///Official BMW Performance Intake & Strut Bar & Everything Else Thread

Originally Posted by grandcarrera

^what are all those tubes in the drug bin?

A still to make moonshine.

(Older ABS/DSC control unit. Some are on the other side underneath the brake fluid reservoir.)

Originally Posted by I8UrCat

Ya the M56 is pretty bland looking.

Lol i know. Its one of those things i wish i knew about before buying.

Originally Posted by I8UrCat

Ya the M56 is pretty bland looking.

glad you caught on.

Woot just got my bar from ECS....

Originally Posted by E46 Coupe

Woot just got my bar from ECS....

Hamann HM2 ftw

Originally Posted by E46 Coupe

Woot just got my bar from ECS....

Thanks for the order!!

Be sure to post pics!

Still waiting for both of mine, Joe, how's my RMA coming along?

(And I will post pics when done.)

UPS tried to deliver once, then I told them to hold for Will Call...when I go to pick up the packages the UPS store tells me they sent them back to ECS >_> wtf <3 UPS~

Meanwhile my car is in the shop with thermostat issues : / They gave me a 328Ci with ///M package as a loaner...hope I get my parts before I get my car back ><

Originally Posted by maxavier

UPS tried to deliver once, then I told them to hold for Will Call...when I go to pick up the packages the UPS store tells me they sent them back to ECS >_> wtf <3 UPS~

Meanwhile my car is in the shop with thermostat issues : / They gave me a 328Ci with ///M package as a loaner...hope I get my parts before I get my car back ><

What does the ///M Package consist of? Sounds rare.

BTW, MSRP for that intake is just $357.14 and not $1K like ECS tuning is displaying. But paying even $284 for just 3 hp.... Hmmm.... I'd better save for Dynavin... Or interior upgrades/fixes.... Or even exterior (such as a new front bumper).... (I am not even talking about useless strut bar for another ~$300....). Just my 2c.

Originally Posted by Nervous

BTW, MSRP for that intake is just $357.14 and not $1K like ECS tuning is displaying. But paying even $284 for just 3 hp.... Hmmm.... I'd better save for Dynavin... Or interior upgrades/fixes.... Or even exterior (such as a new front bumper).... (I am not even talking about useless strut bar for another ~$300....). Just my 2c.

The entire thread would have been nothing without your .02 cents, thank you for your time and thoughts, the thread is now complete, it can now be closed.

Originally Posted by N89

What does the ///M Package consist of? Sounds rare.

I haven't done a whole lot of research, but looks like black ceiling liner, body kit, shadowline trim around the windows, M steering wheel, M pedals and finally M plate door sills that makes you do a double take when you get in the car ><. The car is black with cream interior, totally clashes with the anthracite headliner : /

The suspension could be altered and the wheels could be special, pure speculation since I don't look at or drive a lot of new 3's : p

Meanwhile...my car is ready to be picked up and no sign of parts T.T

Originally Posted by N89

The entire thread would have been nothing without your .02 cents, thank you for your time and thoughts, the thread is now complete, it can now be closed.

Just received my intake from ecs tuning, hopefully I'll be able to install tomorrow.

I wish I could say something good about my experience with ecs, but after ordering intake and exhaust at the original sales price and confirming that order over the phone, I wasn't too happy to have them email me a full business week later to cancel my exhaust order, stating it was now out of stock and that I can purchase it at full price ($900).

Good thing I decided against ordering it, because they had another sale on the exhaust for 600 only a week after.

I'll be taking my business else when if I decide to order the exhaust and strut tower bar come summer.

anyone tried to fit this on an m3?? probably won't fit over the engine but curious. i'd hate to have to sell and not use on the M3

Originally Posted by bensonious

Good thing I decided against ordering it, because they had another sale on the exhaust for 600 only a week after.

That was probably to sell product returns.

I've noticed a trend where "sale" isn't to reduce inventory on new product that hadn't yet sold, but to clear out returned product that is no longer factory packaged and can't be sold as new. "Sale" is the new "clearance." You think you're getting a special price on new products that were discontinued, but instead you get scuffed, scratched, mishandled used products. But since the item had never been "officially" used (the strut didn't fit during installation so nobody actually drove with it, or the exhaust wasn't ever actually run on the engine, etc.) they're repackaged and represented as new. This means that you're paying for the company's liberal return policy and reluctance to handle returns fairly. (Restocking fees aren't supposed to be a profit center.)

