BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-06-2015, 02:24 PM   #1
Brearley_III
First Lieutenant
Brearley_III's Avatar
94
Rep
307
Posts

Drives: 11' E82 S65 1M, 21' F95 X5MC
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
WTF BRracing!? No more harness bars for E82's...

Me: I'm currently working on a 135i>1M conversion and would like to order your BRR Harness Bar Solution. I would like it powder coated (White) the car is Alpine White if you can paint match also, if not a standard White is good too.

BRR: Sorry...but we no longer produce that bar.

Me: Would it be possible to have you make one?? I would be willing to wait for production.


BRR: We just destroyed the "jigs" used to make the bar set, as we have not sold a bar in over a year, so no market demand, no need to make the bar.
I only have my bar (from my 135i project) left...and, for me to sell my only bar, which I could do, it would sell at a premium (like, to make me part w it, I would only sell it for $3k).
Don't think that makes sense given your other details.


Me:If I built up some interest for a group buy would it be possible to recreate it? If so how many would we need to produce to make it worth while? I know a few guys already who would want one... Would 10 do it?? Definitely not looking to spend $3k, your right.

BRR:Frank.
Sorry if I wasn't clear...we destroyed the "JIGS"...which means we have no means to build any more, even if a large order was present. Bruce
BRracing


Was I being rude?? Just trying to get the guy some business...
Thanks a lot BRracing
__________________
'87 E30 M62 V8 6MT -- '11 E82 1M CLONE S65 6MT -- '21 F95 X5MC

Last edited by Brearley_III; 02-09-2015 at 06:00 AM.. Reason: thumbs down removed.
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2015, 03:02 PM   #2
Kgolf31
Brigadier General
Kgolf31's Avatar
459
Rep
4,531
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4MC, 2012 128i
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (4)

Um, he's giving you straight facts?

I don't know why you're upset. They destroyed the parts that are necessary to create the piece.

To their point, the E82 market SUCKS for these type of things.
Appreciate 1
      02-06-2015, 03:19 PM   #3
Brearley_III
First Lieutenant
Brearley_III's Avatar
94
Rep
307
Posts

Drives: 11' E82 S65 1M, 21' F95 X5MC
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kgolf31 View Post
Um, he's giving you straight facts?

I don't know why you're upset. They destroyed the parts that are necessary to create the piece.

To their point, the E82 market SUCKS for these type of things.
1. He owns a 135i himself.
2. Why destroy something you've invested money in?
3. He OWNS the market on this product and no one else makes it, why stop?
4. I own 3 shops and need a TON of tools and equipment, just because I don't use them all extremely often will make me throw them out or destroy them.

Maybe I'm wrong though.... To each their own I guess.
__________________
'87 E30 M62 V8 6MT -- '11 E82 1M CLONE S65 6MT -- '21 F95 X5MC
Appreciate 1
      02-06-2015, 05:03 PM   #4
ilikebmxbikes
Banned
1518
Rep
4,744
Posts

Drives: S65 1M Clone & E92 M3 4.6L
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (42)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleMonster_III View Post
1. He owns a 135i himself.
2. Why destroy something you've invested money in?
3. He OWNS the market on this product and no one else makes it, why stop?
4. I own 3 shops and need a TON of tools and equipment, just because I don't use them all extremely often will make me throw them out or destroy them.

Maybe I'm wrong though.... To each their own I guess.
The market for this bar is actually very small. BR does not make the bars themselves. They contract out the work to a fab shop. I am confident their margins are not very high on the bar and it was likely the fab shop that repurposed the jigg set up when they stopped making the bars.

If I were you, I would find a fabricator and get a better bar made. Any qualified shop can make you a much better bar than the BR bar.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kgolf31 View Post
Um, he's giving you straight facts?

I don't know why you're upset. They destroyed the parts that are necessary to create the piece.

To their point, the E82 market SUCKS for these type of things.
This is really it
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2015, 06:04 PM   #5
Kgolf31
Brigadier General
Kgolf31's Avatar
459
Rep
4,531
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4MC, 2012 128i
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ilikebmxbikes
Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleMonster_III View Post
1. He owns a 135i himself.
2. Why destroy something you've invested money in?
3. He OWNS the market on this product and no one else makes it, why stop?
4. I own 3 shops and need a TON of tools and equipment, just because I don't use them all extremely often will make me throw them out or destroy them.

Maybe I'm wrong though.... To each their own I guess.
The market for this bar is actually very small. BR does not make the bars themselves. They contract out the work to a fab shop. I am confident their margins are not very high on the bar and it was likely the fab shop that repurposed the jigg set up when they stopped making the bars.

If I were you, I would find a fabricator and get a better bar made. Any qualified shop can make you a much better bar than the BR bar.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kgolf31 View Post
Um, he's giving you straight facts?

I don't know why you're upset. They destroyed the parts that are necessary to create the piece.

To their point, the E82 market SUCKS for these type of things.
This is really it
This is it. He doesn't own the jig. There are costs associated with "renting" space and material for the jig and have a shop fab them for him.

