Wasn't there some EU case or other that stopped manufacturers from preventing their suppliers from selling either direct or to other 'outlets'?pomm001 said:As the previous replies pont out it is important to discrinate between pattern and pirate.
BMW do not make wheel bearings or pistons brake pads or anything else, they accumalte these parts from the market leaders and assemble the product.
Sea Lion said:OE consumables are made by 'pattern part' manufacturers anyway because they can manufacture them cheaper and they are supposedly the speciallists in their field. I know that the OE brake pads I used to buy for my F650 were made by Brembo and stamped BMW.
If you buy quality 'pattern' parts you can often surpass OE quality. Just don't buy rubbish.
However, one benefit of buying things like OE pad kits is that you often also get replacement squeal shims, pins and circlips.
If BMW parts are so good, why is this forum so busy?
MikeP said:Wasn't there some EU case or other that stopped manufacturers from preventing their suppliers from selling either direct or to other 'outlets'?
Isn't that why companies like German & Swedish can sell you the same parts that BMW, VW/Audi, Mercedes etc. will sell you but cheaper and just not in a box marked BMW Original Telle (or whatever it says)?
Often these parts are marked with VW/Audi or whatever logo's and are exactly the same as sold by the Franchised dealers, just in plain box.