Non Manufacturer Car Spares - WTF!

[Chris_in_the_UK]

One of the 'angel eyes' front lights went off on our X5 the other day - I had little time and the missus rang me to say the car was 'beeping when I start it up and the dashboard says there is a RH sidelight problem'. Today I quickly made a phone call to be told by the local BMW dealership that the problem would be around £60 to fix - after 5 mins of Googling and a trip to Eurocarparts I swapped the offending bulb out for £11 all in. It took me less than the time it has taken to type this and the bulb I took out was original to the car (Osram) and the one I put in was the same.

Nice profit BMW.

[Skier]

Some years ago the window mechanism on a Ford failed. The local dealership wanted £400 to fix it. A quick Google, £11 for a repair kit and 90 minutes later it was fixed. It seems the norm these days that everyone is out to screw you and honest business is a thing of the past. I find it satisfying, if not a little disappointing, but I now treat all companies as the enemy.

I should add that I've experienced similar lying/cheating behaviour from my local Land Rover dealership and a local independent in dealing with my Range Rover.

[b11ocx]

Worst example I have is from my Italian friends. An ABS valve was £4,000 + VAT rom the manufacturer. An identical valve was £36 when purchased for a SAAB.

Another one, perhaps more relevant for this situation, headlight for the Mondial is £500+VAT, for a London Bus it is £80... same bit......

[demonloop]

Nissan dealer tried to take £1500 from me for a fuel pump. Luckily we have a local Diesel engine specialist. All I needed was the valve inside the pump, which was £11 plus £60 fitting. The £60 fitting included diagnostics too.

[Jimmcb]

Welcome to the world of the Motor industry. Im on the inside and its eye watering - but there are HUGE overheads of course.

Best hint and tip?? ALWAYS ask for discount when buying anything or at servicing time. Think of a reason!!

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Worst example I have is from my Italian friends. An ABS valve was £4,000 + VAT rom the manufacturer. An identical valve was £36 when purchased for a SAAB.

Another one, perhaps more relevant for this situation, headlight for the Mondial is £500+VAT, for a London Bus it is £80... same bit......

OMG

[Jimmcb]

But its nightmare trying to get your London Bus in your semi-deatched's garage to do the repair I'm told :)

[markrlondon]

It seems the norm these days that everyone is out to screw you and honest business is a thing of the past. I find it satisfying, if not a little disappointing, but I now treat all companies as the enemy.

I think there still are honest businesses but the sad truth seems to be that they rarely do well. Consumers increasingly seem to prefer big (and increasingly bad). Reassuringly expensive, and all that.

Blame the consumer. It's all our fault! ;-)

[Chris_in_the_UK]

I think there still are honest businesses but the sad truth seems to be that they rarely do well. Consumers increasingly seem to prefer big (and increasingly bad). Reassuringly expensive, and all that.

Blame the consumer. It's all our fault! ;-)

Au contraire Mark.

The honest ones are the minority and often overrun with business. There is a class of consumer that lacks savvy and often seem to believe what is perceived as a 'luxury item' should (must) attract a 'luxury' (large) bill - watches are no different.

[Jimmcb]

Good point Mark

Furthermore, some of the manufacturers do impose very expensive showroom design requirements on dealers to better sell their product - or so they think. Look at the dealers who now provide Ushers at car parks and valet parking?!? Goodness knows why anyone would drive to a garage and then have someone park their car for them?!?

[itsgotournameonit]

Au contraire Mark.

The honest ones are the minority and often overrun with business. There is a class of consumer that lacks savvy and often seem to believe what is perceived as a 'luxury item' should (must) attract a 'luxury' (large) bill - watches are no different.

Exactly.Estimates that I have received to service my last two cars made my eyes water.The last service on the Freelander was quoted at £1100.I had it done for £400 through an independent.At 97000 and with full Land rover history it really didn't matter to me.

Turn up with any luxury car at a main dealer and be prepared to get stung.

