Perhaps now is the time to stock up on those special M3 parts

During the last two-plus decades, we’ve watched the E46-chassis M3 go from a desirable new car to a desirable track car to, now, a desirable car in stock condition.

A while back, while filming a buyer’s guide on the E46-chassis BMW M3, BimmerWorld’s James Clay reminded us of som…

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Great, my rear ashtray cover just disintegrated as soon as they became NLA. My luck. 

Slippery said:

Great, my rear ashtray cover just disintegrated as soon as they became NLA. My luck. 

In that buyer guide video, James did mention buying parts before they went NLA. Turns out he was right.

So what I'm hearing is that I should buy a whole second car to replace all the parts I'll need.

I used to do this. The result was a garage full of parts that I might need, someday. It got to be too much, and the last few years I've been selling a lot of stuff off. Might I someday have an issue where I needed one of those parts? Sure, maybe, but for enthusiast cars there always seems to be a way to get parts if you've got a couple bucks to spare, or the aftermarket eventually catches up where there's enough demand. Being overwhelmed with parts made me realize I'd rather save the money and spend a little more later on if needed. 

I do hear both sides of the argument. I might also have some 911 seals and parts stashed away, too. 

I have tons of parts stashed away for my S2000 but I'm also running into issues with finding OEM parts. Honda will sporadically do some production runs and if you're lucky enough to be looking when they are in stock, it's like winning the lotto (see me finding red interior trim push tabs). The problem is real for my 01 Sequoia as well. I've been in need of new front door latches for two years now. Every junk yard I've scoured has been absent of them. There are replacements on eBay for $40 that last 3-4 months. Toyota just start pumping them out again at $250 a door. 

With the rate at which BMW parts return to a fine dust, I'm surprised they won't keep some parts going. It's like a self-licking ice cream cone for them. Whenever I started wrenching on my M3, 3 things would break in the process of fixing one thing and it was usually the plastics, like an ash tray cover. 

I had a basement full of VW Corrado parts.  My wife called the basement a junkyard.  Many parts are NLA on that car and I came to the realization that I just don't want to own a car where I need to be a parts department.

I started a collection when I was younger and worked at a GM dealership in the parts department.  Every year, we would go through inventory and throw out stuff that had been on the shelf for five years without being sold.  Mostly trim stuff, as the bigger stuff we'd order from the local (180 miles away) GM warehouse.

So, If anybody needs a Cavalier 2.5L F.I. badge, or a X-11 rear decklid sticker...

In reply to racerfink :

X-11 for the win. :) 

I drive an e28 and an e30 BMW.  Fortunately they seem to be more durable than newer BMWs, but they are 35 and 37 years old...there are a lot of parts that are NLA, but considering their age I'm impressed with how many parts are still available from the dealer; if they were a GM or Ford product I doubt there would be anything available.

As a recent owner of a 944 turbo, I have started my collection.  That air oil separator was a wake-up, I bought the one someone offered on a Facebook group when I couldn't find a new one (then magically appeared at the local dealer).

I did the same thing with both MR2s and think I still have some leftovers.  I know I have MK1 rear plastic trim someone gave me.

A few years ago, I passed along some wishbone Honda parts I knew I would likely not need in my lifetime. 

That did smart a bit. 

When I ordered the parts, obviously everything was in stock at BimmerWorld.

Soon after, James told me that I cut it close.

When I wrote the piece, BimmerWorld still showed everything in stock.

But by the time we posted the piece a few days later, the situation had changed. 

But for those who need a rear ashtray for an E46, what about part No. 51168258280? Looks like you don’t get the chrome accent, but will anyone notice? 

I've done this with MINI R53 parts.  If I stumble across a good deal on something, I'll buy it whether I need it or not.  My ex- did so as well for her R53 as well as some Volvo 1800ES parts (which I will probably end up buying from her after she sells her ES).  I have piles of Triumph parts for my three cars. 

Yeah...  I do have trouble keeping it all organized.  I have started to make sure I write on the box what is inside and what it's for, since that information is often not easily discernable.  

So, related to storing parts in the garage.

A while ago, we were cleaning up the garage. We fit three cars into a two-car garage, so space is at a premium.

I noticed a box from Pelican Parts on the shelf. 

“Wonder what parts are in here?”

The box was still sealed shut from Pelican!

I opened the box and found service-type items: oil filters, gaskets, etc.

The invoice was dated several years prior.

I now label the boxes with a thick, black marker. 

docwyte said:

I had a basement full of VW Corrado parts.  My wife called the basement a junkyard.  Many parts are NLA on that car and I came to the realization that I just don't want to own a car where I need to be a parts department.

Decades ago, Peter Egan wrote an R&T column where he mentioned having a friend who's entire basement was full of Datsun 1200 parts. Never forgot the comment because I had one or two at the time. Of course, for a 1970s Datsun, there weren't that many parts, making the job easy. Now with all the plastic, electronics, CAN bus units, oh man... good luck.

Not sure if it counts, but I do tend to keep “service” items on hand for all of the cars: oil filters, oil pan drain gaskets, etc.