That has its own associated costs. And if the fab shop has reasons to repurpose it, he can either make more parts, only for him to really sit on them and never sell.

VAC made half cages before, why not let's go yell at them?

He wasn't a dick, douche, or rude. He gave you legit answers
Appreciate 0
      02-07-2015, 04:14 PM   #6
Ginger_Extract
California-bound
Ginger_Extract's Avatar
United_States
383
Rep
1,480
Posts

Drives: BMW 135i
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA

iTrader: (3)

Seemed straight to the point to me.
__________________
Streets of Willow: 1:27.7 CW 11/15/15; 1:29.5 CCW 8/15/15 |||| Autoclub Speedway ROVAL (CCW): 1.52.6 - 12/2/17
Willow Springs - Big Willow (CW): 1:35.8 - 3/31/18 |||| Buttonwillow #13 (CW): 1:59.3 1/27/18
https://www.facebook.com/JakeStumphRacing |||| http://www.youtube.com/user/RaceMeMZ3
Appreciate 0
      02-07-2015, 05:18 PM   #7
ChrisCote
Private First Class
3
Rep
164
Posts

Drives: 135i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Atlanta/Tuscaloosa

iTrader: (0)

He was strait to the point and professional...


But it was damn stupid to destroy the jigs. Shoulda just put them in storage somewhere for the future.
Appreciate 0
      02-09-2015, 05:59 AM   #8
Brearley_III
First Lieutenant
Brearley_III's Avatar
94
Rep
307
Posts

Drives: 11' E82 S65 1M, 21' F95 X5MC
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Totally agree! And I get everyone's point too... Kgolf31 might be right in saying he may have recovered some $$ in re-purposing it too.

ilikebmxbikes; I'll have to start looking around the east coast for a good fabricator. I liked that BR's was removal-able to a point but then again I'm sure that had it's negatives too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisCote View Post
He was strait to the point and professional...


But it was damn stupid to destroy the jigs. Shoulda just put them in storage somewhere for the future.
__________________
'87 E30 M62 V8 6MT -- '11 E82 1M CLONE S65 6MT -- '21 F95 X5MC
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 08:12 AM   #9
highbrowed
Boost Addict
highbrowed's Avatar
335
Rep
1,244
Posts

Drives: 135i 6MT w/ N54 Delete
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: South Florida

iTrader: (4)

I would be in for a group buy if someone can go yell at VAC and get them to comply.
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2015, 05:57 AM   #10
Sk8fe
Lieutenant
Sk8fe's Avatar
United_States
147
Rep
428
Posts

Drives: 2009 SGM 135i
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Philly

iTrader: (1)

Ugh! This stinks. I was going to call BRracing soon to order a bar myself when I complete my 1M conversion. Let me know if a group buy gets put together; I'd be interested...
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2015, 08:11 AM   #11
Brearley_III
First Lieutenant
Brearley_III's Avatar
94
Rep
307
Posts

Drives: 11' E82 S65 1M, 21' F95 X5MC
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sk8fe View Post
Ugh! This stinks. I was going to call BRracing soon to order a bar myself when I complete my 1M conversion. Let me know if a group buy gets put together; I'd be interested...
Hey! Where are you getting your rear fenders done??? I'm in NJ... Let's find a good shop get them both done together, might get a better deal that way.
__________________
'87 E30 M62 V8 6MT -- '11 E82 1M CLONE S65 6MT -- '21 F95 X5MC
Appreciate 0
      03-09-2015, 06:39 PM   #12
chris82
Brigadier General
chris82's Avatar
United_States
825
Rep
3,856
Posts

Drives: 128i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NY NY

iTrader: (8)

Garage List
2009 BMW 128i  [9.80]
VAC created a harness bar for one of my friend's 1M within the past year. I would give them a call.

Last edited by chris82; 03-09-2015 at 08:51 PM..
Appreciate 1
      03-09-2015, 07:01 PM   #13
ilikebmxbikes
Banned
1518
Rep
4,744
Posts

Drives: S65 1M Clone & E92 M3 4.6L
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (42)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82
VAC created a roll cage for one of my friend's 1M within the past year. I would give them a call.
The vac 1m bar is superior to the Br bar too. I get the purpose of having the Br bar have removable sections so you can have your back seats but it is at a compromise of the bars strength and it is a bit pointless in my book.

I want a bar so I can safetly run a harness and fixed back seats. Fixed back seats don't need a back seat so I don't need a bar that disassembles. Removing the rear seats when you put the bar in is also a weight savings benefit which will cancel out some of the weight added by the bar.
Appreciate 0
      03-09-2015, 08:45 PM   #14
chris82
Brigadier General
chris82's Avatar
United_States
825
Rep
3,856
Posts

Drives: 128i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NY NY

iTrader: (8)

Garage List
2009 BMW 128i  [9.80]
So it was a little over a year ago when they put the bar in, but I'm sure they would do another one. Here is the link to the thread with the 1M roll bar they installed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian_VACsales View Post
Hey guys,

We just completed the install of our all new one piece TIG welded, bolt in roll bar in this 1M. We also installed Cobra Seats, TRS harnesses and our race seat install kit. More pics Thursday :-) I will put an official sale thread in the Classifieds section Thursday.