[Longsight]

As stated in a previous post the 'demands' made by the manufacturer to have the 'privilege' of representing them and to sustain the corporate identity of the brand are truly staggering plus inevitably the overheads and funding requirements to run the business are significant.

Corporate identity, customer relationship management and dealer management systems cost a fortune all stipulated by the manufacturer and funded by the dealer or dealer group.

Margins on car sales and vehicle sales in general in the US and Europe have been under downward pressure for years where in some markets the profit on sale is so low the only way to make a return is with the help of volume and performance bonus from the manufacturers and from aftersales, parts etc.

The dealers have little choice but to be opportunistic and on some occasions downright cheeky (being courteous) as they are measured purely by volume by the manufacturers who generally have silly expectations of market share they 'deserve'.

Not justifying poor service or rip off pricing, nor asking for a vote of sympathy for the ' poor dealers' just sharing some of the 'interesting' aspects of the auto industry.

[number2]

As stated in a previous post the 'demands' made by the manufacturer to have the 'privilege' of representing them and to sustain the corporate identity of the brand are truly staggering plus inevitably the overheads and funding requirements to run the business are significant.

Corporate identity, customer relationship management and dealer management systems cost a fortune all stipulated by the manufacturer and funded by the dealer or dealer group.

Margins on car sales and vehicle sales in general in the US and Europe have been under downward pressure for years where in some markets the profit on sale is so low the only way to make a return is with the help of volume and performance bonus from the manufacturers and from aftersales, parts etc.

The dealers have little choice to be opportunistic and on some occasions downright cheeky (being courteous) as they are measured purely by volume by the manufacturers who generally have silly expectations of market share they 'deserve'.

Not justifying poor service or rip off pricing, nor asking for a vote of sympathy for the ' poor dealers' just sharing some of the 'interesting' aspects of the auto industry.

On the nail, aftersales are now seen as the profit centre on most sites.

[number2]

As stated in a previous post the 'demands' made by the manufacturer to have the 'privilege' of representing them and to sustain the corporate identity of the brand are truly staggering plus inevitably the overheads and funding requirements to run the business are significant.

Corporate identity, customer relationship management and dealer management systems cost a fortune all stipulated by the manufacturer and funded by the dealer or dealer group.

Margins on car sales and vehicle sales in general in the US and Europe have been under downward pressure for years where in some markets the profit on sale is so low the only way to make a return is with the help of volume and performance bonus from the manufacturers and from aftersales, parts etc.

The dealers have little choice to be opportunistic and on some occasions downright cheeky (being courteous) as they are measured purely by volume by the manufacturers who generally have silly expectations of market share they 'deserve'.

Not justifying poor service or rip off pricing, nor asking for a vote of sympathy for the ' poor dealers' just sharing some of the 'interesting' aspects of the auto industry.

On the nail, aftersales are now seen as the profit centre on most sites, in the last two years more and more of the training I deliver to dealers is geared to upping the sales ability of the parts and service departments.

[andymonkey]

I've always found headlight bulbs a pain to change, you either need to be David Blaine or a small child to fit them

[100thmonkey]

Euro Car Parts and the like are brilliant as too is a good independent garage, good mate of mine left BMW after being told his job was to 'sell time'. He would plug a car into a diagnostic machine and leave it 35 mins while he did other work and then one pissed off customer after the other would ask why the bill was over £130, he found he could not carry on ripping them off so went solo and moved in next door to BMW and has never looked back as a BMW Specialist.

[MB2]

I've always found headlight bulbs a pain to change, you either need to be David Blaine or a small child to fit them

I would agree with this. On my car (Audi A4 B7) you have to remove the headlight to change many of the bulbs (only the parking lights and DRL bulbs can be changed in-situ) and to remove the headlight you have to remove the bumper!

Instead of making people carry spare bulbs the EU should make car manufacturers design their headlights so the bulbs can be changed in the event of failure.

