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Volvo240GLT 
Groupie
Joined: 26-June-2005
Location: Aylesbury
Status: Offline
Points: 66
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 Topic: Where do you buy parts?
Posted: 08-February-2006 at 03:06 |
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Does anyone use Bavarian Autosport or similar place (are there others?) or do you go to the dealer? GSF maybe?
Thanks
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Cheers
Henrik Morsing
'89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70
'89 BMW 635CSi Highline Motorsport
'70 Chevrolet Chevelle (Malibu) 350/350
Previous cars
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'76 Volvo 244GL B21E/M40
'87 Chevrolet El Camino 305/200r4
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thepits
Moderator Group
Joined: 09-July-2003
Location: far far away
Status: Offline
Points: 10000473
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Posted: 08-February-2006 at 04:11 |
 Volvo240GLT wrote:
Does anyone use Bavarian Autosport or similar place (are there others?) or do you go to the dealer? GSF maybe?
Thanks |
Although this is in a 6 series forum, I'm sure the answer is the same for all Beemers - it depends what you want!
the dealer is not always the most expensive - shop around - that what I do for my E30 M3. 
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Cats know your every thought.
But don't care.
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UKDaveJ
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 18-November-2004
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Status: Offline
Points: 529
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Posted: 08-February-2006 at 08:15 |
thepits makes a valid point. I use the following in no particular order, but I always take the time to check prices........ Local BMW dealer, my local GSF, my local ECP, Motormec, local car factor. Note the point of local! I have made good friends of the managers at GSF(harder somehow at ECP....), it helps loads with all sorts of things, not least on price - I get proper trade because of this friendly attitude, we know each other on first name terms, I always collect/call in...... 
Edited by UKDaveJ
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My 635's.
 
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RossM6/635
Groupie
Joined: 26-May-2004
Location: Hampshire
Status: Offline
Points: 63
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Posted: 08-February-2006 at 17:40 |
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Its always a very good tip tp get to know your local BMW dealer . I
have a very good dealer in Chandlers Ford near Southampton. They will
go to great lengths to match or beat any price from other suppliers for
BMW parts.
Regards
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Ross
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UKDaveJ
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 18-November-2004
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Status: Offline
Points: 529
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Posted: 08-February-2006 at 17:48 |
RossM6/635 wrote:
Its always a very good tip tp get to know your local BMW dealer . I
have a very good dealer in Chandlers Ford near Southampton. They will
go to great lengths to match or beat any price from other suppliers for
BMW parts.
Regards
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If its Rydale (as we have round here...), you'd struggle to get a cup of coffee let alone anyone actually giving a ****! I've tried hard, but reckon I can do a better job of juggling jelly.....
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My 635's.
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Volvo240GLT
Groupie
Joined: 26-June-2005
Location: Aylesbury
Status: Offline
Points: 66
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Posted: 09-February-2006 at 02:24 |
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Unfortunately BMW dealers aren't open on Saturdays so I have to go to the one near work. That means Scotthall in Garston (Watford). They're ****! Very unfriendly and unhelpful and most likely wouldn't match any price.
I'll avoid going there if possible.
But - does anyone know what brands GSF sell for filters (oil, fuel, air etc) and what about ignition parts like rotor, cap etc? And talking about ignition parts, I saw a discussion a while ago (might have been on bigcoupe) about spark plugs and internal resistance but I can't find it again. Which spark plugs do you recommend?
Thanks...
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Cheers
Henrik Morsing
'89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70
'89 BMW 635CSi Highline Motorsport
'70 Chevrolet Chevelle (Malibu) 350/350
Previous cars
-----
'76 Volvo 244GL B21E/M40
'87 Chevrolet El Camino 305/200r4
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phb10186
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 18-April-2005
Location: North London
Status: Offline
Points: 331
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Posted: 09-February-2006 at 06:25 |
I don't rate Scotthall either - I occassionally use them if I need a fairly minor thing, but nothing major. The parts people at Scotthalll are often a bit... hmm... useless is the best word really.
The guy at my local Scotthall has such a bad case of red eye, that he either has a fairly substantial eye infection, or he has been smoking those funny green cigarrettes too often, and thus keeps hitting the wrong keys on the keyboard for me.
Its very hard to find people who will help out in and around London, as everyone is in such a ruch all the time.
A franchise dealer has very little interest in owners like us, as they know that people who have newer BMW's and spend loads servicing them at the dealer are the ones that bring in the money (and of course they do) - not the old sod who wants a door knob rubber for a 20 year old car!
Companies like UKdave has suggested are good places to start.
Motormec is used by a lot of people - but it is important to call around.
We all prefer to see the part that we are buying berfore we pay for it, but with these postal-order compainies thats not possible.
Use realoem.com and buy by part number not by part description as it reduces the margain for error.
-Ben
PS. the London scotthall dealers are open from 10-1230 on a saturday if this helps. Nearest ones to you would be Temple fortune, East Finchley/ Highgate or Kingsbury - which are all NW London
Edited by phb10186
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1985 635 CSI with Style 134's
1998 Z3 2.8i
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thepits
Moderator Group
Joined: 09-July-2003
Location: far far away
Status: Offline
Points: 10000473
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Posted: 09-February-2006 at 08:28 |
Volvo240GLT wrote:
Unfortunately BMW dealers aren't open on Saturdays........ |
Your's might not, but the Parts Department for Cotswold in Cheltenham certainly is until 12. 
Sterns when it was in Evesham was the same, no reason to think its changed now it's in Worcester (Nigel?)
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Cats know your every thought.
But don't care.
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UKDaveJ
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 18-November-2004
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Status: Offline
Points: 529
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Posted: 09-February-2006 at 09:24 |
Whydale is as well, best avoided unless really stuck...... 
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My 635's.
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Horsetan
Really Senior Member II
Say Neigh to Gatsos
Joined: 11-April-2003
Location: Please let it be Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 6381
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Posted: 09-February-2006 at 18:34 |
Volvo240GLT wrote:
.....I have to go to the one near work. That means Scotthall in Garston (Watford). They're ****! ... |
If only you knew how close to Rory's stable you were 
Mind you, the petrol at Sainsbury's Garston is quite cheap
Edited by Horsetan
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Brucey
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 07-March-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 744
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Posted: 09-February-2006 at 23:58 |
Volvo240GLT wrote:
But - does anyone know what brands GSF sell for filters (oil, fuel, air etc) and what about ignition parts like rotor, cap etc? And talking about ignition parts, I saw a discussion a while ago (might have been on bigcoupe) about spark plugs and internal resistance but I can't find it again. Which spark plugs do you recommend?
Thanks... |
GSF sell various brands, best checkto see what they have in stock.
U.S. spec cars had resistor plugs in as standard. UK cars don't.
I'm using NGK BP6ET plugs in my '87 635CSi, and they are an appropriate heat rating, but will wear much longer than (say) a BP6ES standard plug. If you don't drive hard, or have the later lower compression motor then BP5ET would be about right. NGK 5 ~ Bosch 8 and NGK 6 ~ Bosch 7.
Genuine BMW plugs are just Bosch non-resistor 8's so far as I can tell.
cheers
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~~~~~~~ Brucey ~~~~~~
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Where do you buy parts?
