BMW refused to sell me "M" parts... WTF!
Discussion
God we're all on form today aren't we.
OP is gifted a car.
OP appreciates the look of the iconic E46 CSL, and wants to modify his own lower spec example to look similar.
OP is ironically berated for wanting "sticking cheap CSL tat" on it, when he's making an effort to source genuine parts, hardly cheap tat are they?
God knows it's not my cup of tea, and I certainly wouldn't be doing it if it was my car, but each to their own, and at least it sounds like he's trying to use the correct parts so it doesn't look like a shed.
Last time I looked CSL's were around £35-40k. Some people simply won't ever be in a position to own, run and insure one.
He's not driven it to Halfords and bought an M3 lookalike kit for it, or have I missed that?
OP is gifted a car.
OP appreciates the look of the iconic E46 CSL, and wants to modify his own lower spec example to look similar.
OP is ironically berated for wanting "sticking cheap CSL tat" on it, when he's making an effort to source genuine parts, hardly cheap tat are they?
God knows it's not my cup of tea, and I certainly wouldn't be doing it if it was my car, but each to their own, and at least it sounds like he's trying to use the correct parts so it doesn't look like a shed.
Last time I looked CSL's were around £35-40k. Some people simply won't ever be in a position to own, run and insure one.
He's not driven it to Halfords and bought an M3 lookalike kit for it, or have I missed that?
MajorProblem said:
Great idea.
I'm going to go to xxxxx dealer with a VIN lifted off a car I don't own to get some parts
Basically that's exactly what you do.I'm going to go to xxxxx dealer with a VIN lifted off a car I don't own to get some parts
BMW parts department are a complete and utter pain in the arse. A mate has an M62 V8 lump in his 200SX drift car, and we attempted to source a thermostat housing for it from BMW. We explained exactly what it was and even showed him the part, but he refused to supply it without a registration or VIN, saying he couldn't put it through the system. Utter madness. Got one from a breakers.
No but some people can't appreciate what you are saying.
Obviously they all go and do a sub 8 min lap of the ring before work and then throw their keys on the desk making sure the M badge is prominently viewed by the girl from accounts.
In 95% of situations (not including track) this car will do everything an M car does at a massively reduced price.
We can't all afford the top of the range everything.
Obviously they all go and do a sub 8 min lap of the ring before work and then throw their keys on the desk making sure the M badge is prominently viewed by the girl from accounts.
In 95% of situations (not including track) this car will do everything an M car does at a massively reduced price.
We can't all afford the top of the range everything.
Du1point8 said:
You are about to spend a crap load more than the above on barrying up a 318.
So I dont see the relevance of saying the above is expensive if you spend more than that converting one.
The car isn't going to have mega brakes, high bhp and put more stress on components therefore what ever I do it will be far cheaper to run. So I dont see the relevance of saying the above is expensive if you spend more than that converting one.
D4MJT said:
God we're all on form today aren't we.
OP is gifted a car.
OP appreciates the look of the iconic E46 CSL, and wants to modify his own lower spec example to look similar.
OP is ironically berated for wanting "sticking cheap CSL tat" on it, when he's making an effort to source genuine parts, hardly cheap tat are they?
God knows it's not my cup of tea, and I certainly wouldn't be doing it if it was my car, but each to their own, and at least it sounds like he's trying to use the correct parts so it doesn't look like a shed.
Last time I looked CSL's were around £35-40k. Some people simply won't ever be in a position to own, run and insure one.
He's not driven it to Halfords and bought an M3 lookalike kit for it, or have I missed that?
There's a reason this dealer policy is in place, at least in some countries. And it's got nothing to do with pretentiousness. I don't really care what the OP or any other E46-owner does with their car, as long as it doesn't affect my ability to get parts for mine. When various CSL-specific items run out, BMW don't seem to be in a huge rush to replenish stocks anymoreOP is gifted a car.
OP appreciates the look of the iconic E46 CSL, and wants to modify his own lower spec example to look similar.
OP is ironically berated for wanting "sticking cheap CSL tat" on it, when he's making an effort to source genuine parts, hardly cheap tat are they?
God knows it's not my cup of tea, and I certainly wouldn't be doing it if it was my car, but each to their own, and at least it sounds like he's trying to use the correct parts so it doesn't look like a shed.
Last time I looked CSL's were around £35-40k. Some people simply won't ever be in a position to own, run and insure one.
He's not driven it to Halfords and bought an M3 lookalike kit for it, or have I missed that?
Still think this thread is a wind-up though
Leins said:
There's a reason this dealer policy is in place, at least in some countries. And it's got nothing to do with pretentiousness. I don't really care what the OP or any other E46-owner does with their car, as long as it doesn't affect my ability to get parts for mine. When various CSL-specific items run out, BMW don't seem to be in a huge rush to replenish stocks anymore
Still think this thread is a wind-up though
In terms of new parts it's a fair point.Still think this thread is a wind-up though
OP, have you considered attempting to source the parts you want from a breaker? Obviously a bit harder / rarer, but it can be done.
