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Thread: Does 'Unique' need to be expensive? Part Costs 101

  1. #1
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    Does 'Unique' need to be expensive? Part Costs 101

    I would like someone to start a fresh thread.......

    In a dream world, we could keep this thread alive, and to the point.

    We need someone to start a thread that has a list of common items that are expensive for our Euro cars because they're unique, or at least they're expensive and found on our cars... that can be bought direct from manufacturer or similar for less.

    Examples that come to mind, (but not to my search engine quickly) are fuel pumps, spark plugs and 02 sensors.

    I KNOW that people have found exact duplicates of these type of items from other sources, but it would be nice to group them together in one thread.

    For example, the Walbro pumps are a great example, and well documented as a replacement and upgrade for the Euro 3.2 that requires a 5 bar pump, not the standard E36 one.

    There must be a cheaper alternative for the 02 sensor, as well as the spark plugs....

    Anyone?
    Alex Lipowich
    xyobgyn on AOL

    Trying to make the world a better place with 5 extra throttle bodies at a time.

  2. #2
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    SKF bearing supplier for all wheel bearings, front hubs etc for ~ half price
    cheers, Alan



    1/4 mile-12.92 @ 108.64mph-NA 3.0L m3 daily driver

  3. #3
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    MauiM3Mania is offline Observer/Master Skeptic Moderator
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by morerevsm3 View Post
    SKF bearing supplier for all wheel bearings, front hubs etc for ~ half price
    I think the SKF bearings for BMWs are all dried up. The various parts suppliers I've contacted only sell FAG bearings now. I've even received FAG bearings packaged in SKF boxes.

    Good news is that the FAG bearings have better seals, especially on the rear.

    O2 sensors are pretty much universal these days. The NTK sensors for US cars are excellent quality, and are slimmer so they fit against the firewall/heat padding better than the Bosch. BTW- how much are those sensors from BMW?
    James Muskopf
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  5. #5
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    Good idea, may save some people a few bucks.
    The MAF sensor in my dad's E39 M5 is the same as the NA 2.0 Golf mk IV, 60 bucks instead of over 300.
    The MAF for the S50B3X motors so far seems to be one of a kind, at least to my knowledge. It would be great to find cheaper MAFs, Turner MS sells them for $330. To those of us with the ricey intakes, MAF wear is something to contemplate.
    Actually I suspect another car uses the same piece, but in this case the alternativa will be much more expensive.
    I think the McLaren F1 has the same MAFs. At least the buttons for rolling down the windows are the same as in the E36 .
    Venturing further into the Off topic, the carbon airboxes available for the S50B3X seem to be derived from half a McLaren airbox.
    I've always dreamt of installing a McLaren F1 valve cover in my S50B32, I'd bet it's drop in.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by poweredbyS52 View Post
    Good idea, may save some people a few bucks.
    The MAF sensor in my dad's E39 M5 is the same as the NA 2.0 Golf mk IV, 60 bucks instead of over 300.
    The MAF for the S50B3X motors so far seems to be one of a kind, at least to my knowledge. It would be great to find cheaper MAFs, Turner MS sells them for $330. To those of us with the ricey intakes, MAF wear is something to contemplate.
    Actually I suspect another car uses the same piece, but in this case the alternativa will be much more expensive.
    I think the McLaren F1 has the same MAFs. At least the buttons for rolling down the windows are the same as in the E36 .
    Venturing further into the Off topic, the carbon airboxes available for the S50B3X seem to be derived from half a McLaren airbox.
    I've always dreamt of installing a McLaren F1 valve cover in my S50B32, I'd bet it's drop in.
    Valve covers apparently fit as well.
    I have recently proven a cheaper o2 sensor fitment for the s50b30s.
    The brown "only in Europe" o2 sensor is actually the identical part as those in the us except with a diff connector. I simply popped the pins out of the o2 sensor connector and put them in another old sensor connector I had laying around. I swapped like for like, and it worked fine. The us ones were cheaper simply because I could order through fudgepack, and no international shipping.
    The Original GoldMember!!

