Taken the plunge

Tier 1 suppliers are either current / past suppliers to BMW and folks like Audi / Mercedes

Tier 2 suppliers are people who make parts that could be fitted to BMW/Audi/Mercedes that balance price vs quality..but BMW wouldn’t fit them on the production line..

Tier 3 suppliers are people who make parts where cost of production is the priority..discussions start with ..what’s the cheapest part I can use..

So tier 1 suppliers are folks like Continental, Pierburg, Bosch, NGK, Lemforder, Mahle, TRW, Brembo, Zimmerman, Textar, ATE etc

Tier 2 suppliers typically are folks like ABS, Febi Bilstein , NTY , Meyle and many others

Tier 3 are essentially no name entities or house branded

Of course it’s never that simple at the edges…sometimes Tier 2 get hold of tier 1 products under their brand names..sometimes sadly they offer tier 3 products ..
Blimey who knew buying parts could be so complex?
I get all mine from Temu. They last about a month but at £1.99 each it's just time consuming, not expensive. ;)
 
Blimey who knew buying parts could be so complex?
I get all mine from Temu. They last about a month but at £1.99 each it's just time consuming, not expensive. ;)
Must try their hybrid turbos...£3.98 and only £1,650 to fit and lasts a month? -:)
 
I'm pretty sure the OE supplier was Pierburg. My Indy bought from BMW and charged me £500 for just the pump in 2015!

But when my 325i needed one he must have bought elsewhere as he charged about £300 for that one. Supplied and fitted in 2018 the invoice was for £541. :)
 
I'm pretty sure the OE supplier was Pierburg. My Indy bought from BMW and charged me £500 for just the pump in 2015!

But when my 325i needed one he must have bought elsewhere as he charged about £300 for that one. Supplied and fitted in 2018 the invoice was for £541. :)
Apparently Pierburg AND Conti vied at various times
 
Last time I looked, Autodox did Pierburg water pumps for about £250. I wouldn't buy a no-name one for £350.

I'm also still struggling to get back up off the floor at the £1200 quote. Ye gods.
 
I do like a bit of research having never heard of INA I’ve discovered -
INA (part of the Schaeffler Group) is a major global supplier to virtually all of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers. As an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specializing in engine, transmission, and chassis components, INA products are used directly in the production of vehicles
Schaeffler Group own Continental having acquired them in 2008!
Forgive my nerdy side. I am quite interesting really 😆
 
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