The insanity of BMW pricing for parts

K

kratedisease

Active member
Visit site
SO I have been a life long Harley owners and currently own 3 Harleys. I always felt that Harley parts were a bit expensive but not anything insane.

Then I look at the BMW accessory catalogue and see floor boards that cost $1200....nuts. A Harley equivalent floorboard might be around $350 max.

Then I see this listing on ebay.... and I could not believe it. Apparently a dealer might have ordered a complete exhaust for R18 and is noe looking to dump it on ebay.

The comedy is that the part numbers and prices are listed and the total comes up to $10,000USD........just for the exhaust !!

Wonder how much an engine would cost !!

an exhaust system on a $20,000 bike is $10,000 to replace ??? INSANE in the MEMBRAINE......INSANE in the BRAIN !!

www.ebay.com

BMW R18 OEM FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM NEW NEVER INSTALLED | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW R18 OEM FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM NEW NEVER INSTALLED at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

​
12 pcs total:
Exhaust Manifold, Left: 18519444785 $2234.33
Exhaust Manifold, Right: 18519444786 $2234.33
Covering, Left: 18519444777 $236.59
Covering, Right: 18519444778 $236.59
Clamp x 2: 18519829595 $67.66
Muffler, Left: 18519467673 $1630.00
Muffler, Right: 18519467674 $1630.00
Trim for End Muffler, Left: 18519444781 $301.10
Trim for End Muffler, Right: 18519444782 $301.10
Support, End Muffler: 18518413959 $508.11
Support, End Muffler: 18518413960 $508.11
Total System: $9887.92 Plus 7% tax $692.15 & Freight $200.60
FULL RETAIL PRICE $10,780.67
 
kratedisease said:
SO I have been a life long Harley owners and currently own 3 Harleys. I always felt that Harley parts were a bit expensive but not anything insane.

Then I look at the BMW accessory catalogue and see floor boards that cost $1200....nuts. A Harley equivalent floorboard might be around $350 max.

Then I see this listing on ebay.... and I could not believe it. Apparently a dealer might have ordered a complete exhaust for R18 and is noe looking to dump it on ebay.

The comedy is that the part numbers and prices are listed and the total comes up to $10,000USD........just for the exhaust !!

Wonder how much an engine would cost !!

an exhaust system on a $20,000 bike is $10,000 to replace ??? INSANE in the MEMBRAINE......INSANE in the BRAIN !!

www.ebay.com

BMW R18 OEM FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM NEW NEVER INSTALLED | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW R18 OEM FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM NEW NEVER INSTALLED at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

​
12 pcs total:
Exhaust Manifold, Left: 18519444785 $2234.33
Exhaust Manifold, Right: 18519444786 $2234.33
Covering, Left: 18519444777 $236.59
Covering, Right: 18519444778 $236.59
Clamp x 2: 18519829595 $67.66
Muffler, Left: 18519467673 $1630.00
Muffler, Right: 18519467674 $1630.00
Trim for End Muffler, Left: 18519444781 $301.10
Trim for End Muffler, Right: 18519444782 $301.10
Support, End Muffler: 18518413959 $508.11
Support, End Muffler: 18518413960 $508.11
Total System: $9887.92 Plus 7% tax $692.15 & Freight $200.60
FULL RETAIL PRICE $10,780.67
Click to expand...
That is why I say not to cut or mod the stock mufflers and find some take-offs when someone buys a aftermarket exhaust.
 
8B8E587E-79A2-4A24-BB59-2843EDFAD90F.jpegDisagree with you on the floorboards as an ex Harley owner. Need to bare in mind that the accessory floorboard kit includes new boards, new brake lever and peg and new heel/ toe shifter plus pegs.

By the time you’ve added the new levers and the shifter pegs/ brake pedal to the price of the boards the difference isn’t anywhere near as great. Then remember it’s an RSD part… I’m not saying the price is justified I just don’t think it’s as far apart as people make out.

