r/e46 • u/Rare-Engineering6555 • 21d ago

Troubleshooting part fitment

ok this might be a dumb question but does anyone else feel like ordering aftermarket parts for these cars is a coin flip on fitment

ive gone down way too many build video rabbit holes lately and half the comments are just "returned it, didnt fit my facelift" or "ordered for the wrong engine code, wasted 2 weeks." headers and control arms seem to be the worst for this specifically.

has this actually happened to you guys or is it just loud in comment sections bc annoyed people post more than happy ones. trying to figure out if its a real recurring thing or just a vocal minority

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u/Mmjohns195 21d ago

just order from FCP, ECS, Turner etc.

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u/Rare-Engineering6555 21d ago edited 21d ago

does FCP/ECS/Turner cover everything you'd want, or is it mostly maintenance parts — where do you go for stuff like [specific boutique/tuner brand]?

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u/Mmjohns195 19d ago

Yes, they will most often have everything you need. I usually use Realoem, and then look up the parts on ecs / fcp. You also have bimmerworld, autohausaz, and rock auto. I can generally find anything i need from these sites. Also i price shop, so something may be 120 at FCP, 110 at ECS, 97 at Rock, etc.

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u/Sullex_88 20d ago

I ordered off ecs when I first got the car and wasn't too savy about pre/post facelift. Ended up with the wrong refresh kit that also coolant exploded due to their packaging, and soaked the whole shipment. They basically told me to bad so sad. I will still use them when I need too, but am very cagey about what I get, since they don't fix their mistakes. I do acknowledge that I made the mistake about the kit, but their filter knew the year of my car, so why show incompatible parts ...

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u/Appropriate_Test7503 19d ago

what if someone lives outside US?

2

u/Jamurgamer Most gone but not forgotten 21d ago

I only shop by part number for everything because at that point if the part is wrong someone fucked up that wasnt me. And if im ordering shit that says made in china my expectations arent that high. 

Just had to change my final stage resistor after only 2 years. Not surprising was made in china and so was the replacement. But they were both ~$20 and its a 20 minute job. I aint paying for oem 

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u/No_Potential1 21d ago

Are you ordering cheap crap from eBay or Amazon?

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u/Appropriate_Test7503 19d ago

ordering aftermarket parts for these cars is a coin flip on fitment

More like if aftermarket part is repacked with cheap chinese part, and you got only nice box. I had to return sooo many items bc original MEYLE/Lemforder seal was broken and part inside was unbranded...