Will spares remain available for all the new models?
Discussion
It seems to me that in last 5 years, especially with the advent of EVs and multiple new entrants to the market, there are high number models being released every 5 mins. Also usually with frequent model updates ie even if the ‘model’ continues they get frequent face lifts and trim / tech updates.
Today I’ve been ordering some parts for my Mini (owned by bmw for those that don’t know) and virtually everything is still available (and these models date from 2006).
I can’t imagine that spares for the new models are going to be around for very long as imagine the expense. The Chinese brands and MG etc I would presume will be even worse since they don’t have established uk supply chains / stock warehouses like more traditional brands have? What will happen when you need that specially shaped coolant pipe or bodywork trim in 8 years time?
Today I’ve been ordering some parts for my Mini (owned by bmw for those that don’t know) and virtually everything is still available (and these models date from 2006).
I can’t imagine that spares for the new models are going to be around for very long as imagine the expense. The Chinese brands and MG etc I would presume will be even worse since they don’t have established uk supply chains / stock warehouses like more traditional brands have? What will happen when you need that specially shaped coolant pipe or bodywork trim in 8 years time?
Ali express will be your friend for lights and various usual parts, major items will probably be a vehicle scrapper anyway for many new vehicles with short production runs.
Be interesting to see how the car recyclers get on with removing storing and shipping EV batteries, bit different to strapping an engine to a pallet and calling Palletline i imagine.
Bought some new rear door hinges for my 20 year old Landcruiser (its a heavy door which carries the spare wheel hence heavy wear on hinges) from Ali, £8 odd each, and a new rear door rubber seal, circa £30, all free postage, parts would have been 4 or more times the cost from the main dealer.
Parts around 7 days from China, better than some UK suppliers can manage.
Be interesting to see how the car recyclers get on with removing storing and shipping EV batteries, bit different to strapping an engine to a pallet and calling Palletline i imagine.
Bought some new rear door hinges for my 20 year old Landcruiser (its a heavy door which carries the spare wheel hence heavy wear on hinges) from Ali, £8 odd each, and a new rear door rubber seal, circa £30, all free postage, parts would have been 4 or more times the cost from the main dealer.
Parts around 7 days from China, better than some UK suppliers can manage.
The tradition in the UK is manufacturers must make spares up to 10 years after production ends.
What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
Edited by 2 sMoKiN bArReLs on Sunday 3rd August 18:51
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
The law in the UK is manufacturers must make spares up to 10 years after production ends.
What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
Nissan for instance only guarantee parts availabilty for 7 years. What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
Slightly off topic, but I've come across multiple scenarios where the vehicle I'm working on is some cross over year. And it's nigh on impossible to get the correct parts for. .
The first was my corrado. .which was a very early phase 2. Interestingly VW had lots of parts Available (2012) and were one of the more cost effective and reliable places to get parts.
The phase 1 was mostly MK2 golf parts bin and the phase 2 was mostly MK3 golf parts.
Another notable one is a did a clutch on a friend's 2006 mini. Only to find it was some cross over year where there were 3 clutch options. I checked with BMW, who gave me X part no which I ordered elsewhere as they were expensive. Only for it to be wrong an need the earlier version.
And the latest one my transit connect work van needs a nox sensor even ford sent me the wrong none. I've still not fixed it as it drives absolutely fine without not
Back on topic. I've generally found that parts are available from the manufacturers even for quite old stuff. Well outside the 10years until recently. Peugeot like to have stuff on back order and some little clips and trump parts from my limited edition aren't available. And ford were 6 weeks sending the wrong nox sensor out
The first was my corrado. .which was a very early phase 2. Interestingly VW had lots of parts Available (2012) and were one of the more cost effective and reliable places to get parts.
The phase 1 was mostly MK2 golf parts bin and the phase 2 was mostly MK3 golf parts.
Another notable one is a did a clutch on a friend's 2006 mini. Only to find it was some cross over year where there were 3 clutch options. I checked with BMW, who gave me X part no which I ordered elsewhere as they were expensive. Only for it to be wrong an need the earlier version.
