The Cliff's Notes version:
• Local shop ordered Brake Master Cylinder for my September '04 build 2005 MCS w/DSC from nearest dealer (Bill Jacobs). Dealer sent the part for a car with Active Stability Control (ASC), which is not compatible with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) cars. Local shop says that dealer says that the correct part (34336785668) is on National Back Order (confirmed this with Classic), and there's no ETA on when it will be stocked on this continent.

• To come from Germany the part will not cost more through a dealer but will not get here for "5–10 business days" or more.
Been driving my wife's car or my in-laws car for three weeks, in-laws & wife need their cars back; I need my car back, or I just don't get to go to work and back.

Does anyone have any idea where I could get a 34336785668 in the next couple of days? I can afford to get a rental for two weeks—OR—I can afford to have the work done and pay for this part. Not both.

 

Call around to some dealers and see if they have one on the shelf.

 

If only I had the time and money to call every dealer I could think of that might work. I've already checked Bill Jacobs and Classic.

 

If you would like to give me the last 7 digits of your VIN, I will check on it tomorrow.
I can check all the PDCs in the country as well as Germany, and dealers' inventory.
I may be able to give you a break on the price if it has to come from Germany.

BTW, who and how did they determine the master cylinder was bad?

 

Well it seems that the part number for the DSC master changes a few times...

34 31 6 758 228 is the original number(which I have in stock) and is available from 3 different PDCs...
Ontario, CA has 9
Mount Olive, NJ has 12
Stockton, CA has 3

34 31 6 779 678 is what the "228" changes to and is only showing in Germany, there are 76 over there.

34 33 6 785 668 is the final change and is also only showing in Germany, there are 57 over there.

I still would like to know how they determined a bad master...I only ask because it's not very common...and there's no reason why they can't get/use the original part number.

 

beat me to it with the part number.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...19&hg=34&fg=25

but like partsman said....why do they think you need one.

aftermarket..not sure what options they carry
http://www.racepages.com/products/?N...er+Mini&N=1674

 

...but only by about 4 hours...

Hope things are going good with you.

 

"Would brake fluid in the vacuum brake booster not be a reason to replace the master?" Was the mechanic's response to me on your post.

He's not to sure about the part numbers you listed, concerned that the part numbers changed due to old parts being superseded by new part numbers because of defects or some such thing. And he said that one or more were Bimmer numbers, not MINI numbers (same diff though, right?).

It's Mark at Rick's Automotive in Champaign, IL. The shop came recommended by a former M3 and current 535 owner. Mark related that he's got to rely on what the dealer's parts department tell him regarding the dealer part network, and he recommended that I follow up with the person he has spoken to at Bill Jacobs in that department.

Explaining to him what NAM was over the phone was interesting... I don't have my VIN memorized anymore, I'll take you up on that as soon as I find where I have it written down. Thanks guys!

 

Tell him to take it easy...I was just curious, so we can all learn from it.
The part numbers are right from my ETK.
His concerns are valid...normally, a part number change would mean a design change in the part, but it can also mean a change in suppliers/manufacturers.
The fact that the original number is still available at the PDC for sale to dealers tells me that there are no issues with it, and that BMW is waiting to deplete that stock before bringing over the new number.
I can't imagine that your mechanic thinks that BMW would sell something as important as a master cylinder if it had defects or issues in any way.
You can obviously do what you want and make your own decisions, I am just trying to help you get your car back.
Have your dealer order/install the original part number master(that is readily available) which should come with a 2 year/unlimited mileage warranty.
If you have issues with it during that time, then have it replaced (for free, maybe just pay labor, depends on your dealer)with the new number. At least you can have your car back in days instead of weeks.
Trying to explain NAM to someone who is not a member here and doesn't have a MINI is useless...they just won't understand.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.