DFC, BMW Aust, BMW Melb, ACS - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

MIB · 11th July 2003, 06:27

I have been going around in circles with their food chain, so today I put the pressure on.

After emailing ACS, they told me to get in contact with BMW AUst who told me to contact through the local dealer who told me contact Melb BMW, who told me they don't sell ACS other than body kit and wheels.

So instead of doing another endless loop, I rang Melb BMW who once again said ring BMW Australia.

I rang BMW Australia and was put onto Jerry.

I said Good afternoon Jerry, I don't wish to alarm you but the Entire World is watching you RIGHT NOW.

He went silent. I laughed and told him about the board, and my difficulties with getting the ACS DFC and even just some ACS Sway bars.

He said that BMW Australia does not support engine Modifications.

Way to go on product knowledge. Its Suspension, not engine.

Jerry is checking with his guy and will phone me back this afternoon.

I will predict the response now, "Hi Mr Jolley, juat getting back to you about those parts. It's BMW Australias policy that we don't support engine OR Performance modifications. You will have to get them direct." Thats my guess. See how well I have done.

Problem is, when I contact ACS, they say contact the Australian distributer. HELLO, am I missing something here.

Where is that German spark of world domination gone. They should be planning to wipe out all other lesser suspensions and have everyone, even ricer civics with DFC. O.K. I'm loosing it.

Anyone else care to guess what the preformatted response will be?

Regards Mark (I feel better after the rant).

young-nyc · 11th July 2003, 06:33

dang i feel so bad...
i guess we take things for granted here in the states...

good luck with your quest..
all else fails just fly over and buy them from ACS or just buy it from the states

MIB · 11th July 2003, 06:55

Quote:

Originally posted by young-nyc
dang i feel so bad...
i guess we take things for granted here in the states...

good luck with your quest..
all else fails just fly over and buy them from ACS or just buy it from the states

Hey Young,

Now I can accept that for something Trick like the DFC, but a SWAY bar. Please.

If Dinan offered a Front one as well I'd just give up and get their's but I don't like the idea of having a rear Dinan and a Front ACS. I'd like to think the ACS front and rear were balanced and designed to compliment each other and the DFC.

I'm trying to stay calm and not doing anything rash yet.

But George is getting angry.(Quote from Seinfeld).

tfung · 11th July 2003, 07:06

the ACS swaybars are made by Eibach... might be easier to get your hands on Eibach swaybars... would be a little different to the ACS ones, but close enough...

Hamann7 · 11th July 2003, 07:38

MIB,

Like I said before, why don't you just buy them from SP Engineering and have them ship it right to your door and call it a day already???

Why even bother going through these morons at BMW Australia?

MIB · 11th July 2003, 07:39

Quote:

Originally posted by tfung
the ACS swaybars are made by Eibach... might be easier to get your hands on Eibach swaybars... would be a little different to the ACS ones, but close enough...

Hey thanks Tfung, thats good backup information.

I'll take a look on their website.

MIB · 11th July 2003, 07:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamann7
MIB,

Like I said before, why don't you just buy them from SP Engineering and have them ship it right to your door and call it a day already???

Why even bother going through these morons at BMW Australia?

Cause I'm being Anal on this one thing.

TRI was anal on the brake fluid and the Brackets, at $100 surely I'm aloud to be anal on something worth $4,800.

I have in writing that the dealer will fit ACS DFC free of charge, so it will happen. Its just I'm not in a hurry as their is about $30 worth of other stuff I'm looking at right now. (Read S2 gear less suspension ).

So whilst I'm pre occupied with the other stuff, it gives the morons time to sought their $h!t out. I get hosed really bad on Import duty and Customs and GST. I would just like an AUD price from buying it here. Hey if there's not much difference, I'll get it from the states, just on principal. Its the not knowing that annoys me.

I don't want to spring $10 K AUS to have some clown tell me two weeks later I can buy it for $8K right here.

I just want a comparison price first.

T got it for $3,500 USD that is haunting me. CEC want $6,600 USD that is rediculous. Did you pay $4,800 or $4,200.

Now if I could get it for $4K USD from the States, I wouldn't be worried about waiting for a price from these clowns.

But $4,800 is $1,300 USD more to me that is $2,500 AUD more with GST and Import. For that I can have a free Frequent flyers journey to Germany and spend $2,500 whilst I'm their.

If they haven't given me an answer by the time I've fitted all the Dinan intake stuff, then I'll take the Hosing and get it from your guy. T said with the Euro so strong now, Its probably more now which lessens the discount and makes the PITA factor more relevant.

Hamann7 · 11th July 2003, 08:21

Well, remember that when tfung got the DFC (he was one of the FIRST people in the world to get it) the Euro was much weaker against the U.S. dollar. This is why all the prices of German products have gone up in price here in the states.

With the airfare, customs, and all that was involved, I remember Terrence saying that it came out to the equivalent of $5000US.

Even Sam@RennSport's price is $4350, and that is waiting 4 weeks and not having the CEC warranty. I paid $4900 for mine, with full warranty and no hassle. I waited 2 weeks. My time is worth more than the price difference, plus I get full support from SP Engineering whenever I need it.

BTW, TFUNG, have you ever had 'SYSTEM ERROR' pop up on your DFC control display? I had it pop up several times today and I can't figure out what it is. It has happened once before, but when I turn the knob back and forth, it restores back to normal. Have you ever encountered this?

Maybe it's another BMW electrical gremlin at work...

tfung · 11th July 2003, 09:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamann7
Well, remember that when tfung got the DFC (he was one of the FIRST people in the world to get it) the Euro was much weaker against the U.S. dollar.

The Euro didn't even exist yet when I bought it.. (well it did exist, but wasn't in circulation yet). I paid in Deutsch Marks...

Anyways.. SYSTEM ERROR... hmm.. I think I've seen it once before... but it was during installation when they put in the DFC controller box to see if the power was connected... but didn't plug the wires into the dampers yet... was fine after we had all the wires plugged in.. perhaps you want to check the wires going into the dampers on all 4 corners to see if there's anything loose....

MIB · 11th July 2003, 09:54

O.K. I was half right.

They said they can do the ACS Front & Rear Sway bars at $1,500 plus Gst total $1,650. AUD 2 to 3 week wait.

I have to order through Brisbane BMW, my dealer. No problem thats ago.

Young said the rear sway bar was $800US. Ovisoulsy I'm being charged about $800 Australian. Some things here are the same price. Eg You get charged $150 to fit an X-Pipe and so do we. You pay $600US a tyre we pay $600Aus per tyre. Some things their is no currency difference. You pay $800 US for the brace I pay $800 Australiam for it. This is why I was putting up with the clowns incase I could get the DFC for $4,900 Austarlain not $4,900 USD.

As for the DFC he said they can't help me because it doesn't conform to ADR standards.

I don't know what ADR is, Nor do I give a $%^&. I cannot be convinced that this is something that is higher standards than a DFC setup. Australian Design Rules.

So it looks as though I have no Warranty anyway.

My main concern was getting a RHD version as the wireing is on different sides.

I'll get and fit the Sway bars and Beastpower brackets that have arrived. Test that out, and then make my decision as to where to get it. I'll just the conversion rate of AUD to Euro and get one of my German buddies to see how many Euro they want for it know.