Did I Make a Mistake?

[ugaexploder]

Really love this car, but as I am trying to locate certain parts for this car..I’m starting to wonder if it was a mistake buying this car.

Just looking in to a crystal ball…but is everything going to be this difficult to procure on this car?

Already started a topic on headliners…but I just tried ordering some CSL front sway bushings, and they get blocked from BMW Germany?

Does BMW hate the US market or something? I just don’t understand, someone please help talk me off the plank.

[repoman89]

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...1-35-2-282-656

Easy enough to get BMW Europe parts through Schmiedmann (a Danish dealer who figured out it’s good business to ship to the US)

[ugaexploder]

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...1-35-2-282-656

Easy enough to get BMW Europe parts through Schmiedmann (a Danish dealer who figured out it’s good business to ship to the US)

Looks like I will have to do a better job at planning. This ultimately is my fault, just need to do a better job of planning out projects and sourcing everything before starting. Thanks for your input.

[Sharocks]

Honestly, you got into this car about 5 years too late.

If your intention is to build something OEM+ with factory CSL parts you missed the window by a good 5 years.

Yes, you can still source stuff AKA you will pay, a lot.

If this car is a leisure vehicle and you want to keep it for future value, I would recommend leaving it alone lol.

If you're building it with a specific goal in mind, I would invest in a whiteboard and re-plan out how because the way the parts are looking, I'm hoarding haha.

[Slideways]

Hotchkis, GC, Turner, Eibach, H&R all make sway bars for the E46. There are options.

[ugaexploder]

Honestly, you got into this car about 5 years too late.

If your intention is to build something OEM+ with factory CSL parts you missed the window by a good 5 years.

Yes, you can still source stuff AKA you will pay, a lot.

If this car is a leisure vehicle and you want to keep it for future value, I would recommend leaving it alone lol.

If you're building it with a specific goal in mind, I would invest in a whiteboard and re-plan out how because the way the parts are looking, I'm hoarding haha.

You are not wrong. I think back about 3-4 years ago, I should’ve bought an e46 instead of an f82. I think ultimately, that’s where I went wrong. The carbon fiber interior bits and all that twin turbo power fooled me. I was in talks of trading the f82 for an e46 from EAG a few years ago…probably should have looking back at it.

Hopefully, I won’t run in to many more issues with trying to source OEM parts.

Car is at a local shop waiting to get started on subframe reinforcement, bushings, and suspension overhaul. I think the problem here was that I started with just subframe reinforcement, now I’m changing every rubber mount/bushing possible. One month in, already $18k in parts 😂😂😂

[ugaexploder]

Hotchkis, GC, Turner, Eibach, H&R all make sway bars for the E46. There are options.

I was able to buy a new csl front sway which is the main reason i’m going down this path. I’ve had hotchkis in the past on a different platform and indifferent on them. not a big poly fan for sway bushings either so that starts to limit options

I guess I’m just having a hard time understanding why BMW makes it difficult to source parts depending on your geography. Especially for a global brand that probably makes 25% of its revenue in spare parts.

As Sharocks mentioned, I’m 5 years late and on the wrong continent apparently.

[9kracing]

Where'd you buy the bushings from? I see them available on ECS and Turners.

[ugaexploder]

Where'd you buy the bushings from? I see them available on ECS and Turners.

I tried getbmwparts but they mentioned that sometimes CSL parts destined for NA gets shut down or blocked.

i believe the ones on ecs/turner ships in November.

[Sharocks]

You are not wrong.

One month in, already $18k in parts 😂😂😂

18k in parts?

Bro what?

Are they making these parts for you?

Also quoted the only parts that mattered, hope you don't mind hehe.

[ugaexploder]

haha i don’t mind at all

yeah that’s for all parts purchased so far so that includes stuff like bavsound speakers, karbonius cf roof, etc

i need to chill, ngl 😂😂😂

[Sharocks]

haha i don’t mind at all

yeah that’s for all parts purchased so far so that includes stuff like bavsound speakers, karbonius cf roof, etc

i need to chill, ngl 😂😂😂

Ahh okay, that includes mods.

Fair enough.

I thought you were 18k into OE bushings.

FCP everything and send me the savings lol

[karter16]

Ahh okay, that includes mods.

Fair enough.

I thought you were 18k into OE bushings.

FCP everything and send me the savings lol

Yeah me too haha - I was like “sheesh inflation has really hit since I did mine” 😂


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[dHam_Slow.46M]

I tried getbmwparts but they mentioned that sometimes CSL parts destined for NA gets shut down or blocked.

i believe the ones on ecs/turner ships in November.

To be (un)fair, ECS/Turners(same company, different locations now) are trash. There's a whole FB group dedicated to stories of how they literally never have anything in stock and constantly shipping wrong/broken parts.

FCP is always a good start.

And to add some actual to the thread, I'm in the same boat. I sold my e46m to a friend years 8yrs ago when I had to move out of country (highly regret, do not recommend). When I moved back 3 years ago, I had the opportunity to buy it back thinking I can start back on the project I left off but seeing all the NLA/price hikes has me only driving the car to the gym/grocery store now.