Leins said:
There's a reason this dealer policy is in place, at least in some countries. And it's got nothing to do with pretentiousness. I don't really care what the OP or any other E46-owner does with their car, as long as it doesn't affect my ability to get parts for mine. When various CSL-specific items run out, BMW don't seem to be in a huge rush to replenish stocks anymore
Still think this thread is a wind-up though
So if you went to BM and they didn't have the part would you be questioning then on who's been buying the stuff? They can put things in place to prevent it but it's not unbeatable. Still think this thread is a wind-up though
1. You will invalidate the insurance as soon as you add anything aftermarket on. The cost to specify sends your insurance up to similar levels, or at least dramatically increases it and you'll still only get market value
2. People who don't know cars will think 'oh there is an old bmw' - so why bother
3. People who do know cars will not be convinced - so why bother
4. The E36 M3 ( I had one ) is the only one where the wings and the other bodywork offered startight bolt on. This I think is partly down to why it was and still firmly is at the nadir of the M3 range by a long way. It was very easily copied ( I feared for my wing mirrors, skirts and bumpers when parked on the street in SW London but it was unmolested ) and so people did and it attracted people that liked to copy things and generally turn away snobbier and more purist types from the car. So they went into the E30 M3 and heated that market up, or stuck with the E46.
5. As the body is different you will have to pay for welding, filler, spraying etc to get the real bits to fit on. This is expensive. End of. If not expensive you will be lucky not to get bubbling and all manner of problems later on from the person doing you a deal cutting corners.
6. You will be a magnet for the police who on ANPR will see 318 and look at what you have created. You will be essentially driving round in a car that says 'i might be a dealer, have holes in my insurance tax!' Unfair you may say but what are you going to do as Traf Pol when years of experience tells you to look twice at this type of car, with continual results. Go on Dave and look at the programs for funny examples time and time again.
7. You will get a very low % of spend back. Saving for something nicer in mint condition with history etc can be quite depreciation proof. E36 M3s seem to have bottomed out at 5-7k for example. So you might end up keeping net worth up longer with a more sensible purchasing decision.
I've tried not to put my opinion on it, just actual facts. If you want to, go for it. I'd do it with eyes open to the above though.
2. People who don't know cars will think 'oh there is an old bmw' - so why bother
3. People who do know cars will not be convinced - so why bother
4. The E36 M3 ( I had one ) is the only one where the wings and the other bodywork offered startight bolt on. This I think is partly down to why it was and still firmly is at the nadir of the M3 range by a long way. It was very easily copied ( I feared for my wing mirrors, skirts and bumpers when parked on the street in SW London but it was unmolested ) and so people did and it attracted people that liked to copy things and generally turn away snobbier and more purist types from the car. So they went into the E30 M3 and heated that market up, or stuck with the E46.
5. As the body is different you will have to pay for welding, filler, spraying etc to get the real bits to fit on. This is expensive. End of. If not expensive you will be lucky not to get bubbling and all manner of problems later on from the person doing you a deal cutting corners.
6. You will be a magnet for the police who on ANPR will see 318 and look at what you have created. You will be essentially driving round in a car that says 'i might be a dealer, have holes in my insurance tax!' Unfair you may say but what are you going to do as Traf Pol when years of experience tells you to look twice at this type of car, with continual results. Go on Dave and look at the programs for funny examples time and time again.
7. You will get a very low % of spend back. Saving for something nicer in mint condition with history etc can be quite depreciation proof. E36 M3s seem to have bottomed out at 5-7k for example. So you might end up keeping net worth up longer with a more sensible purchasing decision.
I've tried not to put my opinion on it, just actual facts. If you want to, go for it. I'd do it with eyes open to the above though.
Congrats OP, a nice gift 
OP, is the gifted car a coupe or saloon? (E46 coupes had a 'Ci' suffix)
E46 M3 (+CSL) has flared arches. Don't think the bits you want will be simple bolt on without other extensive mods.
Buy some nice alloy wheels (Alpina, BMW OEM etc), perhaps upgrade to leather interior (plenty of sets on ebay), otherwise I'd leave as is tbh.
Any photos of the car?
OP, is the gifted car a coupe or saloon? (E46 coupes had a 'Ci' suffix)
E46 M3 (+CSL) has flared arches. Don't think the bits you want will be simple bolt on without other extensive mods.
Buy some nice alloy wheels (Alpina, BMW OEM etc), perhaps upgrade to leather interior (plenty of sets on ebay), otherwise I'd leave as is tbh.
Any photos of the car?
D4MJT said:
OP is ironically berated for wanting "sticking cheap CSL tat" on it, when he's making an effort to source genuine parts, hardly cheap tat are they?
Do you know what irony is? Have you read the initial post - the OP can't get original parts so what d'you think he'll do? Oh look he's considering second hand parts off another barried E46. So yes, cheap CSL tat.OP - love the last jpeg, your 1.8 will look banging with orange CSL alloys.
MajorProblem said:
So if you went to BM and they didn't have the part would you be questioning then on who's been buying the stuff? They can put things in place to prevent it but it's not unbeatable.
It's been an open secret for a long time that people have got around the system, especially in the US, but it still isn't right IMO. How would you like it if you couldn't use your car for months due to something similar?I did say I'd sort the colour. I don't see what the problem is. The M brand has been on mass dilution since they realised how well the E30 did.
With the M accessories and M sport spec I can't see what harm a replica will do, in fact it could be seen as supporting and promoting the brand.
With the M accessories and M sport spec I can't see what harm a replica will do, in fact it could be seen as supporting and promoting the brand.
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