General source for BMW clips, bolts, misc fasteners etc

[bradnic]

I'm constantly needing to find replacement clips, bolts, nuts etc. on the 3 E30s I have. I do have a parts washer and a bench wire wheel I picked up at harbor freight, so I can sometimes clean the existing fasteners up reasonably well. But frequently the parts are so rusted / corroded that I don't want to reuse them.

So.. I'd love to just have a stash on hand. The local auto parts was of limited use and they tend to be expensive. I assume things like body nuts or plastic clips are BMW specific. But what about auto grade bolts, flange nuts, that sort of thing?

Other than the dealer and the usual suspects like ECS Pelican Tischer etc, does anyone have recommendations on automotive grade fastener suppliers? online websites maybe?

[jlevie]

There are plenty of sources for nuts/bolts/lock washers/washers in the required grades. If you have nearby Fastenall I'd check there. For online ordering I tend to use McMaster Carr or MSC. For the specialized BMW clips & such I order those through my dealer.

[AndrewBird]

BluntTech is where I get all my BMW parts and clips. Use RealOEM.com to look up part numbers.

[bradnic]

Had not heard of Fastenal... there's one nearby will definitely check them out. thanks jlevie! was in huntsville just recently... great place to be. Had heard of McMaster Carr but never used them.

Yeah realoem and online BMW ordering is the usual way I get stuff. Was trying to source auto grade fasteners outside the usual BMW channel. A grade 8 / 10 bolt from a reputable supplier works just as well as OEM. If you must order genuine BMW Blunt's definitely good. Tischer works for me most of the time, ECS as well, Pelican on occasion.

Any other suggestions?

NitroRustlerDriver your avatar pic gives me a headache! been punched senseless :-)

[nando]

my main issue with most generic bolts are the coatings are of lesser quality. usually just nickel coated, if you're lucky - it's hard to find metric bolts with yellow zinc coatings.

also, many hardware stores are just as expensive as buying from BMW - not always, but $1.00 for a bolt is still expensive!

after spending a small fortune on hardware for past projects, I've learned to hoard fasteners. I kept everything from my parts car that wasn't rusty - some light surface rust on the bolt head isn't a big deal if the threads are clean. but actually, most of the original fasteners are in surprisingly good condition.

I just organized most of my hardware collection. I feel like a kid collecting baseball cards or something. it makes me proud, lol.

as far as clips, a couple years ago I found a site that sold BMW and Mercedes clips specifically. I've long since lost it though, too bad, it was a nice resource.

[bradnic]

I feel ya. completely.

We have ace hardware here. lots of machine grade fasteners, but with generic coatings. cost a bloody fortune - more than retail at dealer in some case. home depot has lesser quality at similar prices for the most part. hard to find auto grade stuff there in general. jlevie's leads sound promising so I'll look there.

Definitely concerned about the coatings on the bolts. It's funny because I also have an 04 allroad for my wife that I wrench on. All of the bolts on that car are in just about perfect condition. There's a 'bluish' coating on them that does a great job. not sure what it is. Here's a grade 10 rear bumper crossmember bolt - 9 years old, exposed to northern climate. Pic sux sorry.



I suppose my main request is for some sort of BMW auto-grade bolt assortment set that lasts for a bit. I'd pay $100-$150 for a good set of stuff like that as long as the hardware was in ready to mount condition. You can poach salvage yard hardware over time I guess. Definitely done that with body bolts. clips and body nuts, doesn't work so well. and you'll still have to clean/brush everything.

Seen a few auctions like this one where the seller has stripped a car or bike and is selling a box of bolts. Just need to keep looking I guess.

[nando]

I used brake cleaner and an air compressor. didn't take long at all to clean them all - maybe 15 minutes?

I've done it with a brush, bolt by bolt. no thanks!