  7. #7
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    Bosch universal zirconia sensors are about USD 30 from here.
    http://stores.ebay.com.au/GLOBAL-AUT...QQsofpZ0QQtZkm

    They have the same wire colours as BMW sensors and just cut and splice the BMW plug.
    Regards Philip A

  8. #8
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    Would anybody know what exact fuelpump to replace the stock one with? I'm not 100% sure which Walbro pump will be sufficient.

    Seems like mine is going

    "When I raced a car last it was at a time when sex was safe and racing was dangerous. Now, it's the other way round." -Hans Stuck

  9. #9
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    GS 341 Walbro, I got 2 from here-
    http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=760326
    cheers, Alan



    1/4 mile-12.92 @ 108.64mph-NA 3.0L m3 daily driver

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by morerevsm3 View Post

    Thanks alot, appreciate it

    "When I raced a car last it was at a time when sex was safe and racing was dangerous. Now, it's the other way round." -Hans Stuck

  11. #11
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    Idle Control Valves are pretty expensive, and are NOT the same as on the US model


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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Razziel24 View Post
    Idle Control Valves are pretty expensive, and are NOT the same as on the US model
    yeah, I think that I'll need one soon ... and it's damn expensive at the dealer

  13. #13
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    Ho Ho Ho.
    Would you believe that the idle control valve for a 3 litre is the same Bosch part number as on a 2000 "Thor" V8 Discovery.
    I got one with a Thor manifold I bought to fit to my earlier Range Rover.
    I thought "that looks familiar" and bingo, I have a spare.
    I do not know how much Land Rover charges, but maybe widens the wrecker availability.
    Regards Philip A

  14. #14
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    realbimmer.com is a another way to cross reference BMW parts. once you drilldown to a certain part, you can click on the part # and it will show you all the BMW's that part came on. Ive found tons of parts that the Euro shared with the US E36 cars which are obviosuly easier to source used.

  15. #15
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    Great idea for a sticky!

    IIRC, spark plugs (for the S50B30 anyway) are the same as the US models. At least, the part numbers came up the same when I searched in ETK.

    Waterpumps are not interchangable however, and the Euro versions are a pretty penny more I believe.

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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3MPowered View Post
    Great idea for a sticky!

    IIRC, spark plugs (for the S50B30 anyway) are the same as the US models. At least, the part numbers came up the same when I searched in ETK.

    Waterpumps are not interchangable however, and the Euro versions are a pretty penny more I believe.
    Not true. The plugs are a very different design. And different head size.
    The Original GoldMember!!

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thewiseguy View Post
    Not true. The plugs are a very different design. And different head size.
    Very true, the heat range and length is very different, the spark plugs are longer and if not used in the euro spec engines causes miss fire under load.

  18. #18
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    where can i get spark plugs for the euro spec engine?

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by rookross View Post
    where can i get spark plugs for the euro spec engine?
    S50B32 uses the following spark plugs from what I could gather off the internet.

    NGK (PKR7A) - http://www.ngkpartfinder.co.uk/car_c...ra.php?id=5923
    Denso Iridium (IXU22) - http://www.globaldenso.com/cgi-bin/g...&action=search

    You could check with the local distributor in the US although I did check Denso US site and they don't have the IXU22 listed in their online catalogue.

    Other alternative would be Ebay UK where both plugs are sold there.

  20. #20
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    anyone found a good price on MAF for the S50B32?

  21. #21
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    Anyone know the price of the mclaren f1 rocker cover

  22. #22
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    here is the ngk Canada list for the 3.0 liter euro engine
    http://www.ngksparkplugs.ca/results-...3&aaia=1438543

  23. #23
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    are the power steering pumps the same on both models of the 3 liter? if not anyone have a part number

  24. #24
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    Is the thermostat housing on the b32 the same for the s54's?

  25. #25
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    Xsailor, thats strange. Ngk uk say a different plug fits the 3.0L. http://www.ngkpartfinder.co.uk/car_c...=M3&engine=3.0

    moreover, when i checked www.ngk.com they listed the same plug as your wrote - bkr6ek

    Go figure.
    Last edited by Nircom; 03-16-2012 at 01:34 PM.

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