I am not sure if any of you are aware of this or not but NAPA Auto Parts has available many OE parts for your BMW. Genuine Parts (NAPA) has bought or partnered with a company called ALTROM. Altrom Group is one of North America's leading wholesale distributors of OEM import car parts and top quality alternatives, offering the right fit, form, function and color. Founded over 35 years ago Altrom offers a network of 17 warehouses with over 400,000 sq. ft. across Canada and North-West USA. Coverage for over 40 import car makes. With more than 3 million unique catalogue applications.
NAPA Distribution Centers stock a lot of these parts. Check with your local NAPA or NAPA on line at http://www.napaonline.com/default.aspx before you pay more for the same part at the Dealer. If your store doesn’t have it in stock they can usually get it from their NAPA D.C. the next day in some cases even the same day.
This is just a sample of the German Manufacturers supplied to NAPA via Altrom (ATM):
Textar, GMB, Mann, Mahle, Bern, Pagid, ***, Zimmermann, Meistersatz, Brembo, Bando, Contitech (Continental), GKN, Sachs, Ruville, Bosch, Victor Reinz, Graf, Febi - Bilstein, Elring, Hella, Kolbenschnik, FTE, Beru, Luqui - Moly, Lubro - Moly, Pentosin, Vaico, and Zymöl.
I have my E46 serviced by a mechanic that worked at the dealer but does some work at home too. He installs what I bring him and he has been very impressed that these parts came from NAPA. He says it is the exact same part they have at the dealer and in most cases it even has the same OE BMW part number.
Give them a try.
Rob
NAPA Distribution Centers stock a lot of these parts. Check with your local NAPA or NAPA on line at http://www.napaonline.com/default.aspx before you pay more for the same part at the Dealer. If your store doesn’t have it in stock they can usually get it from their NAPA D.C. the next day in some cases even the same day.
This is just a sample of the German Manufacturers supplied to NAPA via Altrom (ATM):
Textar, GMB, Mann, Mahle, Bern, Pagid, ***, Zimmermann, Meistersatz, Brembo, Bando, Contitech (Continental), GKN, Sachs, Ruville, Bosch, Victor Reinz, Graf, Febi - Bilstein, Elring, Hella, Kolbenschnik, FTE, Beru, Luqui - Moly, Lubro - Moly, Pentosin, Vaico, and Zymöl.
I have my E46 serviced by a mechanic that worked at the dealer but does some work at home too. He installs what I bring him and he has been very impressed that these parts came from NAPA. He says it is the exact same part they have at the dealer and in most cases it even has the same OE BMW part number.
Give them a try.
Rob