I got a response that they were going to have some more made probably within 6 months. Six months went by and I sent an email.
Same response this time but maybe 3 months and I had been passed down the line to another person at Classic. Another 4-5 months and same thing with a different person and the fact that there were trying to find a supplier to make the grills. Something about the molds did not exist.
Then I was at Legends and Ofest in 2013 and saw the same guys and ask again. Same scenario.
Finally early this year I wrote to the parts ombudsman listed in the Roundel. David Levin is at Tom Bush BMW in FL. He tried his contacts and after about 4 months he said he couldn't do anything else.

Something I remember and found recently was a printout from the Group Classic site. I printed this a few years ago and it is a list of back order parts and has a 2011 date on it.
51131811484 is listed and is the grill I am looking for.

At the most recent Ofest in September there was a guy there from Group Classic. I did not get a chance to talk to him on Tuesday and he had gone by Wednesday.
My friend Dirk de Groen did talk to him and he is the US Representative for Group Classic. First time I've heard this.
His name is:
[email protected]

I have not gotten around to contacting him but will soon.
Dirk says he said pretty much the same old "yes we will make parts" BS.

I am not going to deny that I am worried about the future of parts for all BMW's.
Much industry talk about not supplying parts to anyone except authorized repair facilities.
Takes the DIY out and also a liability problem.
It's all about the liability and the attorneys.

Chris and I have had some of this conversation before.
Not sure how to do anything about it?
It really does jeopardize the future value of our cars.
No parts and we're screwed.
There are already enough problem parts like taillights and turn lenses and many more.

Maybe organize a letter/email campaign.
Ideas?

Gary Beck
 
When I talked to them at Amelia they just smiled and nodded their heads. I knew they were full of BS right there.
 
Hi Guys.
When i was living in New Zealand I had a BMW Parts Import business ad was importing parts from a dealer in Germany, I still have his contacts and am able to order pretty much anything as long as it is available, If anyone is interested just send me the part numbers and I can price it up for you! Best way to do it is get a number of people and order everything at once and that will keep the cost of freight down.
Cheers Warren
 
m5bb said:
I have had an ongoing parts issue with BMW as well.

My local BMW dealer does not seem to have problems ordering the parts but BMW seems to have problems filling the orders.

In September it has been 2 years since I ordered new headlight grills.
I got the left one in a couple weeks in a dusty box.
The right one did not come but the order was not cancelled. IIRC there was no stock.
We left the order placed and nothing happened for 5 months.
I live in Atlanta and go to Hilton Head and Amelia Island Concours.
I attended an event in Hilton Head in 2012 and sat at a table at a dinner for BMW owners with a bunch of guys from Group Classic. This was the first time I had seen them with a booth at a car show and thought wow this is great. I did not own my coupe yet but did own my E28 M5 and there were a few parts that were NLA that I asked them about. I got some cards so I could contact them.
So after the 5 months I attended Amelia Island Concours and Group Classic was there. I found a couple of the guys I had met previously and asked them about the headlight grills.
They said to email them when they get back to Germany and they would check.
I did that and I got a response that they were going to have some more made probably within 6 months. Six months went by and I sent an email.
Same response this time but maybe 3 months and I had been passed down the line to another person at Classic. Another 4-5 months and same thing with a different person and the fact that there were trying to find a supplier to make the grills. Something about the molds did not exist.
Then I was at Legends and Ofest in 2013 and saw the same guys and ask again. Same scenario.
Finally early this year I wrote to the parts ombudsman listed in the Roundel. David Levin is at Tom Bush BMW in FL. He tried his contacts and after about 4 months he said he couldn't do anything else.

Something I remember and found recently was a printout from the Group Classic site. I printed this a few years ago and it is a list of back order parts and has a 2011 date on it.
51131811484 is listed and is the grill I am looking for.

At the most recent Ofest in September there was a guy there from Group Classic. I did not get a chance to talk to him on Tuesday and he had gone by Wednesday.
My friend Dirk de Groen did talk to him and he is the US Representative for Group Classic. First time I've heard this.
His name is:
[email protected]

I have not gotten around to contacting him but will soon.
Dirk says he said pretty much the same old "yes we will make parts" BS.

I am not going to deny that I am worried about the future of parts for all BMW's.
Much industry talk about not supplying parts to anyone except authorized repair facilities.
Takes the DIY out and also a liability problem.
It's all about the liability and the attorneys.

Chris and I have had some of this conversation before.
Not sure how to do anything about it?
It really does jeopardize the future value of our cars.
No parts and we're screwed.
There are already enough problem parts like taillights and turn lenses and many more.

Maybe organize a letter/email campaign.
Ideas?

Gary Beck
Click to expand...

Hi Gary - Obviously, our discussion on this topic at the Vintage was part of my thought process in posting this issue here. I discussed this problem with Mario at VSR a few months ago and I have previously suggested to Chris that we might want to use the hoopla around the 100th Aniversary to raise this issue with BMW.

I would be willing to engage on this issue, but I think in order to be effective we need an understanding of why BMW is responding to us this way. Are the MBAs telling them there is no money to be made supporting us, or are the lawyers telling them there are residual product liability issues associated with 42 years old cars or is it something else? As you say, if they refuse to provide parts, the money we have in our cars evaporates.
 
Ohmess said:
Hi Gary - Obviously, our discussion on this topic at the Vintage was part of my thought process in posting this issue here. I discussed this problem with Mario at VSR a few months ago and I have previously suggested to Chris that we might want to use the hoopla around the 100th Aniversary to raise this issue with BMW.

I would be willing to engage on this issue, but I think in order to be effective we need an understanding of why BMW is responding to us this way. Are the MBAs telling them there is no money to be made supporting us, or are the lawyers telling them there are residual product liability issues associated with 42 years old cars or is it something else? As you say, if they refuse to provide parts, the money we have in our cars evaporates.
Click to expand...

I sent you a PM.
 
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