Stealer v Factor
Stealer v Factor
Author
Discussion

Marto

Original Poster:

610 posts

236 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
Flywheel for E39 M5 (Luk manufacturer - so the same part in a different box)

Stealer = £1000
Factor = £500

Summation = Robin Hood
bandit

mmm-five

12,140 posts

308 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
Original manufacturer does not necessarily equal original quality.

Some licences specifically prohibit the part manufacturer from selling the same product in parallel to supplying the dealerships.

Marto

Original Poster:

610 posts

236 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
Original manufacturer does not necessarily equal original quality.

Some licences specifically prohibit the part manufacturer from selling the same product in parallel to supplying the dealerships.
Interesting point. Would be informative to know the difference between a Luk DMF and a BMW/Luk DMF....

mmm-five

12,140 posts

308 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
Some factors do sell genuine items at half the price of the stealers, so you may find what you need at GSF/ECP or maybe bmminiparts.

The problem is that you may never get a straight answer from anyone - and there may not be any difference between the two items, although you also have to be wary of counterfeit parts too! As long as you buy from somewhere reputable, you'll got a good chance of sorting it out should something go wrong.

The motor factors will assure you it's 'as good as' the original, but unless it says 'genuine' then you can't guarantee anything.

The dealer will tell you that the only way to guarantee an original & genuine part is to buy from them.

The part manufacturer probably won't tell you anything.

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 3rd June 15:32

Marto

Original Poster:

610 posts

236 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
Some factors do sell genuine items at half the price of the stealers, so you may find what you need at GSF/ECP or maybe bmminiparts.

The problem is that you may never get a straight answer from anyone - and there may not be any difference between the two items, although you also have to be wary of counterfeit parts too! As long as you buy from somewhere reputable, you'll got a good chance of sorting it out should something go wrong.

The motor factors will assure you it's 'as good as' the original, but unless it says 'genuine' then you can't guarantee anything.

The dealer will tell you that the only way to guarantee an original & genuine part is to buy from them.

The part manufacturer probably won't tell you anything.

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 3rd June 15:32
Fair points raised. The work is being done by my local indie. He is ex-dealer 'M' tech trained, runs an M5 himself and races an E36 M3, so I have faith that he knows what to get. The local factor is well known, so reputable.

M5Dave

829 posts

233 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
At £500 vs £1,000, I think I'd take my chance with the part in a LUK box from a reputable motor factor, rather than a BMW box from the dealer.

mysticm

94 posts

188 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
tip from the factor side, if you buy a luk clutch, it shouldn't have a luk sticker on any part of the clutch nono, new luk are stamped up into clutch, luk with stickers on the clutch part are reconditioned and are imported from europe, luk uk will not sell a recon clutch, so just make sure when your pricing up its a new original one..thumbup

M5Tom

345 posts

193 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
I have a used but seriously mint genuine BMW LUK Flywheel. It's done 60,000 miles but hasn't worn at all! The original milling grooves are still visible......If you're interested?

Otherwise, you can get a brand new LUK flywheel for £250 from the below people.

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/clutch-parts-final.php...

Marto

Original Poster:

610 posts

236 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
quotequote all
Engine code looks right, so I would say 'Aye'!

Thanks to all for your input to the topic......Appreciated.

Marto

ecain63

10,641 posts

199 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
quotequote all
I researched this back in march when my E61 M5 clutch went south. LUK make both the BMW item and the LUK alternative. According to the LUK head-shed there is no difference between the two items in either quality or spec. The only difference is the BMW item leaves the factory with a BMW part number stamped into it and is packaged in a BMW box. The LUK item leaves the factory with an LUK part number stamped into it and is in an LUK box, oh and has a 50% price drop over the BMW one.

However if you need to keep your warranty intact I'd always buy BMW. If not, you don't need to be a scientist to choose.

Eddie

naefeart

147 posts

187 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
quotequote all
Some useful points in this thread, I will go Luk too when my clutch gives up the ghost.

