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      10-28-2018, 10:31 AM   #1
Mike 1
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Discontinued Items

Looking for insight on items that are or maybe discontinued. Does it make sense to buy items that maybe discontinued in the future,but not needed now (conver. top motor etc.). Not sure I'm thinking about this right, just have seen items gone and now wanted or items hard to find. I plan on keeping my M roadster a long time and need any input that would shed some light on the subject.
Thank you,Mike.
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      10-28-2018, 11:11 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike 1 View Post
Looking for insight on items that are or maybe discontinued. Does it make sense to buy items that maybe discontinued in the future,but not needed now (conver. top motor etc.). Not sure I'm thinking about this right, just have seen items gone and now wanted or items hard to find. I plan on keeping my M roadster a long time and need any input that would shed some light on the subject.
Thank you,Mike.
People buy goods that will be hard to find in the future on speculation all the time knowing that they will be worth more than they paid in years to come
If you can afford to tie up funds today for profit tomorrow I say go for it.
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      10-28-2018, 11:17 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbarton62 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike 1 View Post
Looking for insight on items that are or maybe discontinued. Does it make sense to buy items that maybe discontinued in the future,but not needed now (conver. top motor etc.). Not sure I'm thinking about this right, just have seen items gone and now wanted or items hard to find. I plan on keeping my M roadster a long time and need any input that would shed some light on the subject.
Thank you,Mike.
People buy goods that will be hard to find in the future on speculation all the time knowing that they will be worth more than they paid in years to come
If you can afford to tie up funds today for profit tomorrow I say go for it.
Don't think OP is motivated by future profit but rather the desire to keep his car maintained for himself and fear that it may not be possible due to the unavailability of parts.

I'm no expert. I do know people have been restoring classic cars that are far older than the Z4MR. So it might not be a serious concern just a time, effort and money thing. Perhaps to this post's credit it might be cheaper in the very long run to buy those parts at today's prices rather than look to specialty aftermarket or custom manufacturing. I am not informed in this regard.

That said isn't there an auto parts law in the United States at least that specifies automakers have to make parts for cars for x number of years? I don't think its a short length of time. And there are 3rd parties making quality tops I believe for a variety of convertibles, Z4's would be just one of their catalogue of cars and since I assume the top is the same there are more Z4's on a whole than just M models meaning bigger market to be profitable in than just M's.
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      10-28-2018, 12:21 PM   #4
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I guess my thoughts were focused on the comment of keeping the car forever. We all have been guilty of this feeling and sometime down the road we sell said car.
My bad for assuming profit over access to parts.
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      10-29-2018, 05:28 AM   #5
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I'll chime in. I've owned BMW cars for 30 years and have kept two of them over 18 years, with the other two already at 10 and 12 years old. It's been my experience that BMW keeps most all parts available for 20 years and beyond.

For example, September of 2017, we took our 20-year old 177,000-mile '97 Z3 for a road trip out West from the East Coast. I went through the car thoroughly before the trip and bought some of the obscure plastic cooling system parts that if failed on the trip would have sidelined us for days. I didn't replace them, just had them in the car for spares. I did replace some rubber parts like the exhaust hangers. I can't think of a part on the Z3 that BMW does not still stock. Just last week I bought the hazard relay and a new hazard switch (on order from Germany) for it. Four years ago when the car was 16 or so, I bought a new OE top from BMW with all new rubber seals.

