Valve stems and price gouging
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 663
Likes: 11
From: Maryland
Valve stems and price gouging
Picked up a wheel TPS sensor 36-23-6-781-847 and valve stem today at Annapolis to be sure they fit the s-lite's off an early car I bought for my 09. No problem with sensor clearance. The problem is with the valve stem.
Stem P/N 36-14-6-792-828 seems to need a wheel about twice as thick as the s-lite rim. The outer shell bottoms out on the shoulder before it can snug the seal up to the rim.
Is this the correct stem? Should I just make some spacer rings out of tubing? It does not even have the original large diameter cap.
Now my complaint. $83.64 + $14.67 for a complete valve stem. A freeking $100 ( good thing we get a discount. 10% I thought it was higher than that. ) A $14 dollar valve stem. Think about that for a moment. It is very clear BMW corporation does not want return customers.
This level of price gouging is totally insulting. $10.42 for a oil filter? Not even in a can. We are talking about something that costs about 50 cents to make, maybe 50 cents to put on the dealers shelf. Come on BMW/MINI. The Mini is an ECONOMY car, not a Rolls Royce! Don't insult your customers like this. We will go elsewhere. 
Stem P/N 36-14-6-792-828 seems to need a wheel about twice as thick as the s-lite rim. The outer shell bottoms out on the shoulder before it can snug the seal up to the rim.
Is this the correct stem? Should I just make some spacer rings out of tubing? It does not even have the original large diameter cap.
Now my complaint. $83.64 + $14.67 for a complete valve stem. A freeking $100 ( good thing we get a discount. 10% I thought it was higher than that. ) A $14 dollar valve stem. Think about that for a moment. It is very clear BMW corporation does not want return customers.
This level of price gouging is totally insulting. $10.42 for a oil filter? Not even in a can. We are talking about something that costs about 50 cents to make, maybe 50 cents to put on the dealers shelf. Come on BMW/MINI. The Mini is an ECONOMY car, not a Rolls Royce! Don't insult your customers like this. We will go elsewhere.
What about $300+ a tire?
I need some small plastic clips to brace rocker panel both left and right $83 a piece. A plastic clip, not even 1/2 inch. But I knew everything was gonna be BMW prices.
I need some small plastic clips to brace rocker panel both left and right $83 a piece. A plastic clip, not even 1/2 inch. But I knew everything was gonna be BMW prices.
Last edited by howsoonisnow1985; Apr 2, 2010 at 08:39 PM.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 663
Likes: 11
From: Maryland
My mini had to go back to the dealer for the 30 or so original defects. About half they fixed, about half they had to admit were design issues. A couple they could not find so I have to demonstrate for them. ( fooling the transmission)
So does anybody know part numbers or specifics of valve stems that fit the wheel? ( older s-lite) The part they sold me is expecting about 3/8 thickness and won't snug down to the wheel.
So does anybody know part numbers or specifics of valve stems that fit the wheel? ( older s-lite) The part they sold me is expecting about 3/8 thickness and won't snug down to the wheel.
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