It is not unusual for car models from the same brand, but under different corporations, to share common parts and components. This is a method used to optimize the development and production costs of automotive companies. However, the price difference of parts used for models under the same corporation can still surprise many people. The case of a Rolls-Royce Wraith supercar owner illustrates this well.
In particular, when this customer brought his Rolls-Royce Wraith for repair, he discovered that the cost of replacing the watch spring amounted to $2,500. Normally, Rolls-Royce owners would agree to replace it without much thought. However, the owner of this Rolls-Royce Wraith seems to be technically knowledgeable and does not want to “waste money.” Therefore, the customer decided to use the watch spring from a BMW car as a replacement for his Rolls-Royce Wraith.
It turns out that the watch spring of the BMW 6-Series fits perfectly in the Rolls-Royce Wraith. The price of the BMW 6-Series watch spring is only $160, which is 15 times cheaper than the one made for the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Thanks to this solution, the luxury car owner saved up to $2,340.
An image comparing the watch springs of BMW and Rolls-Royce cars.
The watch spring, also known as the clock spring, is a flat multi-core cable wound in a helical shape and is located in the steering column. This component is used to connect the static part (steering column) and the rotating part (steering wheel) of a car. Specifically, the watch spring is responsible for connecting electrical components on the steering wheel, such as airbags, cruise control buttons, audio controls, and horns.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith owner shared this story online, which quickly garnered attention. Many people expressed sympathy for the car owner and shared similar experiences with their Rolls-Royce cars.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith was built based on the framework of the BMW 7-Series F01. Even the Rolls-Royce Dawn and Ghost have close relationships with the BMW 7-Series. This means that many mechanical and electrical components of the Rolls-Royce trio are shared with the BMW 7-Series or 6-Series. This is a cost-saving solution for Rolls-Royce owners when it comes to repair and replacement costs.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith and Dawn models have now been discontinued. Meanwhile, the new generation Ghost exclusively uses the aluminum Architecture of Luxury chassis designed specifically for Rolls-Royce cars. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if BMW components are still concealed within the new Rolls-Royce Ghost. With details that are beyond the user’s view and difficult to differentiate, there’s no reason why car companies like BMW wouldn’t take advantage of available components.
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