before I go on, I will try to keep this thread in context.. and the comments should help blkbmw get past the standard google search for parts.
There are parts available all over the place with a very large variation in prices. I think that the price is one part of it, but the knowledge that comes along with a good vendor is also part of what you pay. Add in good service and then the overall rating of a parts place goes up... Next ad to that a place that actually fixes that exact car every day and you are in parts heaven.

Now on top of that make it an enthusiatic supporter of everything BMW and there is really not much of a contest. The list is short and is on the back of the 5erfest t-shirt.

there are only a few places out there that get a 5/10 score.... I seem to never have luck with these things so my score of 9/10 is realy very high.



NOW I need to add my SLS support blurb.

the Factory SLS system is excellent. The repairs on an older car are certainly expensive and that is drive by low volume more than any design issues. But you do get something for the money.
This is not a pontiac 6000ste air pump system that you can rebuild with PEP boys and a fishtank plumbing parts, and a bike tire patch kit. THe BMW sls is serious. It has a heavy duty hydraulic pump and pressure accumulators to keep the shocks under controlled GAS charged pressure all the time. it has very specific valving to give stiffness and control under many load conditions. I have 85k mile shocks on my car that are still damping well. I have a new set of rear struts I am going to swap in and see if they are all that different than the old one.. (will report on that later). The level sensor is a constantly variable resistor with an electronic control that measures the height to fractions of a millimeter. It has mercury switches to keep adjustment from happening when the car is moving and even a brake light switch to keep the car from lowering under long braking dives.

Over all the system is far from junk. The technology used in the late 80 from BMW ( take the iX for example ) can hardly be beat today. I would not for a second think that there were ANY Compromises made by the BMW engineers for the M5. Some say that the euro version was NON sls, and therefore sportier.. I dont see how that makes the sls non- sporty. It is an extra cost option. the euros did not get many options, for example the extended leather or ac. (THe fact that we have all that leather and ac does not make them junk now does it??). Guys, the M5 was sold as THE BEST. the europeans had the option to order things like sls as they needed. And also the intelligece to drive slowly when fully loaded.

The US customer was promised a land rocket that was the best. The US customer would not accept (or understand) reduced performance when the car was loaded. The inclusion of SLS was to uphold sportiness - not add comfort.

Now that all being said, the SLS is not an autocross setup. For sure you can make any car into a single purpose machine. Look at the overall group of us e28ers.. not a whole lot of daily family haulers in the group... and those that dont even have families may rarely run them with more then 2 people. So for most owners now, a special sport shocks and lowered springs are desireable changes.
But for me, the big 4-door is perfect as originally designed, as a big 4 door. I can fill it up or drive it empty and it rides with excellence. I have a serious sporty car for those sporty days.. I am lucky!
I write all this just to help the group understand that the SLS is a very well engineered system. designed to give a top level performance under most conditions. For me, compared to upgraded suspension, the SLS give 90% performance 100% of the time, compared to 95% performance (75%) of the time.

fill in your percentages....
Bruce

• where can i find parts for my e28 - blkbmw 2006-06-18 12:08:02 (498 views)
  • www.bmwlinks.com the only site you need (nt) - jneer750 2006-09-01 01:12:46 (376 views)
    • Re: www.bmwlinks.com the only site you need (url) - jneer750 2006-09-01 01:13:26 (373 views)
  • Re: where can i find parts for my e28 - rlomba8204 2006-08-01 13:25:44 (333 views)
  • Re: where can i find parts for my e28 - blkbmw 2006-06-18 23:49:13 (426 views)
  • We have new and used parts (pic) (url) - euro635gas 2006-06-18 18:10:05 (675 views)
    • Steve achieved 'demigod' status by providing... - John in VA 2006-07-28 11:40:27 (380 views)
      • Why should customers call me and tell me how much - euro635gas 2006-07-29 00:26:52 (354 views)
        • Unfortunately we don't have yards around here... - John in VA 2006-07-30 23:23:39 (338 views)
    • ?? - Andrew Elmore 2006-06-18 19:42:24 (379 views)
      • I was asking about shocks and sls today.. - Bruce 2006-06-19 19:26:35 (393 views)
        • hrm, thats weird... - Andrew Elmore 2006-06-19 22:53:24 (429 views)
          • well i am not complaining.. - Bruce 2006-06-20 01:07:18 (390 views)
            • thanks for that about the SLS Bruce. - Andrew Elmore 2006-06-20 14:17:21 (351 views)
  • what kind of e28 do you have? - Andrew Elmore 2006-06-18 12:53:03 (371 views)
    • oooohhh ANDREW!!! M5 bumper is the only black one - Bruce 2006-06-19 16:52:50 (385 views)
      • Re: oooohhh ANDREW!!! M5 bumper is the only black one - Andrew Elmore 2006-06-20 14:20:11 (380 views)
    • Re: what kind of e28 do you have? - blkbmw 2006-06-19 10:12:52 (390 views)
      • SHaygood is automobilesolutions@alltel.net (nt) - chipinpa 2006-07-30 10:34:49 (354 views)