BMW service parts

[WyKiD]

A simple google search in most cases will reveal most oem suppliers, you can then in most cases source these oem brands from other suppliers at reduced prices....exact same part excluding BMW packaging and markup.

Please provide an example of what parts you are referring to.

On a specific item such as valve lifters which fit the M62 V8 one can acquire them from Goldwagen at the same price as the agents. The manufacturer is INA.

Lemforder (they manufacture for BMW)will supply lower control arms for the E46M3 at a discount of 10% to agents pricing.

In both above instances BMW will exchange a failed part across the counter whereas in the aftermarket you need to return the part pay for the new one and they will only refund you once they have examined the part and verified whether failure was as a direct result of fitment or materials failing.

I am not saying that aftermarket parts are not worth looking at however one should be mindful of the varying degrees of quality on what ostensibly looks the same as the original.

On consumable items such as air filters oil filters fuel filters I would look at the aftermarket and comfortably fit Hengst Mann or GUD provided I am not fitting into an S series engine.
For the S series engines the 10% saving I may gain is not worth the chance of a hefty repair bill should something go wrong.

A Wahler thermostat an oem supplier to BMW can be bought for a 50% saving compared to BMW locally, in fact the BMW logo and casting numbers are filed off the casing of the thermostat.

These are not aftermarket parts, they are the same oem parts supplied to BMW and other manufacturers just sold in the original manufacturers packaging as opposed to BMW's. It is highly unlikely that manufacturing facilities would run parallel lines producing the same parts in differing qualities.

With consumables BMW's pricing is actually quite competitive, so rather just go with them.

A 10% saving on smaller purchases is probably trivial in any case but when you start talking savings in excess of 30% then it's a different game.

No arm twisting going on here, as individuals we know the choices we make and the consequences that accompany them.