And the latest one my transit connect work van needs a nox sensor even ford sent me the wrong none. I've still not fixed it as it drives absolutely fine without not
Back on topic. I've generally found that parts are available from the manufacturers even for quite old stuff. Well outside the 10years until recently. Peugeot like to have stuff on back order and some little clips and trump parts from my limited edition aren't available. And ford were 6 weeks sending the wrong nox sensor out
I don't see why todays cars would be any different than those of 30 years ago really. Generally you can still get most bits for cars from the 90s, at least in pattern part form. Some body panels sometimes aren't available, but there's always breakers yards for that sort of thing.
The average age of cars on the road in the UK has been rising for a while so if anything, the market for parts for older cars will be getting stronger. We're going through a rather odd period of model (and indeed manufacturer) churn at the moment, but I think once EVs are established as the primary market segment, that will settle down to a similar cadence to what we've always had.
The average age of cars on the road in the UK has been rising for a while so if anything, the market for parts for older cars will be getting stronger. We're going through a rather odd period of model (and indeed manufacturer) churn at the moment, but I think once EVs are established as the primary market segment, that will settle down to a similar cadence to what we've always had.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 3rd August 18:08
InformationSuperHighway said:
No one is going to be treasuring a BYD in 40 years time, taking it to a cars and coffee.
With the inexplicable exception of certain Ford models, the same is largely true of mainstream cars from 40 years ago. When was the last time you saw a mk2 Cavalier or a Montego on the roads? Can you still get parts for them? Probably. My take on it is that you should be ok with the legacy manufacturers but I wouldn't guarantee anything from the new flood of Chinese firms
We already have issues with parts supply with some and there is an abundance of "new" brands many of which I'm sure won't be around in ten years
Take Fisker as an example
We already have issues with parts supply with some and there is an abundance of "new" brands many of which I'm sure won't be around in ten years
Take Fisker as an example
Earthdweller said:
My take on it is that you should be ok with the legacy manufacturers but I wouldn't guarantee anything from the new flood of Chinese firms
I think it's a very rash assumption that all of the big "legacy" manufacturers are going to survive! I think I'd give BYD and MG a higher change of still being making cars in 20 years' time than most of the American brands, and some of the European ones too. 2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
We used to sell Seddon Atkinsons. We had three of the same model arrive the same day & the engine bays on each looked different. Made with whatever was in the parts bin that day 
(A bit like TVR I guess)
Back in the days when we made better trucks than the euros (when properly specified), one of the best trucks i ever had was a 401 twin steer with E320 Cummins, retro fitted with test injectors at Vee and Inline Diesels, it could leave V8 142 Scanias in its wake, only used 6 of the 8 gears in a Fuller RoadRanger such was the torque on tap. (A bit like TVR I guess)Operators specified their own engine requirements then, could have had a Gardner Cummins or Rolls engine and choice of gearbox, they'd all look different, different again would be the International Harvester engines as fitted to many of the 200/300 ranges.
CoolHands said:
Am I right in thinking there s more models than ever coming out? Seems like every 5 mins. I don t know if there s a list somewhere ie average number of new models released per month is 3.4 or whatever, and if so we could see if it s rising.
I think there's just more manufacturers than previously. The biggest problem with setting up a new car company in the past was always that it was really, really difficult to make a competitive drive-train. That barrier to market entry has essentially disappeared since EV drive-trains are so simple so there seems to be a new car maker appearing every day at the moment. 2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
The law in the UK is manufacturers must make spares up to 10 years after production ends.
What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
Can you quote/cite the law please? What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
I think it is guidance from end of production but not law?
vaud said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
The law in the UK is manufacturers must make spares up to 10 years after production ends.
What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
Can you quote/cite the law please? What the UK would do if a manufacturer didn't do so is a different question.
If there is demand the non OEM spare makers would step in I guess.
I think it is guidance from end of production but not law?
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