Last edited by chris82; 03-10-2015 at 11:09 AM..
Appreciate 0
      03-09-2015, 11:45 PM   #15
Boosted_N54
Major
Boosted_N54's Avatar
180
Rep
1,310
Posts

Drives: 135i N54
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

how much is this?
__________________
MHD Custom Flash (E85) [Jake@MOTIV] / Vargas Stage 2 Turbos / Fuel it LPFP Stage 3+/ Moitiv Port Injection/ MMP Turbo Inlets/ 3.5 Tmap Sensor / ER FMIC /ER Chargepipe HKS-BOV / AA Downpipes / Agency Power Race mid pipes / Berk Technology race exhaust / BMW SSK / BC Forged Whees Toyo R888 tires / KW Club sport coilovers+KW Camber Plates / Spec stg2+Spec SMSFW/ APR Wing GTC200
Appreciate 0
      03-10-2015, 11:09 AM   #16
chris82
Brigadier General
chris82's Avatar
United_States
825
Rep
3,856
Posts

Drives: 128i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NY NY

iTrader: (8)

Garage List
2009 BMW 128i  [9.80]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Socrates.Tii View Post
how much is this?
The VAC piece, from reading the thread, is $2199, probably cheaper if it isn't painted/powdercoated
Appreciate 0
      03-10-2015, 12:33 PM   #17
Brearley_III
First Lieutenant
Brearley_III's Avatar
94
Rep
307
Posts

Drives: 11' E82 S65 1M, 21' F95 X5MC
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Whoa! Thanks ilikebmxbikes & chris82 !! I need to contact VAC as soon as possible!
__________________
'87 E30 M62 V8 6MT -- '11 E82 1M CLONE S65 6MT -- '21 F95 X5MC
Appreciate 0
      03-10-2015, 03:01 PM   #18
Boosted_N54
Major
Boosted_N54's Avatar
180
Rep
1,310
Posts

Drives: 135i N54
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82
Quote:
Originally Posted by Socrates.Tii View Post
how much is this?
The VAC piece, from reading the thread, is $2199, probably cheaper if it isn't painted/powdercoated
I need it for seat belt harnesses
__________________
MHD Custom Flash (E85) [Jake@MOTIV] / Vargas Stage 2 Turbos / Fuel it LPFP Stage 3+/ Moitiv Port Injection/ MMP Turbo Inlets/ 3.5 Tmap Sensor / ER FMIC /ER Chargepipe HKS-BOV / AA Downpipes / Agency Power Race mid pipes / Berk Technology race exhaust / BMW SSK / BC Forged Whees Toyo R888 tires / KW Club sport coilovers+KW Camber Plates / Spec stg2+Spec SMSFW/ APR Wing GTC200
Appreciate 0
      03-10-2015, 04:14 PM   #19
chris82
Brigadier General
chris82's Avatar
United_States
825
Rep
3,856
Posts

Drives: 128i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NY NY

iTrader: (8)

Garage List
2009 BMW 128i  [9.80]
Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleMonster_III View Post
Whoa! Thanks ilikebmxbikes & chris82 !! I need to contact VAC as soon as possible!
Appreciate 0
      03-17-2015, 01:19 PM   #20
Tinsta
Lieutenant
Tinsta's Avatar
189
Rep
585
Posts

Drives: 1CSL
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: UK

iTrader: (2)

Just seen this, I was too waiting for a BR racing bar, but the lack of response, I got a custom one made.

I see LightWeight have one here : clicky
Appreciate 0
      04-09-2015, 04:36 PM   #21
Freon
Major
United_States
81
Rep
1,051
Posts

Drives: 2009 135i
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Indianapolis

iTrader: (3)

He wasn't being rude, nor would I consider it fair to second guess their decision to destroy the jig when it's essentially worthless. Expecting someone to keep selling a product at a loss or opportunity cost isn't reasonable. If you are that upset about it and think it was a bad decision, by all means start making your own harness bars. If you're in the right you'll make tons of money.

As others alluded to, it seems very plausible the jig was repurposed to make other parts. Rather than make a brand new jig for another part they think they can sell, they could recycle the jig from a product that isn't selling. They could pop off some braces and put new ones in to jig up for harnesses for another car, or another similar product like a subframe brace, etc. Jigs typically have a very heavy metal base to keep things from shifting, and there'd be little reason to actually throw it away (could be hundreds of dollars in raw metal).
__________________
2009 BMW 135i 6MT Sport, AFE intake, Cobb AP, Apex 18x8.5+9.5, 255/275 PSS
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
brr, brracing, harness bar, roll cage

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:50 PM.




1addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST