forming a new e30/euro parts company... need help

[Ryan1642]

First off, i you think this is best suited for another section let me know.

I'm currently studying Industrial design (took a couple semesters off) but I have always had plenty of ideas for my e30 that I think alot of other enthusiasts would also like. and I just bought another 325ix to part out. Problem is I want to sell everything under one umbrella. Which means I need a name. This is where I need R3v's help. I'm looking for some people to submit ideas for a name. I'm looking for a short name with a more german sound like dinan, rennstall, hartge, alpina, you get the jist. thanks in advance.

[ravenlord89]

Schwanz. Or Muschi.

[James Crivellone]

I caution you a little bit due to a few reasons

1) E30 owners are cheap, I mean insanely cheap..
2) Whatever you make, will be too expensive, why? Because odds are if you are building with top notch components, they e30 kids won't pay for it.
3) While an older following who appreciates these cars and puts good money into keeping them on the road will appreciate it, they are few and farther to be found simply due to the state of the community / market. For example I find myself using OEM parts as much as possible (with the exception of my racing cars, but thats another purpose) and most folks who think similarly to me tend to do the same, stuff like URO, FCP, BC, are all crap to us

Look at all the crap that is for sale everywhere, used parts, dropping in untested motors without even resealing them, cheeping out on Chinese suspension parts.. etc

I glance the market several times a week to see how the value of these cars sit, and frankly I just found on my local craigslist several for 5K - 8K, most are slammed to the ground on cheap suspension, have stupid stickers all over them, wiring all over the place, lights on all over the dash, but hell, big stereo and fancy wheels right?

Not trying to be a debbie downer, I've just seen MANY fail trying to come up with a market for these cars.. hell look at the big guys, Dinan, Alpina, AA, do they still have anything? Not really.. and the small guys are branching out to larger markets, E46 --->

Just do your research! And if you have some great ideas I wish you the best of success.. I do like folks adding value to these cars!

[Ryan1642]

Thanks James, you raise alot of good points. I think most of my products will reach across multiple platforms (and chassis). I personally love dumping money into my e30 but i know thats not the norm. plus making money isn't my primary motive, I make almost all of my aftermarket parts myself and it wouldn't cost too much more to provide it to the masses. I would just rather create a brand that I can grow recognition for rather than sell it under my username.

[flyboyx]

schnecke autoworks
rotzkopf motors
schneidewutz, inc.

a couple german names for you to start with. my deutsch is rusty. don't quote me on the spelling.

[Julien]

Autovieta

[Ryan1642]

schnecke autoworks
rotzkopf motors
schneidewutz, inc.

a couple german names for you to start with. my deutsch is rusty. don't quote me on the spelling.

Rusty deutsch is better than no deutsch haha, thanks I like how rotzkopf looks, not quiet what im looking for in a finished product yet but definitely getting close. thanks again, keep em coming.

[ST1G]

Autovieta

Ryan@Autovieta

[mr2peak]

I caution you a little bit due to a few reasons

1) E30 owners are cheap, I mean insanely cheap..
2) Whatever you make, will be too expensive, why? Because odds are if you are building with top notch components, they e30 kids won't pay for it.
3) While an older following who appreciates these cars and puts good money into keeping them on the road will appreciate it, they are few and farther to be found simply due to the state of the community / market. For example I find myself using OEM parts as much as possible (with the exception of my racing cars, but thats another purpose) and most folks who think similarly to me tend to do the same, stuff like URO, FCP, BC, are all crap to us

Look at all the crap that is for sale everywhere, used parts, dropping in untested motors without even resealing them, cheeping out on Chinese suspension parts.. etc

I glance the market several times a week to see how the value of these cars sit, and frankly I just found on my local craigslist several for 5K - 8K, most are slammed to the ground on cheap suspension, have stupid stickers all over them, wiring all over the place, lights on all over the dash, but hell, big stereo and fancy wheels right?

Not trying to be a debbie downer, I've just seen MANY fail trying to come up with a market for these cars.. hell look at the big guys, Dinan, Alpina, AA, do they still have anything? Not really.. and the small guys are branching out to larger markets, E46 --->

Just do your research! And if you have some great ideas I wish you the best of success.. I do like folks adding value to these cars!

This is very very true, unfortunately. Most older cars go through this phase, and very few of them have a resurgence in the aftermarket afterwards. We are already incredibly lucky with the amount of parts and ongoing development for the E30, it's way above what most other cars of this age have on offer.

That said, most parts are already made by someone. There are 5 main makers of bushings I can think of off the top of my head (AKG, Powerflex, Condor, Turner, Ireland Engineering) and all of them also make the reinforcement parts as well, with new people popping up al the time.

What parts are you thinking of offering? If you want to be successful, it needs to stand out.

[ALYKZANDYR]

The only way that i can see your company surviving is if you offer products that no one else offers like quality exact replica NLA parts or parts commonly damaged like is lips, valences, skirts, MT1, 2 kits etc. But for a price cheaper than an original. But it still has to be as good as original quality.

[Ryan1642]

The only way that i can see your company surviving is if you offer products that no one else offers like quality exact replica NLA parts or parts commonly damaged like is lips, valences, skirts, MT1, 2 kits etc. But for a price cheaper than an original. But it still has to be as good as original quality.

To make things more clear, my parts are top quality, I don't put anything in my car but the best and the first place any of these parts will be appearing (at least in the early stages) is my car. Quality is not an issue, I'm very strick about my process.

This is very very true, unfortunately. Most older cars go through this phase, and very few of them have a resurgence in the aftermarket afterwards. We are already incredibly lucky with the amount of parts and ongoing development for the E30, it's way above what most other cars of this age have on offer.

That said, most parts are already made by someone. There are 5 main makers of bushings I can think of off the top of my head (AKG, Powerflex, Condor, Turner, Ireland Engineering) and all of them also make the reinforcement parts as well, with new people popping up al the time.

What parts are you thinking of offering? If you want to be successful, it needs to stand out.

For now things will be mostly cosmetic until I can fund efforts to make performance parts. things like interior panels, fiberglass products, carbon airboxes, shifters, other accessories and such. After that I have a few ideas for emerging technologies that I haven't seen anywhere else in the automotive world, the e30 community will get it first just because I happen to own an e30.


BTW When did we get this thing?>>>:ST1G:

[henryki]

The only way that i can see your company surviving is if you offer products that no one else offers like quality exact replica NLA parts or parts commonly damaged like is lips, valences, skirts, MT1, 2 kits etc. But for a price cheaper than an original. But it still has to be as good as original quality.

This, my E30 always had a damaged valence on it, and the only reason I didn't repleace it is because I couldn't justify spending a ton of money on a brand new replica one, and didn't see the point in buying one that was slightly less damaged on craigslist for about $100

Also I'd just like to say, I hate URO parts with a passion, I understand you get what you pay for, but I put about 5,000 miles onto mine before the control arm ball joints needed to be looked at again.

[ST1G]

BTW When did we get this thing?>>>:ST1G:

After I pushed for it for 6 months. You can thank JasonC for adding it <3

It's a gif of me out on the ranch.

[Ryan1642]

After I pushed for it for 6 months. You can thank JasonC for adding it <3

It's a gif of me out on the ranch.

haha I'm very grateful, I should find many uses for it

[Ryan1642]

What do you guys think of Allianz. I like how it looks and how it sounds, possible contender? let me know, thanks.