View Full Version : Need help with finding parts.
bigfatdan
02-26-2013, 05:44 AM
Hi guys, my name is Dan.
My grandfather purchased, I believe a 1994 or 1996, can't remember, 318ti and it was sitting for around 5 years because they couldn't afford the insurance, I'm in school to become a nurse and blah blah blah story story...
The car is a broken down piece of junk, we replaced the fuel & brake lines, polished up rotors w/ HCl and then added that black engine spray that protects from rust all around the rotors and whatnot. and an oil change, lots of tranny fluid and letting it idle through 3 tanks of 93 octane gas all w/ a booster. We dropped it off at our family friend's garage for a short 6 months, he completely rerouted a bunch of wires and then the brakes didn't work and the vacuum was messed up and the fan was turning backwards making the engine jump when it idled, we sent it to the BMW dealer and it's been sitting there for I think about a month and a half. My grandfather is kind of a dick and he wont tell me all the parts but I know it needs a water pump and some type of part to the vacuum (which is why the brakes weren't working). The dealership is having a lot of trouble finding parts.
If tl;dr - I need a water pump and possibly something for a vacuum seal (no power brakes?) The BMW Dealership my car has been sitting at for about 1 month cannot seem to find one, so I figured I'd help expand their search which lead me to this forum.
Thanks for any help guys,
-BigD
Shellback
02-26-2013, 07:13 PM
What's wrong with the car?
bigfatdan
02-26-2013, 10:14 PM
I have no clue. Something to do with a vacuum. I don't know much about what's wrong with it but I'm aware it needs a new water pump and some other stuff. Do you know where to buy parts for these cars? Because the BMW dealership we had it sent to has had it for another and they still can't find parts.
TYIA
-BigD
1996 328ti
02-27-2013, 12:08 AM
What parts are you looking for?
There isn't that much that is no longer available.
teetime4one
02-27-2013, 01:20 AM
A BMW dealership that can't find a BMW part? This car is in serious trouble.
Romak
02-27-2013, 01:31 AM
What parts are you looking for?
There isn't that much that is no longer available.
A BMW dealership that can't find a BMW part? This car is in serious trouble.
+1 There must be more to this story than we're being told, pelican parts just ordered something for me from Germany on a special order, I'm pretty sure BMW can get any part they would need still if other retailers are able to order parts. Either the parts guy at said "dealership" has no idea what he's doing or your grandfather is feeding you false information. If you're serious about getting this car fixed, go to the dealership and talk to them directly yourself to find out the issue.
Side note, will dealerships even install parts YOU bring to them or would they refuse it? Isn't that a liability issue?
1996 328ti
02-27-2013, 02:19 AM
Side note, will dealerships even install parts YOU bring to them or would they refuse it? Isn't that a liability issue?You need a good working relationship for a dealer or independent to install parts you supply.
bigfatdan
02-27-2013, 05:08 AM
1) like I said, my grandfather is kind of a dick but he's supporting me for going to college and giving me this car.
2) there is more to the story but he won't tell me.
3) the only parts I've been told that it needs is a water pump and something for the vacuum (the reason why the car has no power brakes) This car sat for maybe 5-7 years with a blown head gasket. All the fluid lines were completely rotted. I worked really hard to make the piece of junk even look clean.
4) my grandfather hasn't even told me the "dealership" where it's at.
5) I was hoping that if I found the parts we could take the BMW back from the dealer and hopefully have the proper tools to install the pieces ourselves. Both of grandfathers are auto/diesel mechanics for 40+ years.
Once again, thanks for any help,
-BigD
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zoner
02-27-2013, 05:27 AM
You need a good working relationship for a dealer or independent to install parts you supply.
+1
Some independents will still install customer parts (it really does help if you have a relationship with them) but almost no dealer will do the same, that I'm aware of. Part of the extra price you pay by buying a shop/dealer part is that they will generally warranty parts/labor for a period of time. They will not do that for a part that they did not source.
1) like I said, my grandfather is kind of a dick but he's supporting me for going to college and giving me this car.
2) there is more to the story but he won't tell me.
3) the only parts I've been told that it needs is a water pump and something for the vacuum (the reason why the car has no power brakes) This car sat for maybe 5-7 years with a blown head gasket. All the fluid lines were completely rotted. I worked really hard to make the piece of junk even look clean.
4) my grandfather hasn't even told me the "dealership" where it's at.
5) I was hoping that if I found the parts we could take the BMW back from the dealer and hopefully have the proper tools to install the pieces ourselves. Both of grandfathers are auto/diesel mechanics for 40+ years.
Once again, thanks for any help,
-BigD
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1.) New water pumps are readily available, both from BMW directly and from several aftermarket sources, so availability on that item can't be the issue.
2.) If brake vacuum is the problem, it could only be the vacuum line between manifold and booster; the plastic fitting into the booster; or the booster itself. Again, all of these are still widely available. However, because of the cost of a new booster, you're probably better off buying a good used one.
3.) Neither of the items you mention (water pump/possible brake booster) require expert mechanical skills to replace- if you have mechanics in the family, it should not be a daunting task.
Just a question: When the head gasket blew, was everything checked and correctly replaced?
bigfatdan
02-27-2013, 04:29 PM
The head gasket blew wen I was like 14 so I have no clue. I'm 21 now and the car has been sitting since.
I haven't been informed of all the information, the car is my grandfather's and he's giving it to me for going to college but I've been waiting on it for like 9 months now, maybe more.
I don't know where it is or the problems, I just get told what he tells me. I'm not super good with cars either, and that's only American models, I'm clueless on BMW's or anything foreign for that matter.
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bigfatdan
03-05-2013, 03:44 AM
Well I finally found out what's going on with the BMW.
When it was at the family friend mechanic shop the bought and installed a fairly new CPU for the car and installed it, rerouted some wires which caused the brake vacuum to not work and there is a leak in the vacuum which also caused the brakes not to work.
Now the dealership just trashed the perfectly good CPU and installed a new one (didn't even ask us) and has everything fixed. And apparently the price is already up to $2600 and it's still not done. My grandfather finally started talking to me.
Thanks for the help guys,
-Dan
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bigfatdan
03-05-2013, 03:45 AM
Just to clarify, the price is $2,600 and they're not "completely" finished.
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Shellback
03-05-2013, 09:15 PM
You still got a good college car for $2,600
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