Why is BMW tuning so much more expensive
 

Sometimes I wonder why our beloved BMW's are stuck with such poor bang for the buck performance mods. Everything seems to be more expensive. I (and give it some thought before you bash me for even saying this) wonder at times why my buddies (thechrisworrell) mustang gets such cheap parts. And granted, yes I know it's a Mustang. Yes I know it will probably fall apart. But hell everything for him is about a third the price and he gets more performance gains. Its crazy. A short shifter from Steeda = $160. A short shifter from UUC or other brand = $300-500. That is just one of a very large list.

Is BMW just the victim of marketing and such that assumes that everything BMW just has to be more expensive? Any ideas or reasons...

Its probably a combination of things. Some Bimmer drivers are "stuck up" to say the least. They are unwilling to use Meguiars car wax. It has to be P21. Wont use Castrol Syntec oil. Has to be Mobil1. So many aftermarket companies play on this IMO. Additionally, Bimmers are well built compared to the US built cars such as the Mustang and the audience is completely different.

Being "stuck up" has nothing to do with the question. BMWs are known for their handling, road manners and build quality, not as much for speed. There simply isn't as much interest out there for aftermarket tuning parts as there is for other cars like the Mustang. The average BMW client is satisfied with the car as it is; they buy the car for what it is, not for what they can do to it. Therefore, there is not a big market demand for tuning stuff, so whatever is available is expensive because it doesn't sell in high quantities.

Well for starters your paying for a premium car up front. Expect mods to be much more part for part than entry level vehicles. If you feel bad, just imagine how much the lambo guys are paying for intakes!

^+1 to that!
Yeah, Bimmer driver's don't really supe them up
exept for suspension (which is prolly the reason why you get them quite cheap)

BMW's are well engineered pieces of machinery, out of the box there is very little to be had over what the factory already brewed as such tuning becomes a lot harder then sticking a fart can out back and picking up 50hp.

our cars are pretty much maxed out and short of forced induction its extremely hard to make significant power, also R&d costs are very high and only a handful of tuners have a clue on how to properly tune these cars.

there are cheaper alternatives to making some NA power in BMW's than the expensive tuning companies.

like?

Montizzle 325i Well for starters your paying for a premium car up front. Expect mods to be much more part for part than entry level vehicles. If you feel bad, just imagine how much the lambo guys are paying for intakes!

Yeah no kidding. I was at the Bimmer store right near my house, and they sell a lot of just general top end cars (Porsche, Lambo, Lotus, etc. ) and I went in there looking for a kidney grill. Talking to the inventory guy, I saw a Lambo parked outside. And I asked him about it. The guy says that the guy wanted brand new wheels and that they cost $10,000. A WHEEL!!! I was like...wait what? Yeah. Apparently it was his 3rd pair or something. I paid for my $20 dollar kidney grill and left haha...

Totally understand the entire aspect of buying the Bimmer "out-of-the-box". I wouldn't trade my car in for anything else (except for a better Bimmer). It just frustrates me when his car is sitting there with crazy power on tap and he spent several grand. If I wanted those numbers it would be ridiculous. Even then, things like short shifters and clutches are really just overly expensive. Oh well. I guess it comes with the territory.

heh.

you gotta pay for quality and the name.

I used to work for a multi Millionaire, i had never seen so much expensive shit i n my entire life. I was introduced to the life of a millionaire...and learned if you want the name (yea i believe people buy BMW because its a BMW..not just for performance...dont try to act like this isnt true) and quality you gotta pay for it.

Another answer to your question is because most of the tuning parts are made Germany as opposed to parts for a mustang. It cost more money to import it. Also BMW tuning parts are made with quality and exactness, so the person that buys it doesn't have to change anything about the part to make it fit. Lets say you buy a turbo for a 3 series, the people that made that turbo made it so that it exactly fit in the place where its supposed to not take up more more room than its supposed to.

Very well said!! A Honda Civic Type-R, VW Golf or any other modification worthy car are way better option for a car to modify. Modifying a BMW sounds a bit crazy to some extent. Personallly I love my BMW as it is and would NOT want to change it! The ONLY thing I would change is the ICE system :D

some aftermaket parts sellers think that BMW = everything should be expensive or we're just so dumb we'll pay out of our nose for cheap parts...

sub $100 exhaust for $800+???

there are some tuners who are truly interested in the BMW community and contribute to it. some are just out to rape and pillage while pretending to be "interested" in helping out.