The RSD accessory brake and shift lever for the Ducati XDiavel cost £450 here for instance.
 
kratedisease said:
SO I have been a life long Harley owners and currently own 3 Harleys. I always felt that Harley parts were a bit expensive but not anything insane.

Then I look at the BMW accessory catalogue and see floor boards that cost $1200....nuts. A Harley equivalent floorboard might be around $350 max.

Then I see this listing on ebay.... and I could not believe it. Apparently a dealer might have ordered a complete exhaust for R18 and is noe looking to dump it on ebay.

The comedy is that the part numbers and prices are listed and the total comes up to $10,000USD........just for the exhaust !!

Wonder how much an engine would cost !!

an exhaust system on a $20,000 bike is $10,000 to replace ??? INSANE in the MEMBRAINE......INSANE in the BRAIN !!

www.ebay.com

BMW R18 OEM FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM NEW NEVER INSTALLED | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW R18 OEM FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM NEW NEVER INSTALLED at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

​
12 pcs total:
Exhaust Manifold, Left: 18519444785 $2234.33
Exhaust Manifold, Right: 18519444786 $2234.33
Covering, Left: 18519444777 $236.59
Covering, Right: 18519444778 $236.59
Clamp x 2: 18519829595 $67.66
Muffler, Left: 18519467673 $1630.00
Muffler, Right: 18519467674 $1630.00
Trim for End Muffler, Left: 18519444781 $301.10
Trim for End Muffler, Right: 18519444782 $301.10
Support, End Muffler: 18518413959 $508.11
Support, End Muffler: 18518413960 $508.11
Total System: $9887.92 Plus 7% tax $692.15 & Freight $200.60
FULL RETAIL PRICE $10,780.67
Click to expand...
To be fair, it's highly unlikely you need to replace every single part of the exhaust including the support pieces, so it's probably not a like for like comparison.

At least when I check out the floorboards in the U.S., they are ~$345 each, so about ~$700 total, not $1200. The additional cost of parts would be to add things like different brake pedal & heel/toe shifter, so not a direct comparison to Harley.
 
Muffler, Left: 18519467673 $1630.00
Muffler, Right: 18519467674 $1630.00

To those who say the BMW parts prices are not that far from Harley.......please find me ANY Harley OEM slip on mufflers ( Screamin Eagle ) that are $3,200 for the pair.

I will be waiting here for a reply.

Still waiting
 
kratedisease said:
Muffler, Left: 18519467673 $1630.00
Muffler, Right: 18519467674 $1630.00

To those who say the BMW parts prices are not that far from Harley.......please find me ANY Harley OEM slip on mufflers ( Screamin Eagle ) that are $3,200 for the pair.

I will be waiting here for a reply.

Still waiting
Click to expand...
You must be a politician twisting peoples answers to fit your narrative?
Again, comments about pricing were in relation to accessories. Go and add up all the parts needed to make an equivalent footboard kit from Harley and the price difference isn’t anything like you inferred nor does it seem out of line when you consider that they’re RSD and as I demonstrated, just the RSD accessory brake and shift lever for the XDiavel is nearly £500.

If you want to get into exhaust prices, just look at the difference in build quality between the BMW and HD, not even in the same league! I used to work at a Harley dealer and have seen NEW bikes delivered with rust already formed inside the exhausts. Some of the welds look like they were done by someone that didn’t have a welding mask, was closing their eyes and hoping for the best. Of course, with any brand the first thing that most riders change is the exhaust so isn’t an issue for most but between an OEM muffler on a HD and the ones on the R18, I know which one is still going to look as new in 2 years time.
 
Please, do not compare German vehicles with USA vehicles. Specially BMW versus any American brand. Totally different quality. American brand are not built to last. Sorry if I hurt feelings but lets say the things as they are, and the facts are irrefutable. Years and years of facts proof that BMW and Mercedes are better (in terms of quality and durability) against Ford, GMC, Chevrolet... and Harley. Said that, quality values and is more expensive.

