Are OEM parts prices on the rise?

[cobra]

It seems to me that a lot of OEM parts prices I see referenced on this forum are now DOUBLE what they were just a few years ago. Is stock running out on our 15+ year old cars, or is it typical inflation? Is this specific to the E46 or all cars, does anyone know? I'm also referencing prices on realOEM and they are consistently higher. It used to be the case that they were lower at ECS/FCP/etc...

Manufacturers are supposed to make parts available for 10 years, which was 2016 at the latest. I wonder how long til we can't find E46 parts any more.

[lemoose]

Idk but after seeing how the csl boot shot up ive been buying up parts with an added sense of urgency

[jet_dogg]

BMW parts have always risen steadily once a car is out of production, nothing new here.

[Rhythim]

RealOEM's pricing has never been particularly reliable in my experience, plus they haven't updated anything since 12/2019 because BMW AG came down on a bunch of sites with proprietary info around then, NEWTIS.info included.

But yes. Economy of scale enters the fray. The lower the demand for parts as a vehicle ages, the more the overhead rises to manufacture smaller and smaller quantities of said part, which then gets passed on down the line to the consumer.

The factory nav center stack bracket I bought for mine 5 years ago to relocate the HVAC controls was $87. It's now $200+.

*Steps on work-related soapbox* That said, supply chain issues are killing everybody right now. Demand is at all-time highs, raw materials costs are through the roof. Polypropylene is up 170% YOY, for example. 2 years ago it cost around $4000 to ship a 40' container to the West Coast from Asia, now companies are routinely paying north of $25K just to get product. There are currently 30+ loaded container ships anchored off the Port of Los Angeles, when the historic average is 1 or 2. Can't get containers unloaded fast enough, can't find enough drivers to deliver the cans once they are. *Steps off soapbox*

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[Icecream]

BMW parts have always risen steadily once a car is out of production, nothing new here.

True but it's the rate they have skyrocketed. The 6spd conversion thread has prices from a year ago, I'm collecting parts now and it's pretty much costing double what's referenced. That darn gear lever alone is more than double what it used to be. Maybe it has to do with gas costing $5/gallon.

[oceansize]

Almost everything is rising so take your pick as to root causes and how much of that price increase is normal versus our "new normal".

[cobra]

RealOEM's pricing has never been particularly reliable in my experience, plus they haven't updated anything since 12/2019 because BMW AG came down on a bunch of sites with proprietary info around then, NEWTIS.info included.

But yes. Economy of scale enters the fray. The lower the demand for parts as a vehicle ages, the more the overhead rises to manufacture smaller and smaller quantities of said part, which then gets passed on down the line to the consumer.

The factory nav center stack bracket I bought for mine 5 years ago to relocate the HVAC controls was $87. It's now $200+.

*Steps on work-related soapbox* That said, supply chain issues are killing everybody right now. Demand is at all-time highs, raw materials costs are through the roof. Polypropylene is up 170% YOY, for example. 2 years ago it cost around $4000 to ship a 40' container to the West Coast from Asia, now companies are routinely paying north of $25K just to get product. There are currently 30+ loaded container ships anchored off the Port of Los Angeles, when the historic average is 1 or 2. Can't get containers unloaded fast enough, can't find enough drivers to deliver the cans once they are. *Steps off soapbox*

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I feel this. The supply chain stuff in my business is also majorly affecting our suppliers and customers. Prices up everywhere.

But not 100%!

[thegenius46m]

BMW parts have always risen steadily once a car is out of production, nothing new here.

Yup for some of us that watch daily, this is not news lol. Shockingly I have seen some parts come down from pre-covid prices believe it or not. Majority is not that way.

[Tbonem3]

How about those the b pillar/window strips I sent you? $40 to $150 now!!! Glad I snagged one several months ago. They shouldn't go bad, at least.

[jet_dogg]

When i replaced my vanos solenoid pack in 2014 it was 500 and now it's 900.

[thegenius46m]

When i replaced my vanos solenoid pack in 2014 it was 500 and now it's 900.

Paid $700 in 2016 for the same thing. Lol

[repoman89]

I bought a few parts earlier this year out of NLA/price rise paranoia for my CF roof. I’ve been worried about the CSL rails and slick top headliner for a while so grabbed them in preparation. Can’t really think of what else I’d want or need that I want to scoop up.

[zeta4]

A lot of parts for the E46 are becoming NLA even simple ones like vanos o rings. I wanted to replace the lower hood lock mechanism as it was going rusty but they are now NLA and Ive had to use non oem ones.
I suppose its only going to get worse.

[cobra]

So I guess the important question is - what are some consumable items worth "stocking up" on that can't be readily replaced by a generic or aftermarket part? O-rings and fasteners are generally pretty easy. Electronics and special critical components - less so.

[Maxima SE]

I wanted to get a replacement center console and euro tray for a rainy day. Until I realized how expensive they are nowadays.