[Franky Four Fingers]

As stated in a previous post the 'demands' made by the manufacturer to have the 'privilege' of representing them and to sustain the corporate identity of the brand are truly staggering plus inevitably the overheads and funding requirements to run the business are significant.

Corporate identity, customer relationship management and dealer management systems cost a fortune all stipulated by the manufacturer and funded by the dealer or dealer group.

Margins on car sales and vehicle sales in general in the US and Europe have been under downward pressure for years where in some markets the profit on sale is so low the only way to make a return is with the help of volume and performance bonus from the manufacturers and from aftersales, parts etc.

The dealers have little choice to be opportunistic and on some occasions downright cheeky (being courteous) as they are measured purely by volume by the manufacturers who generally have silly expectations of market share they 'deserve'.

Not justifying poor service or rip off pricing, nor asking for a vote of sympathy for the ' poor dealers' just sharing some of the 'interesting' aspects of the auto industry.

Spot on!

[deejay]

Not a bad as some examples above but I was £112 for discs and pads from Euro car parts when Merc wanted £399. Agree with above, it is the after sales and servicing that pays for shiny marble floors and showroom extras these days.

[london lad]

Similar to the OP.
Rear LED light unit for my X5 consisting of a red lens with sealed in LEDs and a mounting for the stop / tail light. £200 plus fitting and vat from the main dealer, £40 shipped from Germany via an independent for the same part made by the same manufacturer.

[Franky Four Fingers]

Not a bad as some examples above but I was £112 for discs and pads from Euro car parts when Merc wanted £399. Agree with above, it is the after sales and servicing that pays for shiny marble floors and showroom extras these days.

LR made virtually every dealer in the UK update their franchises back in 2010.

Lovely shiny easyslip-where there's a blaim there's a claim flooring, same world maps on the wall, same sofas, same lighting and toilets at a cost of around £100K
All because LR have gone up their own arses under the guise of being a premium brand......long gone are the days where they wanted the local farmer walking in twiddling straw in his mouth buying parts for his Defender. They want Ferrari, Porsche, BMW owner coming in.

In the long run great, but what happens when the bubble burst?.....IMO they have forgotten their heritage and what made a Land Rover a Land Rover and I hate them for it.

[JasonM]

Language Timothy .... We're in the G&D... ( always wanted to do that, usually it's me being told lol )

[Franky Four Fingers]

Language Timothy .... We're in the G&D... ( always wanted to do that, usually it's me being told lol )

Edited....totally forget, sorry chaps

[jmarchitect]

My D5 V50 is acting up at the moment and has had a series of replacement parts, all as a result of a garage using a generic diagnostic tool as opposed to one that understands Volvo. One of the sensors that was replaced was the cam sensor, which could have been £180 plus fitting, if procured from Volvo but was actually £35 plus fitting, after the independant garage chap purchased from elsewhere. The lesson I take away from this ongoing experience is a mixed one in that the independant garage is run by an honest chap but he has scimped on his tools. Luckily I have found another local independant who owns a diagnostic tool that understands Volvo and who will not charge £60 just for plugging it in.

[dickbrowne]

Seems to be endemic - my E250 was going into limp-home mode under acceleration, Mercedes offered to change the lift pump at a cost of £1100 plus VAT, but wouldn't guarantee a fix, and as the car was two weeks out of warranty (with a full Mercedes SH), they refused to help with the cost.

The funny thing is, I had it serviced by an independent who charged me an additional £70 to change the diesel filter and the problem went away. Apparently it's a well-known issue with the engine in question and anybody who's worked with them for a while knows about it (according to the independent).

Land Rover are much better, they serviced my Discovery a couple of months ago and told me the rear brakes were dangerously low, but they would change them for £400+VAT. I'm sure they would as ECP charge £27inc for the parts and it takes about 15 minutes in total.

Oh, and the brakes still have enough meat on them to warrant me not being in a rush to change them (at least until Spring), but I was advised that due to safety issues I shouldn't have my brake pads changed by anybody other than a LR dealer.

