There is a DeLorean place in Texas called DMC. The brought every nut, bolt, spare part, from the factory. They claim that they can build many "Brand New" Delorean's from the vast supply of spare parts. I think DMC Owners have a better chance at their rides surviving then we do


http://delorean.com/

 

this isn't c5 specific. even acura which has some of the best OE support for their cars of any has slowly been discontinuing early NSX parts.

there is no production car over 20 years old that i know of that has full support, most start to wean around year 10 and more parts drop off as they age

 

The tech in a Delorean to a C5 is like comparing a modern laptop with Apple II.

 

There may have been a slight bit of sarcasm in my post, but my real question is, how often have/are these ebcm's failing? If it is a rare occurrence, there won't be much of a market for replacements, or repairs. If they start to fail more commonly, the market becomes profitable. supply and demand thing. ( I would like to think) I fully restored a 67 Camaro, and there was only a handful of parts not made reproduction for that car, but then thousands of people restore them. You can buy the uni-body shell nowadays. Heck, you can build the entire car from catalogs. Maybe the C5 will gain a similar status among fellow gear heads when it hits 40 years of age. I know there wasn't a big market to restore first gen F bodies in the late 70's, or early 80's because nobody cared. I think that's where the C5 is now. Look at C2's and early C3's, lots of restorations going on with those today. Let's be optimistic fellows! The C5 is bad a##, and will be for a long time.

 

P.S. Of course, the highest tech item on a 67 Camaro was a windshield wiper motor.

 

Most likely the only options you'll have at some point it to rip out most/all the electronics and go with free standing engine/transmission controller of the time like GM does for retro-mod stuff. The issue is the free standing stuff like the EBCM/BCM and all the integration between modules won't exist. C5 is getting long in the tooth and keeping them on the road will get harder over time, nature of todays technology.

I work on the big computer servers that live in datacenters, those machines generally have a lifespan of 3-5 years before vendors charge up the rear for maintenance, then the aftermarket kicks in with used spares. Many of the setups I work on cost more than a new Vette and the lifespan is far shorter, having manufacturer support for as long as car markers have to is unheard of in almost every other industry except probably for heavy machinery.

 

I think that the market niche for all Corvettes is unique and, as such, GM should bend over backwards to make sure that critical electronic parts remain in their inventory.

First, in many parts of north America Corvettes are strictly summer toys. Just look at the number of extrememly low km, almost showroom conditon C5s there are on the road (and just sitting in garages looking beautiful). This is both a blessing and in some ways a curse. For example, these new-looking cars are not new, but will/can a potential buyer fully appreciate that just because the cars look new, that GM is no longer fully supporting these vehicles with parts -- some of which are critical to the proper operation of what was designed to be a high-performance vehicle? I don't think the do. (I certainly didn't until I got on a rather steep learning curve, and I almost certaintly still don't know as much as I should.)

Second, the Corvette is THE premier symbol of GM/Chevrolet engineering and STYLE, and, therefore, should be treated by GM in a unique way -- supporting the owners of this premier vehicle with parts for as long as necessary for a pampered vehicle that is likely to be on the road, or, again, looking beautiful sitting motionless in a garage, for a very very long time, if not for very very high miles.

GM MUST realize what they're doing. Every person at GM could not be so stupid as to not realize what they're doing. This must be deliberate.

So just exactly WHAT IS GMs "business model" when it comes to parts support of the Corvette -- to leave owners of pristine examples storing large paperweights in their garages? To make new C5 owners feel like they're "holding a hot potato"?

What is the result of that business model? Is the final owner of a new-looking C5 hot potato going to march right into a GM showroom and buy another future paperweight? No, he/she is not. And this is the age of the internet, not the 1960s. Important product information spreads among auto buyers like WILDFIRE.

Doesn't GM make enough money selling $30 control modules for $600? GM already has, or had, suppliers manufacturing these things. Exacctly WHY did GM tell them to stop making them? It makes no economic sense .......... unless GM is on a financial suicide mission.

What is needed is a package of modules that ARE integrated, or can be programmed to be, that would replace all the C5s modules when, not if, that becomes necessary. Because some future owners would be between a rock and a hard place without any GM alternative, it could even be expensive. Shouldn't a rather short list of modules and sensors do the trick?

