Self Servicing: Where do you get your parts?
Discussion
Just interested to see if you have a preferred supplier for bits, or whether you shop around for stuff?
I've always used ECP but their invoices are crap and don't really list what you've got very nicely. Not ideal when you anally keep everything in a file.
Just wondered if there's anywhere I've not thought of going for the usual consumables.
I've always used ECP but their invoices are crap and don't really list what you've got very nicely. Not ideal when you anally keep everything in a file.
Just wondered if there's anywhere I've not thought of going for the usual consumables.
Nearest motor factors to where I am living at the time. A lot of local places give me a discount due to where I work and I have a trade card with Halfords too. Sometimes it's worth going on ebay and searching for a model specific service pack which I've done for my bike. The price of a pack with oil, filter and a new sump plug washer was less than I could get the oil for locally.
Halfords is pretty random for prices and I only get certain things from there such as oil, wiper blades, bulbs etc and don't use their own branded oil and filters. I needed a main beam bulb and they are meant to be £11.99 but paid £6 after discount.
ETA: despite being mechanically minded I sometimes pay the extra to have the Halfords staff fit new bulbs. This is only if it looks like you need to remove the entire front of the car to gain access to a tiny hole that you need a 3 joined elbow and the hands of a little girl to reach!
Halfords is pretty random for prices and I only get certain things from there such as oil, wiper blades, bulbs etc and don't use their own branded oil and filters. I needed a main beam bulb and they are meant to be £11.99 but paid £6 after discount.
ETA: despite being mechanically minded I sometimes pay the extra to have the Halfords staff fit new bulbs. This is only if it looks like you need to remove the entire front of the car to gain access to a tiny hole that you need a 3 joined elbow and the hands of a little girl to reach!
Edited by dai1983 on Thursday 30th October 10:04
ECP for pretty much everything with GSF and eBay thrown in for anything unusual/unavailable/stupidly expensive (can buy brand new driveshafts on eBay for half the cost of ECP/GSF).
Bulbs in bulk from eBay (eg 501 sidelight/number plate bulbs for ~9p each in 100 qty)
Bit more commercial than just a self servicing home mechanic though
Bulbs in bulk from eBay (eg 501 sidelight/number plate bulbs for ~9p each in 100 qty)
Bit more commercial than just a self servicing home mechanic though
ECP for me as there 2 mins from my work, reserve online and collect in store.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the adress, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the adress, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
Depends what I'm buying.
For basic servicing consumables like oil and filters, I'll get them from ECP as they're usually cheapest for the manufacturer-rated oil with their various discounts.
For things like brake pads and other components (suspension bits and whatnot), I tend to prefer getting genuine OEM parts from a dealer or on eBay. At least then I'll know they'll fit. But then I've had a few bad experiences with stuff bought from the likes of ECP with various suspension bits not fitting properly, and the brake pads they sell being crap and a poor-fitting.
For basic servicing consumables like oil and filters, I'll get them from ECP as they're usually cheapest for the manufacturer-rated oil with their various discounts.
For things like brake pads and other components (suspension bits and whatnot), I tend to prefer getting genuine OEM parts from a dealer or on eBay. At least then I'll know they'll fit. But then I've had a few bad experiences with stuff bought from the likes of ECP with various suspension bits not fitting properly, and the brake pads they sell being crap and a poor-fitting.
ECP for basic stuff for cheaper/older cars and oil (best prices on oil that I can find usually)
Opie oils for specialist oils not stocked by ECP
Roughtrax & Milner off road for Toyota 4x4 parts
VW dealer for parts for my Golf
Ebay for used parts and obscure little things like radio aerials etc
Opie oils for specialist oils not stocked by ECP
Roughtrax & Milner off road for Toyota 4x4 parts
VW dealer for parts for my Golf
Ebay for used parts and obscure little things like radio aerials etc
My car is getting on a bit - so much so that the online 'enter your registration' functions used by ECP and GSF etc. don't recognise my registration number… I therefore have to use a variety of places to obtain parts.
Oil from Halfords (the classic stuff in the funky metal tin).
The odd random part off ebay.
Owners club forums 'for sale' boards can often find that elusive part.
I buy most of the more specialist stuff from a couple of suppliers - Brookhouse Volvo and Skandix (over in Germany). I can normally get parts on a 24 hour delivery in this country (ordered an uprated anti-roll bar & polybushes yesterday lunchtime and it was delivered this morning before I left for work) or in about 3 days from the continent
I buy a fair bit of stuff for my girlfriend's V70 directly from Volvo as certain parts can be surprisingly cheap. There is also a decent breakers yard a few miles away that specializes in Swedish cars so the occasional part is sourced through them
Oil from Halfords (the classic stuff in the funky metal tin).
The odd random part off ebay.
Owners club forums 'for sale' boards can often find that elusive part.
I buy most of the more specialist stuff from a couple of suppliers - Brookhouse Volvo and Skandix (over in Germany). I can normally get parts on a 24 hour delivery in this country (ordered an uprated anti-roll bar & polybushes yesterday lunchtime and it was delivered this morning before I left for work) or in about 3 days from the continent
I buy a fair bit of stuff for my girlfriend's V70 directly from Volvo as certain parts can be surprisingly cheap. There is also a decent breakers yard a few miles away that specializes in Swedish cars so the occasional part is sourced through them
Matt_N said:
ECP for me as there 2 mins from my work, reserve online and collect in store.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the adress, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
I think this may be an exclusively Watford thing, but there's very little detail on the invoices here - compared with some I've seen from other stores. The invoices are fine for me.
List the adress, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
Matt_N said:
ECP for me as there 2 mins from my work, reserve online and collect in store.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
+1 The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
Though for some reason I preferred the old style invoices.
g3org3y said:
Matt_N said:
ECP for me as there 2 mins from my work, reserve online and collect in store.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
+1 The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
Though for some reason I preferred the old style invoices.
Toaster Pilot said:
g3org3y said:
Matt_N said:
ECP for me as there 2 mins from my work, reserve online and collect in store.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
+1 The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
Though for some reason I preferred the old style invoices.
g3org3y said:
Toaster Pilot said:
g3org3y said:
Matt_N said:
ECP for me as there 2 mins from my work, reserve online and collect in store.
The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
+1 The invoices are fine for me.
List the address, car reg, part description and part number, what more do you want?
I just then annotate the invoice with the date and mileage I did the work and put it in my file.
Though for some reason I preferred the old style invoices.
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