I do wonder if they would have got away with this technique with a farmer?

[Backward point]

I've always found headlight bulbs a pain to change, you either need to be David Blaine or a small child to fit them

Don't buy a Honda S2000 then. To change a headlamp bulb (or sidelight, or indicator), first remove the front bumper assembly (about 27 screws and bolts) in order to remove the headlight assemblies. Estimate 4-6 hours. Probably a bit quicker the second time that you need to do it.

All I want to do is change the sidelight bulbs for something a bit brighter to use as DRL's when the weather is a bit dull.

The Caterham was much easier.

Still. On the plus side, it will give me the chance to find out why only one of my headlight washers actually does anything.

[Middo]

Top tip when buying from Eurocarparts, check the price with always available discount codes and compare with carparts4less. They are the same company and they will normally match the cheapest price instore.

[Keyser]

Exactly.Estimates that I have received to service my last two cars made my eyes water.The last service on the Freelander was quoted at £1100.I had it done for £400 through an independent.At 97000 and with full Land rover history it really didn't matter to me.

Turn up with any luxury car at a main dealer and be prepared to get stung.

It makes me laugh when people say "Well, it's expensive to service my 6 month old Mercedes/whatever at a main dealer, but I doubt anyone else knows how to do it and it's under warranty!"
1. Plenty of places can do it.
2. Why would you lose the warranty because you're not using a main dealer? A reputable Mercedes/whatever specialist service history looks just as good as main dealer (better to some people).

[watchcollector1]

I will never use main dealers for servicing or repairs. I've always thought that in most cases a good independent specialist will do a better job for a much lower cost. The independent's I use will always investigate explore the cheaper potential causes of a fault first. My opinion of dealerships is that they'll assume the most expensive cause first.

I don't even think main dealers are that knowledgeable about their cars. Soon after I got my (used) 330d I realised that the engine wasn't getting up to the required temperatures, causing poor MPG and meaning the DPF wouldn't regenerate. I took it back the garage (non BMW) I brought it from and they replaced the main thermostat. This didn't solve the problem so I did some research on owners forums which recommended also replacing the separate EGR thermostat. When I asked the garage to do this they claimed that the EGR stat wouldn't have any impact on engine temperature and to get a second opinion I also phoned a BMW technician who said the same. The garage eventually went ahead and replaced the EGR stat (but only after I agreed to pay the cost if it didn't work) and sure enough my engine temps were back to normal afterwards.

[Middo]

BMW dealer still can't my service history right on my key fob/car.

[Franky Four Fingers]

BMW dealer still can't my serve history right on my key for/car.

Really

[Captain Morgan]

BMW dealer still can't my serve history right on my key for/car.

That's easy for you to say..... ;)

[Dynam0humm]

About 10 years ago I was driving a Mk3 Golf, probably the most unreliable car I've owned with trips to Euro Car Parts being a regular occurrence. One day it started leaking oil and required a new oil cooler so I gave ECP a call and they wanted £115 for one. This would have involved a drive into Belfast in the rush hour so I gave my local VW dealer a call to see what their price was... £105 came the reply.

It pays to shop around.

[Franky Four Fingers]

About 10 years ago I was driving a Mk3 Golf, probably the most unreliable car I've owned with trips to Euro Car Parts being a regular occurrence. One day it started leaking oil and required a new oil cooler so I gave ECP a call and they wanted £115 for one. This would have involved a drive into Belfast in the rush hour so I gave my local VW dealer a call to see what their price was... £105 came the reply.

It pays to shop around.

It does happen sometimes-not very often but it does happen

[thieuster]

A long time friend of mine used to be the after sales director for the Dutch branche of a large French car company. He learned me that the factory's HQ sells the parts to various countries for the same price. The country's HQ sets their own retail price... Eg., wings and bumpers are up in price after a long and demanding winter. In (hot) countries without snow and ice, the price of these parts are lower. Other items like ac parts or tinted windows are more expensive there.