I'd expect BMW will keep the same level of parts availability with the E85/86 Z4. A good test is go to realOEM.com in the classics section and find, say a E21, or E30, etc., and see how many parts are still available. You'll find most are.
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      10-31-2018, 10:30 AM   #6
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Thanks for the input guys, I've seen the areo side skirts go, the strut bar go and not sure what else. Thinking about VT motor mounts, RE trans mounts, SS brake lines and anything else that is or is not OEM and improves the car. I think I'm crazy for over thinking this.
Thanks again, Mike...
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      10-31-2018, 02:25 PM   #7
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As I understand it, many BMW OEM accessories are getting harder to find. Particularly, the OEM hard deflector - and the convertible top covers seen in this picture:

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      11-04-2018, 11:44 PM   #8
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Can't find the trim piece across the front of the convertible top.
You know the one. It's the part that's all cracked.
Can't find Bilstein shocks. Been on a waiting list for months.
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      11-05-2018, 09:18 AM   #9
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speaking from first hand experience, any glass on the coupe is extremely hard to find specially the door glass.
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      11-05-2018, 12:47 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
Can't find the trim piece across the front of the convertible top.
You know the one. It's the part that's all cracked.
Can't find Bilstein shocks. Been on a waiting list for months.
Yea, I need that one as well, mine is cracked also. As many verts as they made of the Z4, you'd think this would NOT be a discontinued item. They will all crack eventually, and the part fits across all iterations of the vert ........ 2.5, 3.0, and M.
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      11-05-2018, 03:34 PM   #11
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Not sure what part on the convert. top we are talking about? Convincing me of buying some wanted/unneeded parts.
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      11-05-2018, 06:46 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike 1 View Post
Not sure what part on the convert. top we are talking about? Convincing me of buying some wanted/unneeded parts.
Found the thread:
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1518563

If you find it, let us know.
I just had to again increase the size of the washers I have under the screws across the front to keep it from falling in my face.
Next I think I'll fashion a metal or plastic strip to go across the front to span between screws.
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      11-06-2018, 04:49 AM   #13
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If I find the part I will post it. I don't think mine is broke yet? Just detailed it for winter storage.Would it make any sense to remove and reinforce it from the back side broke or not?
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      11-06-2018, 01:30 PM   #14
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I'm in SoCal and my car sits in the Sun all day every day, so mine's broke from thermal cycling/decomposition.
Given your climate, you may not run into the same problem for another decade or more.
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      11-09-2018, 02:31 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
Can't find the trim piece across the front of the convertible top.
You know the one. It's the part that's all cracked.
Can't find Bilstein shocks. Been on a waiting list for months.
I was just on ESC's site and they are now showing this piece in stock! Price has gone up though.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/54317056282/
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      11-10-2018, 01:59 AM   #16
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Beware when they say "Ships in 2 Days".
That means they don't have it in stock and they're assuming that one of their suppliers does.
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      11-10-2018, 05:34 AM   #17
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I have ordered parts from ecs with no problems, but as mentioned the price has gone up and noticed that the price seems to constantly change. I'm putting together a list and tracking prices and probably will order when i think the price is right (and I get the OK from the BOSS). Happy wife happy life.
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      11-10-2018, 04:06 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
Beware when they say "Ships in 2 Days".
That means they don't have it in stock and they're assuming that one of their suppliers does.
Yes, but at least it's available from a supplier. Previously, for a few months now, it was "unavailable".
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      11-11-2018, 02:53 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by antennahead View Post
Yes, but at least it's available from a supplier. Previously, for a few months now, it was "unavailable".

They're assuming that one of their suppliers has it. Doesn't mean they do.
Order it. I dare you.
If you get one, I'll get one.
Last time mine came loose it fell in my face while I was driving.
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      11-11-2018, 04:43 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
They're assuming that one of their suppliers has it. Doesn't mean they do.
Order it. I dare you.
If you get one, I'll get one.
Last time mine came loose it fell in my face while I was driving.
Mine's not in danger of falling off and I have other issues I'm dealing with at the moment, so your dare falls on deaf ears. But I am going to call ECS out of curiosity to see what they say about it.
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      11-11-2018, 04:50 PM   #21
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Ask them how's that dipstick coming.
Mine has a crack at the top of the plastic bit.
I now give it a pull test every time I check the oil.
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      11-12-2018, 11:21 AM   #22
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another discontinued Item MUD FLAPS anyone know where i can get them from?
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