[NYBulldog]

I always check... HOPING these guys did something I like. Hasn't happened in about 25 years.

[functimonious]

Originally Posted by FrankieP

Designed, engineered, tested. Road legal in 60 countries worldwide.

How many aftermarket BMW products can we say this about?

The truth is that most products in the BMW aftermarket are "price point products." Straight up copies, replicas, reversed engineered from a picture, or rebranded "carbon fiber" made in Asia with subpar materials. No testing, no warranty, no install hardware or instructions, but hey it's a third of the cost, am I right?

An even larger problem is when "trusted" vendors cosign and heavily push these subpar products. Some of them on this very thread that knowingly bash legitimate products, for their own profit motives. They know very well that ACS is top quality, made and imported from Germany. Yet they make references to "rice", "auto zone" and "alibaba." It's one thing to be ignorant, and another to knowingly deceive customers for profit. It's like saying "I'd rather have gold plated, because it looks the same and is cheaper than real gold" or "this is as good as gold." If they know you can't or won't afford gold, they perpetuate a lie to make a subpar product equal. They have done it so much that the general "forum market" thinks "gold plating" is the same as gold, just a better value. Just like real gold, ACS can not be compared to price point products. They are literally not the same material, not tested, not engineered, not approved, doesn't fit, has gaps, not even on the same playing field. Like gold or gold plating, they only look the same in pictures.

ACS offers a broad range of products for every BMW chassis, not just G8x. Some are functional, and others are styling. They build their demo cars with ALL of these items, because it's their rolling catalog. 9/10 people will find parts of the programs that they don't like or would never install. This is normal as people do not share the same brain, and have their own style. ACS makes products for every region in the world. Different cultures, styles and people like different things. The one thing that you can be sure of is that AC Schnitzer products are the best quality available in the BMW aftermarket, comparable only with BMW M Performance. Many people will never get to experience an ACS product due to budget or "trusted" forum vendors, but this is a fact without question. The whole premise of ACS is building a product for BMW enthusiasts that is "above the standard." Translation: Better than OEM.

So know when you see comments like "available at Autozone," or "rice" that this person has:

1. Never actually seen an ACS products in real life
2. Never installed, experienced or used the parts
3. Is ignorant of two decades of BMW Motorsports involvement
4. Only care about pricing when comparing products
5. Is a purist who would never modify their BMW anyway
6. Is a vendor who knows better, but has ulterior profit motives

But alas, ACS will always have it's haters as well as its many fans and customers worldwide. It's easy to bash a product based on a picture. 10/10 people that have actually seen or experienced an authentic ACS product will tell you it is second to none.

End rant

This line of argument is bunk, period. The comments have been about aesthetic, not heritage or quality, and these parts look more JDM than Euro. They look 2 Fast 2 Furious; 2 Hottttt 2 Handle.

I've seen ACS in person. I have not seen these in person. But if I did see them in person, would I be on Aisle 6 at AutoZone? Maybe.

[functimonious]

Originally Posted by hrdwurc1

I also don't work for ACS, however, I have owned many cars with genuine authentic ACS equipment and could attest to the quality, craftsmanship and value to the product.

Same reason I shop at the actual Brunello Cucinelli botique store, rather than the outlet or Banana Republic, I'm not spending my hard earned money on an almost "Brunello" style vest.

For the people at this level, y'all understand.

Maybe you went to the "boutique", not the "botique"?

Impressive that you buy Brunello. Some people don't dig that style. And then some of us prefer bespoke instead of off-the-rack or made-to-measure.

[FrankieP]

Originally Posted by The Stig

You dont seem to understand the point.

Nobody has debated the quality. You're making up points of contention to make yourself feel better about overpaying for a bunch of janky looking mods. Its not the quality of the products that are in question.

ITS LITERALLY THAT THIS STUFF LOOKS LIKE IT CAME FROM AUTO ZONE.

Do you not understand?


Also on a side note, you 100% either work or rep AC.... You dont seem to even have a G80, yet here you are all up on AC Schnitzers Schlong in the G80 forum.

I usually don't comment about styling I haven't seen in person because pictures and videos are not the same as seeing it in real life. Just like the styling of the G8x, many didn't like the pictures or video, but when they saw it in real life their opinion changed. So I feel it's ignorant to make derogatory comments when you don't even know what you're looking at or are in a relevant field to understand what you are saying. Do you understand? I apologize if you are a designer for BMW or work at Autozone.

What you see as "all up AC Schnitzers Schlong," I see as contributing factual information to the forum. Nothing that I have written in this thread can be disputed. Why? Because though I do not work for ACS, I am in the industry and have worked with them as well as other legitimate tuners since 1997. I have used their parts on my personal cars and have been on the manufacture's side of the European aftermarket for decades. I have driven in AC Schnitzer race cars around the ring, Mr. Stig. So what are your qualifications and contributions to this forum again?

[FrankieP]

Originally Posted by functimonious

This line of argument is bunk, period. The comments have been about aesthetic, not heritage or quality, and these parts look more JDM than Euro. They look 2 Fast 2 Furious; 2 Hottttt 2 Handle.

I've seen ACS in person. I have not seen these in person. But if I did see them in person, would I be on Aisle 6 at AutoZone? Maybe.