I remember a shopping trip to the supermarket in with my mate in his brand new (only a few hours old!) company car. A car drove backwards into the car's RH wing! Moments before I'd warned him: "Watch that car! It will run into yours!" His answer: "Just let it happen, its adding to my total turn-over for this year."

Using the same parts for different brands is very old. Eg., the wiper motor for a classic Jag is three times the price of the same item for a Saab 96... There used to be a cross reference parts list somewhere on the internet, but I can not find it anymore.

Menno

[Huertecilla]

So it is desirable in watches but not in cars.

Ok, that is another advance towards understanding wis-dom.

[Brighty]

My wife had a brief stint as a delivery driver for euro car parts. One of her regular deliveries was to our local merc main dealer. I wonder what part price they charged their customers? Worrying really.

Brighty

[Tahiti]

Main dealer being supplied by ECP? Never. I don't believe it.

Actually, on a practical level, there must be certain items that make sense to source on a trade account with the likes of ECP.

[Albellisimo]

My Mum took her SLK for a service at the Main Merc dealer recently and they said that the back shock needed work. Took it to a specialist for a look and after 45 mins he couldn't find a single problem with it.

Weirdly this is the same Merc garage I took my company car (c class coupe) and they replaced the back brake discs and shocks and did all sorts after a year: I wasn't fussed as I wasn't paying but always told my Mum to keep an eye on them?

Sad that you can't trust a big flash showroom that's supposed to represent the brand.....

[Tahiti]

That reminds me of an ex colleague who had brakes done every year at MOT time (and covered few miles between tests). When she told me, I suggested that she might like to ask to see the car in the air (or the old bits) next time they suggested they needed doing.

[GOAT]

Porsche wanted £400 to do a door lock on my 911, got an indy to use the oem part....£62

[watchthisspace]

And they wonder why a lot of people tend to go elsewhere to have their cars looked after. Stop ripping people off and they might stay busy with genuine jobs/servicing etc!

[Enoch]

Just over a year ago, the ignition key jammed, and wouldn't turn on the wifes old jeep.... Dealer wanted to replace steering column at around £1800....... Jeep is worth about £500

A quick search on YouTube showed a chap with the exact same problem, tap the end of the key with a small hammer...

I did the same.....it's been perfect ever since..

[Tooks]

As somebody said, it pays to shop around.

My 2011 Polo GTI sprung a rear shock absorber leak, and as usual I went to Eurocarparts for replacements. The supplied shocks didn't fit, so I took them back and they then said they couldn't get the correct ones. Same with GSF and many independents.

Eventually I prepared to have my pants pulled down and called the local VW dealer. They had a pair sent overnight from Germany for 'only' £105 for the pair, which was actually cheaper than ECP had charged for the incorrect parts.

Some parts it seems are only available via the dealer network.

Having said that, I've purchased VW/Audi parts in the past from Eurocarparts and GSF which had the VAG part number dremelled off or crossed through with a marker pen, so genuine parts just much cheaper!

[b11ocx]

Deleted

[usedtobelurch]

What I've seen many times is OEM suppliers to the car makers refuse to make their component parts available to the car makers thus forcing that situation where you have to buy the big expensive assembly even though it's just a small part that's failed. Then, the OEM suppliers sell their OEM component parts direct at a healthy mark-up.

[Mj2k]

Don't buy a Honda S2000 then. To change a headlamp bulb (or sidelight, or indicator), first remove the front bumper assembly (about 27 screws and bolts) in order to remove the headlight assemblies. Estimate 4-6 hours. Probably a bit quicker the second time that you need to do it.

All I want to do is change the sidelight bulbs for something a bit brighter to use as DRL's when the weather is a bit dull.

The Caterham was much easier.

Still. On the plus side, it will give me the chance to find out why only one of my headlight washers actually does anything.

S2000, jack it up, remove a wheel & wheel liner - far quicker & simpler than the bumper removal.