 

My thoughts exactly, but I think once they sell the car, they have made what money they are concerned about making. Why would they care if you bought a used car? They already made their money, you are on your own. Crappy, considering what the Corvette has been for GM, but if they cared in the least, you would see ebcm's, and bcm's all over ebay for sale, if not at least at your local parts store. They knew they were leaving us hanging when they pulled the plug on ebcm's. I kinda feel like I have a hot potato in my garage now, but am confident it has a few good years left, having been garaged its whole life helps.

 

If you believe the doom and gloom, now is the time to sell before the value crash. Anyone selling their C5 because of parts availability?

 

IMHO the C5 will stay afloat much longer. Too many aftermarket parts out there still getting top dollar. The C5 "fits" many different sizes and shapes of people. Has plenty of power and fuel economy, and a much more comfortable ride.

The FRC's and Roadsters should hold their value longer than the coupes. As well as the Z16's like the C4 96GS. (I hope)

 

I sold mine primarily because I wanted a C7, but the parts availability issue was also a factor.

 

This has been the American business model for many years now. Short term profits instead of looking at the long term. It's not only in business, it's everywhere. New coach must win the first year.
If GM decides to totally ignore their previous customers, it will be a public nightmare for the company, if the company actually survives. (Bankruptcy again anyone?).

 

Guys,

The main problem here is that GM is not following Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc. in implementing a program that provides parts support for some of their older and classic sportscars. I think GM will have no choice but to eventually put something in place if they truly want the new C7 to be taken seriously as a "world-class" sportscar. I believe that the "new GM" will do just that, eventually.

Am I worried about the future of the C5? Absolutely not!! It is still a very desireable sportscar that will remain so for years to come. The C5 was the most important generation of Corvette ever. It is as significant as the 911 is to the Porsche world. All subsequent Corvettes are based on the C5 platform including the C7.

For all you worry-warts whining about how you're now stuck with a worthless heap of junk; sell it now before it's too late! I'm willing to take it off your hands for 25 cents on the dollar..............lol.

 

Cybermind, My point exactly. If it's a disaster waiting to happen, why aren't all these cars up for sale?
Of course there is the consideration that by keeping them we might lose a few thousand dollars. However, if we're shrewed and buy a C6 or C7, then we'll only lose, uhhh, wait a minute, that doesn't work out does it.

 

The C-5 will be around longer than me 68 now" not planning to bite the dust for a long long time. My C-5 has 337,000 miles on Old Blue.Yes it
cost to replace items but they can be replaced or upgraded I do not see a bone yard for the C-5 in my life time.

Old Blue is in the shop for a new LS3 engine will have about 460hp just like my C-7 Z-51.

My point is the C-5 is a "OUTSTANDING CAR" here to stay. R

 

My wife and I don't own a C5 yet, but we're still looking.

At the time we buy the vehicle, if we wanted to maximize its useful life (and even perhaps bridge the gap between now and when GM wakes up and starts producing critical parts for the C5) by buying say $2-3k worth of spare GM proprietary electronic parts that are critical to the high-performance operation of say an early '03 automatic, what parts should we buy?

(For example, I see that new SWPS units are still available, as well as a rebuilt Magnasteer unit, as well as new and rebuilt ECM and, AFAI can tell, BCM. Should these be on that list and what others should be added?)

Thanks.

 

And when those 3-5 year old servers get pulled its because they are owned by companies that MUST have state of the art to be competitive. Even then, those servers get resold or parted out and continue on. Comparing a corporations decision to pull a 3 year old server to a vet owners passion for their cars is ignorant and pointless. Passion will keep C5's on the road through innovation/creativity and aftermarket solutions the same way you can build a 67 Mustang FB 100% from new stock today. Tell someone back in 1977 when those cars were worth about $0 and were pouring into scrap yards that they will be making every nut, bolt, panel, electronic component for a 67 in 2014 and they wouldn't believe you.

The c4 was high tech in its day and now there is nothing that cannot be sourced or rebuilt for them today. While that doesn't mean its worth the investment...someday it will be as the numbers of c4's dwindle. It's parts supply in demand and the C5 demand simply is nearing rock bottom and is no where near peak.

 

They will be around and parts for them for a long long time.With almost one forth of a million built and almost that many proud owners they are here to stay.My two centsR

 

The point I was making was car manufacturers are held to a higher standard for parts, 10 yrs in general.

 

Depends on how you define "on the road".

It is entirely possible, maybe even probable, that, at some point in the (not too?) distant future, C5s will be like C2s and Gen1 Mustangs in this regard.

And the vast majority of them will end up in the hands of collectors because they simply won't be affordable as drivers.