PD: I am not millionaire and I want less expensive accessories
 
Last edited:
Luis said:
Please, do not compare German vehicles with USA vehicles. Specially BMW versus any American brand. Totally different quality. American brand are not built to last. Sorry if I hurt feelings but lets say the things as they are, and the facts are irrefutable. Years and years of facts proof that BMW and Mercedes are better (in terms of quality and durability) against Ford, GMC, Chevrolet... and Harley. Said that, quality values and is more expensive.

PD: I am not millionaire and I want less expensive accessories
Click to expand...
I can argue about "BMW vs any American brand" statemen BUT specifically BMW R18 quality (craftsmanship, materials, QA, etc) is way ahead of HD from any angle.

I would rather pay $17K for R18CLA (with all the incentives) and add $5K worth of accessories than buy a competitor - HD RKS for $27K (with all the incentives) and get accessories a bit cheaper than BMW.

IMO HD has THE WORST pricing model on motorcycles on a market.
 
Lots of defensive comments posted here......

Funny, .....at first, the counter point was that the BMW prices are actually not that far off from Harley.

And then after ask anyone to find ANY Harley OEM mufflers that costs $3200, then the defense pivots to ......but the quality is better so that explains the insane pricing.

Very simple math, NO calculator needed............$10,000 for an exhaust system for a bike that costs $20,000.

I have nothing more to say.....

INSANE in the MEMBRANE, .........INSANE in the BRAIN

 
Last edited:
kratedisease said:
Lots of defensive comments posted here......

$10,000 for an exhaust system for a bike that costs $20,000.

I have nothing more to say.....
Click to expand...
You’ve conceded you’re wrong about the floorboards which is good.

As for the exhaust, you can take 1k off as the mounts aren’t really part of it. I’m not sure you understand how manufacturing works though. About 10 years ago I was representing Suzuki at a motorcycle show in London. On the stand they’d built from a complete list of spare parts, a TL1000S. The cost to do so was significantly more than that bike would have cost as a whole or even what it was worth by some margin. Maybe you can give us a breakdown of the cost of building an R18 from parts vs the cost of buying a complete machine?
 
The *insanity of HD lore* is what comes to my mind. 40k for a new CVO? Talk about insanity...and for a bike in which has a long history of dependibility issues.. Prices on everything is expensive now for all the reasons that are beyond obvious... They will stabilize once supply is more in line with demand.
 
Alex-B said:
You’ve conceded you’re wrong about the floorboards which is good.

As for the exhaust, you can take 1k off as the mounts aren’t really part of it. I’m not sure you understand how manufacturing works though. About 10 years ago I was representing Suzuki at a motorcycle show in London. On the stand they’d built from a complete list of spare parts, a TL1000S. The cost to do so was significantly more than that bike would have cost as a whole or even what it was worth by some margin. Maybe you can give us a breakdown of the cost of building an R18 from parts vs the cost of buying a complete machine?
Click to expand...

Alex-B,

Please post and highlight ANY comments where I conceded ANYTHING related to the floorboards. Please kindly quote me, I would like to see where I did such, as you say I did.

My question to you is.....Why are you defending this insane pricing by BMW ?

(Full disclosure, I paid $11,500 for my brand new R18 with zero miles after all incentives and dealer discounts...... Let me guess..... you paid $23,000 for yours ?)
 
Adrian R said:
The *insanity of HD lore* is what comes to my mind. 40k for a new CVO? Talk about insanity...and for a bike in which has a long history of dependibility issues.. Prices on everything is expensive now for all the reasons that are beyond obvious... They will stabilize once supply is more in line with demand.
Click to expand...

Glad you pointed this out, because I AGREE WITH YOU 100%......, CVO pricing is also absolutely INSANE in the MEMBRANE.. you would never find me defending the insane pricing of a HD CVO.......

Why would anyone defend a $10,000 exhaust for a $20,000 bike.
 
kratedisease said:
Alex-B,

Please post and highlight ANY comments where I conceded ANYTHING related to the floorboards. Please kindly quote me, I would like to see where I did such, as you say I did.

My question to you is.....Why are you defending this insane pricing by BMW ?

