Where do you buy service parts?

[twazzock]

I'm wanting to do some tinkering, namely filters, coolant and oil, maybe cambelt.

Where's the best place to buy such bits - eBay, (online?) motor factors, Halfords, manufacturer?

Nothing exotic, just a Citroen ZX diesel.

[rhysenna]

I normally use Euro car parts. They have most stuff you need either online or at one of there shops.

[ch427]

gsf car parts or euro as suggested are both pretty similar on prices

[falkster]

Euro car parts for dailys and stealer for others.
For oil and coolant, normally see if there's a good deal on the one I want from halfords.

[Deluded]

Through work at trade prices. Niceeee!

Although if not through work, usually Euro Car Parts as a first port of call.

[Six Fiend]

There's a big Euro car parts discount at the moment - 30% with an online code? Was a thread on here last week iirc

ETA Here ya go, hopefully it's still on:

ECP are offering 30% off most/all parts - minimum spend of £39.99

Discount code: SERVICE30

Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 2nd July 18:57

[twazzock]

Code doesn't work - looks like it expired June 30th. Shame, as I'd've like 25 quid off!

[PlayersNo6]

Online dealers or ebay generally - whichever sells decent, brand name parts for the lowest all-in cost.

In the case of Vauxhall, the main dealers are actually quite competitive for service items eg filters.

[tr7v8]

Lots of stuff from E Bay these days, branded stuff only like Mintex, Bosch, NGK & Mann

[Hot Dog Harrigan]

I personally won't use Euro or Halfords, I've never used Halfords but I have used Euro & the problem is that there is too much cheap Chinese st being sold & it seems to be getting worse. I know at least one reputable firm that wont use them either simply because they have too many comebacks because of failed parts. People understandably want the cheapest parts they can get these days but that cheapness comes at a cost & I personally think cheap parts are a false economy.

The only filters I use on my daily now are the manufactures own & the difference in price between them & the cheap ones isn't that great. For my oil I take an empty 5L oil container to a friendly garage who fill it with 10/30 semi synthetic for £12. Do this if you can because it works out a lot cheaper, altogether the oil & filters for my diesel Astra van come to about £25 with my discount.

If you must use cheaper parts I'd suggest Partco or Motor factors but try to avoid the cheap Chinese crap stuff.

[B'stard Child]

I buy at main dealers - that way I get a main dealer receipt for genuine parts (with a 12 mth guaruntee) that I can keep in the history file.

Cost is not much different to aftermarket on general items and I don't have to pay their labour rates..

[ChevronB19]

Humph. You should try a certain race parts supplier that has started doing dodgy Chinese copies of ford oil pumps - I know of at least 15 race engines destroyed because of them ( 2 of them ours) - last time we managed to get them to pay for a new cosworth cam, but nowhere near what the dodgy part ended up costing us...