Bmw Parts Sharing Scheme Saves Money

In tough times we all have to tighten our belts a little and a sign of this came from one of the world's foremost luxury car manufacturers. News has come through this month that BMW parts from the 7 series are being used in the manufacturer's cheaper cars to save money. It's an interesting move. While on the one hand it can potentially save billions in terms of cost, the German manufacturer has to avoid blurring the lines between the models - both in actuality and in the minds of the consumer.

That could prove more difficult than they might think. BMW parts have always been prized for their authenticity. The company goes out of its way to ensure that its customers continue to use authorised service providers throughout the lifespan of the car. By paying a set price at purchase, for example, they can fix servicing for the first five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. The benefits of this are, say the company that you know the costs of repairs well in advance and you make sure your car remains 100 per cent BMW throughout the course of its life.

The trade in fake BMW parts is a big problem, as it is for all luxury car makes. Some reproductions are so real they can fool even an experienced mechanic. There is only one way to avoid this; by making sure you use a dealership that gets all its spares direct from the manufacturer. So, having set up the value and authenticity of these car parts, is the manufacturer not risking a great deal by promoting this sharing scheme? By cannibalising a series 7 to make a series 5 do they not devalue the more expensive model?

Well, not so much - according to the designers anyway. Sharing parts between models can be a saviour, especially in a turbulent environment. Cost savings that do not adversely affect the performance of a car can make the difference between success and failure. Billions of pounds can be saved.

In effect this simply continues the ethos currently being extolled throughout the range - namely efficiency without sacrificing performance. All new models trumpet their ability to reduce emissions and fuel consumption while at the same time staying ahead of the pack in terms of performance. By sharing BMW parts, this simply takes the process from the sales floor and back onto the production lines. Cost effective and efficient it is a time for the times.