Create list of NLA parts
- Thread starter Sajk
- Start date
Bit of info I got from a BMW dealer who rebuilt the front end of a Z4M last year...
A lot of parts aren't NLA as such, but some of the manufactures who made parts went bust or out of business during the post COVID era and new manufacturers had to be found.
A lot of the new manufacturers who were offered to make various parts had to pass certain levels of QA on the parts and didn't, hence why ETA's often move. Prime example being the bonnet which were presumed NLA for some time but I believe you can buy again now albeit at some cost. Same with the oil coolers.
I don't know how much of that is true but the dealer / parts guy I spoke to had no reason to make up a story on the spot and pretty elaborate if they did! Probably not to say some parts will stay NLA and no doubt other factors are at play, but seemed a reasonable explanation to me. Doesn't help of course if you need a part urgently for whatever reason and the ETA keeps moving.
I imagine for an an older car sold in limited numbers there's not a lot of push to get it sorted either in any sort of quick timeframe, also true for the E46 and some of it's parts.
Dealer said it took them a year and a half to rebuild the front end of a Z4M because of part availability and that's a dealer pushing BMW to get parts to repair a customers car, is what it is I suppose, joy's of owning what is in reality a 'classic' car now in many senses.
The top radiator hose not being available at the moment doesn't necessarily mean it won't be available ever again, it was available up until very recently (this year) as I was looking at doing a cooling refresh and all the parts were available around May time I think it was. If you need parts now best bet is eBay and keep an eye out for cars being broken, not ideal but better than nothing.
A lot of parts aren't NLA as such, but some of the manufactures who made parts went bust or out of business during the post COVID era and new manufacturers had to be found.
A lot of the new manufacturers who were offered to make various parts had to pass certain levels of QA on the parts and didn't, hence why ETA's often move. Prime example being the bonnet which were presumed NLA for some time but I believe you can buy again now albeit at some cost. Same with the oil coolers.
I don't know how much of that is true but the dealer / parts guy I spoke to had no reason to make up a story on the spot and pretty elaborate if they did! Probably not to say some parts will stay NLA and no doubt other factors are at play, but seemed a reasonable explanation to me. Doesn't help of course if you need a part urgently for whatever reason and the ETA keeps moving.
I imagine for an an older car sold in limited numbers there's not a lot of push to get it sorted either in any sort of quick timeframe, also true for the E46 and some of it's parts.
Dealer said it took them a year and a half to rebuild the front end of a Z4M because of part availability and that's a dealer pushing BMW to get parts to repair a customers car, is what it is I suppose, joy's of owning what is in reality a 'classic' car now in many senses.
The top radiator hose not being available at the moment doesn't necessarily mean it won't be available ever again, it was available up until very recently (this year) as I was looking at doing a cooling refresh and all the parts were available around May time I think it was. If you need parts now best bet is eBay and keep an eye out for cars being broken, not ideal but better than nothing.
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I tried to order the hose yesterday at my local dealer after reading it was NLA and BMWs ordering system automatically canceled the order stating it expected more than 60 weeks to fill the request. I also tried to purchase from mlperformance.co.uk who listed the item as in stock. Unfortunately I paid before I read the reviews. Mlperformance.co.uk appear to be scammers who list parts as in stock, take the money and never deliver. Their phones are out of service and they don't answer email. My bad,