what happened to dealer hookups?

[PeaveyBassist]

I have dealer hookup. But I dont abuse the privelage of it. I don't get anybody parts except myself.

Will

[///M42 sport]

damn, I wanted to get some mtechnic bumpers.

[PeaveyBassist]

So save up and get some...

Will

[Court M3]

Meh, greg was a HUGE help in sourcing the parts for my european conversion. He may or may not have saved me money, I dont care, the point was he saved me working my ass off or getting fucked over by some crafty German. Court also helped me out. Same goes for Adam (caferacer), since shipping was cheap from AUS for some reason he and I also send stuff back and forth.

I dont blame them for stopping it. As they move beyond the few they have to deal with more and more bullshit.

People wanted everything for rockbottom prices. They forget your tiime, gas and delivery to post office for them. Then they want it all for $9.99. They forget that everyone else uses the internet and if you go to the same yards and ask for the same thing a couple of times eventually they'll catch on and start charging higher prices.

Guess that's the reason I still have 2 extra M-tech dead pedals!

[Ryan Stewart]

Guess that's the reason I still have 2 extra M-tech dead pedals!

Fuck! If only I wasnt broke from buying my books.

I almost got to use that fire extinguisher 3 days after I got it. A Toyota Land Cruiser flipped on the highway right in front of me and Bobby (88325isboy). No fire though.

[Old'n'Slow]

The kiddies are always looking for a handout. There have been some good sellers of harder to find euro bits and such runoff because of the way people act around here. Like when someone tries to beat you down on the price of something in your FS thread and then winds up not buying it.

Get a clue people. You buy from people you know because you know them, not because of special favors.

Word and a half.

My dealer is often a dollar or ten higher than the cheapest internet source. But I still go there for the relationship. The parts people there have gone out of their way to make it easy for me to get the right parts, without paying shipping and with very easy returns, should I end up not needing something. Sure, once in a while, I'll go somewhere else, but it's for things they don't have, like a used differential, or used ECU... I know not everyone has access to a great parts department. Which brings me to:

I cringe everytime I see a thread that starts with "where's the cheapest place to get xxx". It ain't about cheap. It's about supporting the people who support you, and forums like this. Click the banners and buy their stuff. Shop price on bread and milk.

[///M42 sport]

Unfortunately, I have a real shitty parts department. I wasn't gonna pay $2.50 for one iS spoiler clip.

[Digitalwave]

Unfortunately, I have a real shitty parts department. I wasn't gonna pay $2.50 for one iS spoiler clip.

You can get them for pennies online and then pay the difference in shipping. People like you are why small businesses die (not the a dealer is a small business, but you undercut them nonetheless).

[///M42 sport]

Ok, lets just take this example.

$2.50 x 10 = $25.00+tax=$30 dollars at the dealer for some stupid clips.

Bav auto one of the more expensive parts sellers

$.70 x 10 = $7.00+shipping=$13 so thats almost 1/3 the price.

I prefer not to be taken advantage of. The dealer clearly marks up prices which in this case is almost 300%. I doubt any one of us would pay this much for clips. Why are ya'll defending the inflated practices the dealer imposes on us? Clearly they can continue with this b/c they have the monopoly on factory parts. Companies such as bavauto and bmp are successful b/c they sell on the open market at prices people are willing to pay for. Competition is good at doing this. Saying this, I only use my dealer as a last resort, and in this case I probably have to. I think your argument is flawed TJ. Would any one of us not jump in on a group buy for desirable parts? I'm not looking for handouts.

[Jordan]

For the record, just to toss this out there.

The dealer cost on that clip is 12 cents.

[Digitalwave]

The dealer marks up the smallest parts the most, because they know us cheap asses only come in for that stuff. The bigger stuff actually is reasonably priced. A water pump at my dealer was only $10 more than BMA, factor in shipping and its only about $5 more. Pretty decent considering you don't have to wait to receive it I think.

[Jordan]

I agree TJ, however there is (best I can tell) no real rhyme or reason to the price markups.

Some parts you'd think would be cheap end up being $$$$, then some parts are quite the opposite.

[Skafrog]

Also TJ, this varies greatly from dealer to dealer.
My local dealer wanted a great deal more for fairly expensive parts (radiator and water pump for a 735) than BMA. You either have a good dealership, or you have a bunch of stuck up assholes who think anything earlier than an e90 is a waste of their time, and try to fuck you on the lease rate.

[Digitalwave]

I really do have a good dealership though, the guys are very helpful and they like my car. They give me their cards and try to get me to come in more often (of course they want my money) but they are nice guys.

[parkerbink]

When I needed the spec sheet for the caroliner to verify my frame was good I called the dealer we bought this and several other BMWs from (Beverly Hills BMW) they had an attitude like I was asking for their personal bank account information. I finally got it from a bodyshop I had dealt with once in 1984 who could not have been nicer (Beverly Hills Body Shop)

Point here: people are either dicks or nice, depends on the person not how much money you send their way. For the record we will not be buying from any of the Beverly Hills family of dealers (Lexus, BMW, Rolls, etc)