(Full disclosure, I paid $11,500 for my brand new R18 with zero miles after all incentives and dealer discounts...... Let me guess..... you paid $23,000 for yours ?)
Click to expand...
Because you keep deflecting away from the fact that responses about pricing differential were regarding the boards and not the exhausts which you are now solely focussed on. And edited your response after I’d replied.

You started another thread about board pricing some time ago and we’re saying a HD board was 350 max as you have in this thread, yet the one you showed was a Defiance collection board REDUCED from 440. It’s been highlighted by myself and nielsm that there is more to the kit than just boards and you’ve not responded so 🤷🏼‍♂️

I’m defending the pricing from your apparent ignorance of business. Quality as stated, is a large part of it but it’s well known HD is sourcing most of its parts from China, exhausts included I would imagine which will be part of the reason they’re cheap. BMW and every other manufacturer will be sourcing parts there too sure, but not to the same extent. Then you have to look at the sheer volume of motorcycles HD produce each year which is ITRO what? 250,000 ish? BMW aren’t producing anything like that and certainly not R18s so no less chance for economies of scale (search Google for these to learn more)

No I didn’t pay full price not sure what difference that makes? I paid in £ though because I live in the UK which is a country in Europe just incase you’re also being ignorant about the fact owners on here aren’t all from the US or that other countries exist.

Are you related to BlackDog by any chance? He was a disease too
 
kratedisease said:
Glad you pointed this out, because I AGREE WITH YOU 100%......, CVO pricing is also absolutely INSANE in the MEMBRANE.. you would never find me defending the insane pricing of a HD CVO.......

Why would anyone defend a $10,000 exhaust for a $20,000 bike.
Click to expand...
As you like this game, CVO pricing is expensive but add up the cost of accessory parts fitted to one over a standard model. It’s cheaper to buy the CVO
 
Alex-B said:
Because you keep deflecting away from the fact that responses about pricing differential were regarding the boards and not the exhausts which you are now solely focussed on. And edited your response after I’d replied.

You started another thread about board pricing some time ago and we’re saying a HD board was 350 max as you have in this thread, yet the one you showed was a Defiance collection board REDUCED from 440. It’s been highlighted by myself and nielsm that there is more to the kit than just boards and you’ve not responded so 🤷🏼‍♂️

I’m defending the pricing from your apparent ignorance of business. Quality as stated, is a large part of it but it’s well known HD is sourcing most of its parts from China, exhausts included I would imagine which will be part of the reason they’re cheap. BMW and every other manufacturer will be sourcing parts there too sure, but not to the same extent. Then you have to look at the sheer volume of motorcycles HD produce each year which is ITRO what? 250,000 ish? BMW aren’t producing anything like that and certainly not R18s so no less chance for economies of scale (search Google for these to learn more)

No I didn’t pay full price not sure what difference that makes? I paid in £ though because I live in the UK which is a country in Europe just incase you’re also being ignorant about the fact owners on here aren’t all from the US or that other countries exist.

Are you related to BlackDog by any chance? He was a disease too
Click to expand...

Alex-B,

you seem upset.....you OK ?


( BTW, I paid $9,300GBP for my zero miles brand new never titled, fresh out of the crate R18)
 
kratedisease said:
Alex-B,

you seem upset.....you OK ?


( BTW, I paid $9,300GBP for my zero miles brand new never titled, fresh out of the crate R18)
Click to expand...
Not upset at all just trying to get through to you. Here’s the cost just for the muffler for a current model Rocket 3 and a Ducati XDiavel. Still think BMW are alone?

Again, what does price paid for the bike have to do with anything?
 

Attachments

  • 4192EE8A-3983-4DDF-81AA-9B5DC251CA58.jpeg
    4192EE8A-3983-4DDF-81AA-9B5DC251CA58.jpeg
    601.2 KB · Views: 10
  • 4017C1A1-6C5E-492E-B58D-38327F4F789C.jpeg
    4017C1A1-6C5E-492E-B58D-38327F4F789C.jpeg
    583.9 KB · Views: 10
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top