Marto said:
The work is being done by my local indie. He is ex-dealer 'M' tech trained, runs an M5 himself and races an E36 M3, so I have faith that he knows what to get.
Your local Indie, sounds like my local Indie wink

custardkid

2,514 posts

248 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
Z4MC:

Dealer Factor
brake pads x4 Texar £180 £80
finger Coil £130(unknown brand) £33 Bosh


Custard

mmm-five

12,140 posts

308 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
Pat172 said:
With regards keeping the warranty, im very sure am item like the LUK Clutch would carry a block exception. Meaning that it cannot be used as an excuse for not covering warranty.

Like you said its the same part, simply has a LUK part number inplace of the BMW one
The warranty booklet doesn't specifically mention 'maintenance' rather than 'service', so don't know if there's also an exclusion for parts fitted DIY or at an indy. Maybe they're using 'service' as a catch all?

BMW Insured Warranty Booklet said:
1. When servicing your BMW, failure to comply with the service schedule recommended by BMW may invalidate this warranty. All service and warranty work must be carried out by an Authorised BMW Dealer or BMW Service Authorised Workshop using only Genuine BMW Parts. Your BMW Service Booklet should be stamped, dated and detailed with the correct mileage at the time of service by the servicing dealer.
So if it doesn't have the BMW code/stamp in it, it will not be classed as a 'Genuine BMW Part'.

Won't matter for things that aren't covered anyway, such as clutch & brake friction surfaces - which the flywheel is not part of.

Marto

Original Poster:

610 posts

236 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
naefeart said:
Your local Indie, sounds like my local Indie wink
With a moniker of 'Naefeart' you must be from these here parts!!

ecain63

10,641 posts

199 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
So if it doesn't have the BMW code/stamp in it, it will not be classed as a 'Genuine BMW Part'.

Won't matter for things that aren't covered anyway, such as clutch & brake friction surfaces - which the flywheel is not part of.
Unless of course you have a part failure like mine had in March (clutch release bearing) in which case you'll be looking for a warranty resolution.

mmm-five

12,140 posts

308 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
ecain63 said:
Unless of course you have a part failure like mine had in March (clutch release bearing) in which case you'll be looking for a warranty resolution.
Of course, and this can be a deciding factor aroudn whether you buy a BMW warranty or an aftermarket one, as aftermarket ones might not cover parts damaged by the failed part - i.e. they would cover the cost of a failed VANOS, but not of the whole engine if it went kaboom.

naefeart

147 posts

187 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
Marto said:
With a moniker of 'Naefeart' you must be from these here parts!!
Guilty as charged m'lud.

Don't see many M5s round this way. If Kevin is looking after your car, you won't go far wrong.

M5Tom

345 posts

193 months

Wednesday 8th June 2011
quotequote all
Pat172 said:
Hi guys,

Is this the one?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_5+Series_M5_...

Genunie LUK one and instock with 15% off - They have a promotion on Clutches, DMF and CSC - use promo code CLUTCH15 if you want it!

Pat
Did no one hear me? smile

This place is a BARGAIN for genuine LUK clutches and Flywheels......MUCH cheaper than Euros....

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/clutch-parts-final.php...

You try and do people a favour.............

And no, I don't have any commercial interest in them. Just trying to save my ///M brothers some money.

I'm a nice bloke.

Carlton Banks

3,674 posts

260 months

Thursday 9th June 2011
quotequote all
Interesting.

I did a lot of research when I was looking to purchase a z3m Coupe years ago and in particular Vanos.

Now, the Vanos was generally manufactured by two companies - Roll's Royce or Sachs.

BMW seemed to have replaced the vanos using units from both companies under warranty across a few cars I researched.

I am lead to believe that one part was BMW the approved and the other was stamped as something else.

Can anyone confirm.

The reason this relevant is that it might stand up as some rationale if they had an issue with a LUK clutch as opposed to a heavily marked up BMW LUK clutch.