Hey, used crap might even just be mixed in with new, so most customers don't have any problem and then wonder what you're complaining about.

Just last week I go to buy an office chair at Staples and they bring out a banged up re-taped box - the chair was clearly returned. (Like I wanted a chair that probably has missing pieces, was mishandled and likely damaged by some other moron.) It was just put on the counter and the lady started to ring it up. Hell no. They didn't have the courtesy to even ask, "We only have this returned item left, do you want that?"

I've even seen things like paint cans 2/3rds full that were just put back on the shelf to be sold as new. Why does everybody have to be out to cheat everybody else? I really just don't get that.

So a new sale on items after they were out of stock? Ask me how I know they ain't new product.

Originally Posted by mach.schnell

That was probably to sell product returns.

I've noticed a trend where "sale" isn't to reduce inventory on new product that hadn't yet sold, but to clear out returned product that is no longer factory packaged and can't be sold as new. "Sale" is the new "clearance." You think you're getting a special price on new products that were discontinued, but instead you get scuffed, scratched, mishandled used products. But since the item had never been "officially" used (the strut didn't fit during installation so nobody actually drove with it, or the exhaust wasn't ever actually run on the engine, etc.) they're repackaged and represented as new. This means that you're paying for the company's liberal return policy and reluctance to handle returns fairly. (Restocking fees aren't supposed to be a profit center.)

Hey, used crap might even just be mixed in with new, so most customers don't have any problem and then wonder what you're complaining about.

Just last week I go to buy an office chair at Staples and they bring out a banged up re-taped box - the chair was clearly returned. (Like I wanted a chair that probably has missing pieces, was mishandled and likely damaged by some other moron.) It was just put on the counter and the lady started to ring it up. Hell no. They didn't have the courtesy to even ask, "We only have this returned item left, do you want that?"

I've even seen things like paint cans 2/3rds full that were just put back on the shelf to be sold as new. Why does everybody have to be out to cheat everybody else? I really just don't get that.

So a new sale on items after they were out of stock? Ask me how I know they ain't new product.

I could not have said it any better. I just got done dealing with a company who practices business that way which is very wrong and fraudulent. Watch out who you order from and read up a lot before ordering.

*sigh* just got in my bar and intake from ECS, UPS tried to not give it to me after I drove 45 minutes on ice to pick the damn stuff up because they were under "EMERGENCY CONDITIONS!!". Emergency Conditions is code for a snow-day in Dallas. All their drivers were just standing around shooting the ****. Took me an hour to convince them they had nothing better to do than walk to the building and get them for me -_-;; (this was after UPS sent the items back from the shipper, so they've been across the country 4 times now!)

By the time I received the boxes they were so fcked up I could literally fist the strut bar box! I opened the intake and of course the little clippy things were jacked up on the intake nozzle that faces the front of the car.

To be honest I'm tired of dealing with this ****, I'll repair the damn thing myself. Level of effort from ECS and UPS towards customer service was mediocre at best and took a lot of hand holding, prodding and hinting to meet any sort of minimum levels. But to be fair, UPS started and ended the **** storm. I'd bother posting pics, but I think we all know what it will look like when it's done. My engine bay is black inside, just like my soul.

P.S. The only person that went above and beyond his responsibilities was Joe. He answered a phone call, which as the 'forums guy' isn't really in his job description. Thanks : )

Originally Posted by bensonious

Just received my intake from ecs tuning, hopefully I'll be able to install tomorrow.

I'll be taking my business else when if I decide to order the exhaust and strut tower bar come summer.

Originally Posted by maxavier

P.S. The only person that went above and beyond his responsibilities was Joe. He answered a phone call, which as the 'forums guy' isn't really in his job description. Thanks : )

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences regarding your most recent orders.

If anyone ever has any similar situations , please feel free to PM or email me directly with any questions or concerns. I will do everything I can to take care of you and make right any issues you might have!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you! Our number one goal is to be the best advocate to the BMW Community! I personally bleed the blue & white and will always try to help any way I can!

Best regards,
Joe