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I went to the SEMA show last week (this is the big auto parts show). First, if you can get into a SEMA convention, do it. Every mfg, aftermarket supplier, etc etc is there- just a
major high for any car nut. You can literally spend a couple of days there. The car show was also awesome- over 1,000 concept cars, tricked out specials, etc. I must have seen 50 wheel mfgs, 50 exhaust mfg, etc. (Oh, and there was also the ubiquitous gold chain guy and the guy selling the wax you can take a propane torch to... :)
There were a million and one small firms producing clear light kits, blue bulbs, exhaust tips the size of coffe cans, etc for every Asian import you can think of. The other big category was SUVs- again, a million and one firms producing brush bars, racks, bed liners, in car video, etc, etc. Basically, Asian imports and SUVs is where the action is with the mfgs. Hardly any BMW aftermarket items at all- really suprising.
Anyways, I have a 96 750 and an Acura NSX, and have always been frustrated at the lack of a variety of performance parts. At least the 740 has some available, however hardly any 750 std upgrades (chips, intakes, etc) are produced.
I had a long conversation with the booth reps at
some major aftermarket mfgs, and basically we can forget
about a wide variety of options at reasonable prices- in a word, there is simply not enough market. BMW sells so few 7 cars, and of those very few buy performance parts. Apparently 75% of the 7s are leased, and people dont
customize leased cars. BMW demographics, according to the SEMA guys, are terrible for aftermarket, except for some 3 series items. Compare that to 300,000 civics sold per year, and just about every kid can afford $129 for clear lenses. Pure economics.
Look at Porsche- they sell far fewer cars than BMW, however a very high percentage customize - look at all the goodies you can buy for your Porsche- I had a 911- lots of stuff to spend your $$ on. They also race.
Racing is another BMW problem area (for us 7 guys). If there were a racing application for 7s, there would be far more parts- look at the M3- lots of racing, lots of parts.
The Touring Car series creates a fair amount of demand for street parts.
Another reason was not so apparent. I was talking to the Flowmaster muffler guys- they make great systems for just about anything for a very reasonable price. Why not a
7 system- now we have to fork over $1,500+. As a comparison, a trick headpipe-back system with dual tips, etc. for a Mustang costs less than $ 500. Yeah, a BMW is not a Mustang, but 2.5" exhaust pipe is 2.5" pipe period.
The issue is not only market, but regs. They have to do R&D (most wont just put out a part) and to sell in CA they have to submit for CARB (Ca. air resources board) approval, lots of red tape, etc. All this to sell maybe 50 systems a year.
The guy I talked to said to take good measurements, buy the high flow mufflers & tips a la carte, and have a good muffler shop custom fab a system for you- unless you want SS, you get a truly custom system for less than half the price of a BMW tuner system. Does the extra couple of HP generated by the Dinan system matter much? Probably not.
I'm not thick and knew some of this, but the other info was surprising given this is right from the aftermarket guys themselves. I guess it was depressing to hear the major aftermarket mfgs. basically say there will never
be lots of 7 parts for reasonable prices.
Thats why we get stuck with AC Schintzer, Dinan (I say stuck because although these are fine firms with great products, we pay through the nose). Dont get me wrong, but I would like to tinker with something without going bankrupt. I thinking of buying a new Mustang, Honda S2000, etc that has a huge selection of relatively inexpensive customization parts, just so I can mess around inexpensively. The S2000 is of particular interest- Honda did its homework- there is a racing series, it fits in several existing SCCA classes, its cheap and parts are myriad.
No flames from the purists. I can afford most mods I want on the 750 or NSX, I just want to tinker with something that has plenty of options and I wont cry over if I screw it up. If I toast the motor on the 750 or NSX, Im out major bucks.
The entire focus of the aftermarket right now is SUVs and
entry-point imports. You would simply not believe all the do-dads available for trucks. No kidding, there must have been at least 20 firms selling bed liners- who gives a rats ass - its a truck ! But for the aftermarket guys, thats the point- theres a million consumers who DO care about the bed liners. At least I remember when Mustangs and Camaros were the bulk of the aftermarket. (Who remembers reading and wishing with the JC Whitney catalog in high school?)
On a positive note, I saw a lot of high end wheels & Tires for the 7. Displays by MOMO, OZ, CEC, BBS were awesome- every model, every style all under one roof. The focus on high end MB and BMW models is wheels & tires. The other thing is that we have fantastic cars (7 series)- alot of folks wish they had our problem with parts!
Anyways, sorry for the book, hope you find some of this interesting. And yes, performance-minded 7 owners are a small and very unique group.
Wayne O
96 750iL
01 X5
91 NSX
(Sold the Dinan 535)
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