But surely you understand why a comment like that would raise red flags. "This is a great company with great products! Tell them Bob sent you!" How would you react to something like that? Seriously? The most active members on this forum are hardcore 1st gen original owners.
JHendern1986 stick around we are friendly you just happens to hit on a sore spot. And as for anyone that does not like what I say. Why do I have to agree to be called friendly? Guess what I don't agree with everything that has been said on this forum the past few years. So what! I don't have to agree with every little thing that some one says. You know sometime you learn from those you don't agree with! MOTOR ON
Jim, Jim, Jim...You know better. Tell me who in this thread hasn't been around awhile? Because all I see is the people who have been around the longest, who have an idea of the history of all of this posting. So exactly who in this thread is new here? Name some names, since most of us according to you are new here, if you're calling anyone out be specific, otherwise you're spewing nonsense trying to twist a point.... Sorry that reality trumps civility in my world.
Aww... Last nights posts are gone... Oh well, we've been around long enough to know Jimmys childish temper and games.
I have never bought any M7 stuff. But I have looked at some of their ideas and like them. If I was the new owner of M7 I would put together a nice letter explaining they are aware of past issues, what they are doing to make sure they don't happen now, and ask people to give them a chance. Then I would ask the major MINI sites to put it up. I might even go as far as asking people to ask reasonable questions (without barbs) so I could have an opportunity to respond. Just my 2 cents
Done! Time will tell if the new ownership of M7 will bring their reputation back to a standard we can all live with! Now let's go have some fun with our MINIs!
We can only hope... Let's face it... The number of vendors doing any gen1 parts is starting to dwindle.... Maybe the torch has been passed to a decent owner... Am I gonna be the one to test it? Most likely no...risk is too high.
Prospective from a New Comer. I have spent a little time here as well as a few other sites, some more than others now. I do not own or have I ever purchased M7 parts and I owe that to the individuals on this site. I can see not everyone agreeing or liking a company’s product, to each his/her own. I don’t agree with everyone’s opinions here and I think I have expressed that with my likes and dislikes in past posts. But there are a few that have earned the bad rep they have here and it would be in my eyes, pretty freaking ignorant to jump in the same rabbit hole that a whole community has basically barracked for all the FNGs’ safety. There was a dinner the last night of MINIPalooza 2014 and I sat at a table with an individual that was sporting a M7 shirt. Eventually conversation gravitated towards M7. I shared my opinions based on what I have read here and I heard the same comments that JHendern1986 made at the beginning of this thread, ownership had changed, quality was increasing and new components were being developed. I was kind of hoping that was case, I mean M7 pricing is a little ridiculous in my eyes, but hey if there is something worth it anything is possible. Change the name, develop something worth buying… at a reasonable price.
Thought I would chime in here and share some thoughts. I really have nothing against M7 or Alta or any of the MINI aftermarket parts vendors. I have M7 strut supports and they look great and I'm pretty sure they perform their purpose (to stiffen the top enough so they don't mushroom). I have an Alta rear sway bar going on 9 years on my car now. Yes the red paint looks a bit beat up, but the bar still performs its purpose. I have a MINI Madness CAI and still works. I feel I got good deals on all of them because I bought them when I attended AMVIV. I'm from Canada so if I were to buy anything for my car, it is overpriced and quality is always hit and miss. I would buy from Way but he doesn't deal with the hassles of shipping cross border. So the only time I can buy go faster parts for my car is if I attend an event stateside. I have another car where I cannot get factory parts for it anymore other than routine engine maintenance parts. I have not been able to get an aftermarket part that fits perfectly the first time the last 10 years running if there is even a part available at all, even ordering from the USA and paying premium shipping. I am happy that there are even vendors out there that invest and take the time to manufacture or sell parts for the MINI. I thank them for being there and hope their businesses are successful and they never have to take shortcuts and let quality slip in order to stay in business. I don't think anybody goes into business thinking they are going to rip off their clientele and create a bad reputation for themselves. Having said that, if I don't see value from the products they sell, I won't buy from them. Perhaps there are others who will see value and they do already have a regular customer base. So let's be the "friendly MINI site" we all claim to be a part off. If we can't recommend a specific manufacturer, then let's just say that. I don't want to slag anybody unless they take the time to slag me. But let's be constructive about it. Who would we recommend? If I wanted a pulley for my R53, what is a good brand? I have no idea anymore. If I go to my local Lordco, who gives me a pretty good club discount, they tell me about parts from brands I have never heard of. If M7 is under new ownership, has anybody here even looked at what they are selling? Let's be constructive here. I'm just a bit disappointed by the tone of this thread. There...rant done.
At the end of the day I simply cannot support a company that counterfeited parts off a small independent guy because they could. If/when the new and supposedly improved M7 wants to distance itself from that, and so far they haven't, then we can talk.