Yeah my "line of argument is bunk" because all these people commenting, including yourself, have seen this car or these products in real life. Maybe you are passing judgment on something on the internet without having seen it in person? From a picture? A video? Maybe? The ACS product you've seen in person, Autozone? Just trying to understand the rational. Made in Germany = JDM now? I think it looks like ACS. Trend setting as usual and completely functional, not just for looks. Might be 2 Hottt for you 2 Handle, or not your style, but compared to what really? Show me a tested, functional, road legal parts program for the G8x that meets your standards, I'll wait.

Is BMW M Performance 2F2F, JDM parts as well? Available at Autozone? If my last question is ridiculous, you might be starting to understand.

[functimonious]

Originally Posted by FrankieP

Yeah my "line of argument is bunk" because all these people commenting, including yourself, have seen this car or these products in real life. Maybe you are passing judgment on something on the internet without having seen it in person? From a picture? A video? Maybe? The ACS product you've seen in person, Autozone? Just trying to understand the rational. Made in Germany = JDM now? I think it looks like ACS. Trend setting as usual and completely functional, not just for looks. Might be 2 Hottt for you 2 Handle, or not your style, but compared to what really? Show me a tested, functional, road legal parts program for the G8x that meets your standards, I'll wait.

Is BMW M Performance 2F2F, JDM parts as well? Available at Autozone? If my last question is ridiculous, you might be starting to understand.

Reading is HARD: "I've seen ACS in person. I have not seen these in person."

I did not make comment on M Performance accessories for the G8x. But others have and consider it to be 2F2F. Don't know what to tell you there 🤷🏻.

Do agree that it's both subjective and comparative. You're entitled to your opinion. I'm entitled to my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by FrankieP

I usually don't comment about styling I haven't seen in person because pictures and videos are not the same as seeing it in real life. Just like the styling of the G8x, many didn't like the pictures or video, but when they saw it in real life their opinion changed. So I feel it's ignorant to make derogatory comments when you don't even know what you're looking at or are in a relevant field to understand what you are saying. Do you understand? I apologize if you are a designer for BMW or work at Autozone.

What you see as "all up AC Schnitzers Schlong," I see as contributing factual information to the forum. Nothing that I have written in this thread can be disputed. Why? Because though I do not work for ACS, I am in the industry and have worked with them as well as other legitimate tuners since 1997. I have used their parts on my personal cars and have been on the manufacture's side of the European aftermarket for decades. I have driven in AC Schnitzer race cars around the ring, Mr. Stig. So what are your qualifications and contributions to this forum again?

My qualifications are that I’m the Stig…

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by FrankieP

The ACS product you've seen in person, Autozone? Just trying to understand the rational. Made in Germany = JDM now? I think it looks like ACS. Trend setting as usual and completely functional, not just for looks.

Is BMW M Performance 2F2F, JDM parts as well? Available at Autozone? If my last question is ridiculous, you might be starting to understand.

If ACS designed a car with dragon stickers on the side, an oversized wing, fake chrome vents, and 12” wheels tilted in at 45*, regardless of the quality or functionality of those parts, I think we would all (at least I hope all! Lol) laugh at it as ridiculous and not attractive. Now it may be that those parts could be amazingly functional, but that is not relevant to the design discussion. As an aside, one needs no expertise to comment on design. Functionality? Absolutely. Design? Nope.

When people say PepBoys parts, they are not referring to quality, but rather to a design ethos of accessories that pervade the parts sold there. While the ACS design may not be that offensive, it is simply a comment on the design. I don’t think anyone here is trying to say ACS parts are cheap knock-off, or not properly engineered, mainly because we all know otherwise.

Using your fashion analogy, I often see hideous designs from high fashion brands that are known for their quality. Doesn’t diminish the quality of product, just the visual appeal.

[FrankieP]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

Using your fashion analogy, I often see hideous designs from high fashion brands that are known for their quality. Doesn’t diminish the quality of product, just the visual appeal.

But not everyone knows and understands the quality difference with ACS. Just like those fashion brands, it's about the finish, texture, stitching, and quality that make them what they are. The design is subjective to someones opinion. LV may be gaudy, but the general public knows it's high-end fashion and not sold at Walmart (or never would be). Just like ACS parts are far from Autozone or Pepboys, no matter your opinion of the styling. Also these parts look very well scaled and integrated in real life. They don't look pasted on. When you see them up close the quality and texture make you feel like it was designed this way from the factory or is a special edition, a la ACS.

I don't expect everyone to understand, nor do I pretend that everyone will like 100% of the program. I'm a fan of ACS parts, and I would not do 100% of the program. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just hard to see comments that are misrepresenting the brand and giving false perceptions.

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by FrankieP

But not everyone knows and understands the quality difference with ACS. Just like those fashion brands, it's about the finish, texture, stitching, and quality that make them what they are. The design is subjective to someones opinion….It's just hard to see comments that are misrepresenting the brand and giving false perceptions.

Now that is a very reasonable argument, and one that would likely have averted the escalation.

I understand your frustration as a passionate fan of the brand. I’m just trying to bring in a little different perspective on the discussion here, and hope to lighten the mood a bit.

I think we can all agree the parts will be very high quality fit and finish. Expensive? Yes, but certainly high quality.

Functionality? Well, the aero parts are likely moot at street speeds, but I’m sure they offer some advantages on a track. The other stuff is likely the same from a pure performance standpoint.

The looks…well…we may all agree to differ…and that is ok.

[FrankieP]

Just wanted to show a post I did 7 years ago on this forum with the very same topic... nothing has changed, if anything it is way worse now.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...0#post28229670