The part is how much?

[englisharcher]

I have just had a call from the garage that is working on my 518i, as I suspected the rear brake cylinder has failed.

I expected the part to be between 10 and 25 pound like most cars are, but it will actually be 70 quid, I have called every motor factor in our area, and all are around the same price.

How can they justify 70 quid for a small part like a cylinder?

[veryRS]

englisharcher said:

I have just had a call from the garage that is working on my 518i, as I suspected the rear brake cylinder has failed.

I expected the part to be between 10 and 25 pound like most cars are, but it will actually be 70 quid, I have called every motor factor in our area, and all are around the same price.

How can they justify 70 quid for a small part like a cylinder?

Bee Em Double You.

[Ikemi]

Be glad M-tax doesn't apply to you!

My mate works for Vauxhall; In general conversation, he has mentioned some eye-wateringly expensive parts used in some of the newer cars, especially of the diesel variety. Diesel fuel pumps are around £700-800, whereas a replacement ABS ECU module for an Astra is £1500!

[fozzymandeus]

economy of scale?

It's probably unique to the 518i, or at least to the smaller engined 5ers (is yours an E28 or an E34?)

Not a lot of those kicking around needing truckloads of parts deliveries any more.

[Cemesis]

M5 DSC pump? £2700
Front brake disc for an M5 £300
Water pump? £70

[fozzymandeus]

I'm puzzled.

None of these parts will work in lieu of a brake cylinder.

[james_tigerwoods]

The air con on my OH's Jazz gave up a couple of years ago - £1500 to replace the compressor from Honda - The car's probably worth that.

It's not been done.

[Contigo]

70 notes for a car part is peanuts.

[englisharcher]

fozzymandeus said:

economy of scale?

It's probably unique to the 518i, or at least to the smaller engined 5ers (is yours an E28 or an E34?)

Not a lot of those kicking around needing truckloads of parts deliveries any more.

E34

[trickywoo]

O2 sensor on the original shape Impreza was £300+ from Subaru a number of years ago.

[englisharcher]

Contigo said:

70 notes for a car part is peanuts.

Not when the car is only worth £400

[McSam]

englisharcher said:

Contigo said:

70 notes for a car part is peanuts.

Not when the car is only worth £400

Worth a damn sight less with no rear brakes, though.

Don't compare it to the value of the car - compare it to a tank of fuel, and then just get it done!

[djdestiny]

£80 just for the plastic fuel filler flap on a B5 RS4, just because it has a really small curve on one corner to match the arch!

[fozzymandeus]

Oh I'll join in.

I paid £140 for a rubber roof seal a few months ago from Merc.

[sleep envy]

englisharcher said:

Contigo said:

70 notes for a car part is peanuts.

Not when the car is only worth £400

I'm not too sure I've ever been asked what the value of a car when being quoted for a part.

[Ikemi]

Want one of these?



£76.94 inc .VAT (Special price!)

http://www.hangar111.com/web-store/170-elise-exige...

I've had to buy 2 in the past

[Diablos-666]

The garage gave you the price of the part, you done your own checks and found similiar prices. What's the issue?

[Jayho]

Oh oh oh! Do I win, £80 for a tie wrap and electrical tape? :P

TBH it was the diagnostic and the resetting of ECU + Recovery. The Induction kit was rubbing out some sort of wire/sensor. They taped up the wire and used a tie wrap to hold the induction kit away from the thing!

[lawrence567]

A friend recently had a small low speed (15mph) bump with another car,
No suspension damage, just a new front wing & associated plastics underneath needed.
The insurers wrote it off!
Apparently the air bag module on a Civic '06 is ridiculously expensive & put the car beyond economic repair..
Friend was given £6250 to get a new car!
I dread to think how much one of those things costs..

[Durzel]

englisharcher said:

Not when the car is only worth £400

Wasn't £400 brand new though was it? Parts costs are invariably commensurate with the original value of the car.