What Happens to Redundant Parts?

[Glassman]

What happens to car parts that don't get bought because they're too expensive?

Example: Audi cabriolet heated rear windows are not available separately; you have to buy the complete roof.

I don't think there'll be many people who will shell out +4k on a roof, so they'll look for a secondhand one or have a plastic one sewn in (for about 200 quid). So if Audi/TPS have setout their stall to sell the complete roof, what happens to all the replacement units they won't sell for this reason?

[T.K]

Good question.

As an aside, where do car manufacturers store all their parts? I for one, find it pretty incredible that I can get 'non-consumable' parts (trim pieces etc.) for my 1983 Toyota and 1989 Renault within a week, and motorsport parts for my GT3 very often on a next day basis. Pretty impressive logistics, and a lots of big warehouses..

[redtwin]

I imagine some are sold off to specialist suppliers...if the car is special enough to have a following in years to come.

Convertible roofs will probably be bought up. Probably won't be much demand for current model Mondeo door handles 20+ years from now.

[Glassman]

A lot of heated rear windscreens on the Porsche 911 993 are having problems with the trim frames crumbling away (the windows have to come out to address rust problems). The trim frame goes on the glass so that an outer trim can be fitted to finish.

The trim frame is not available separately.

But you can buy one from Porsche for +600 quid (you get a free window with that). I can source an alternative trim frame that will do the same job; I can even have the stuff made in 100m lengths which will still work out cheaper per car.

So unless 993 rear windows begin to spontaneously shatter, Porsche are stuck with a pile of these windows.