The end of reasonably priced spare parts.

[yeti]

There is an EU proposal which could cause problems for independent garages.

It proposes that OEM spares are only availabe. Having used OEM spares to replace my timing belt, only to have it fail TWICE over 2 weeksperiod.

Please read this website and sign the petition.

http://www.r2rc.co.uk/home/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

 

[Tony Jones]

I've signed.

[enodreven]

Hi,

 

Can you explain a bit more are you saying that you will only be able to use the Original Equipment Manufacturer, products when you carry out repairs.

 

 

 

 

yeti - 2008-11-27 6:11 PM

 

There is an EU proposal which could cause problems for independent garages.

It proposes that OEM spares are only availabe. Having used OEM spares to replace my timing belt, only to have it fail TWICE over 2 weeksperiod.

Please read this website and sign the petition.

http://www.r2rc.co.uk/home/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

[rupert123]

yeti - 2008-11-27 6:11 PM

 

There is an EU proposal which could cause problems for independent garages.

It proposes that OEM spares are only availabe. Having used OEM spares to replace my timing belt, only to have it fail TWICE over 2 weeksperiod.

Please read this website and sign the petition.

http://www.r2rc.co.uk/home/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

 

This is about vehicles under warranty. I have no problem with a manufacturer wanting only their parts used while they warranty it.

[Brian Kirby]

rupert123 - 2008-11-27 6:35 PM

yeti - 2008-11-27 6:11 PM There is an EU proposal which could cause problems for independent garages. It proposes that OEM spares are only availabe. Having used OEM spares to replace my timing belt, only to have it fail TWICE over 2 weeksperiod. Please read this website and sign the petition. http://www.r2rc.co.uk/home/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

This is about vehicles under warranty. I have no problem with a manufacturer wanting only their parts used while they warranty it.

It is a little more far reaching that that.  Normal servicing should be able to be carried out by any competent firm.  Change oil and filters etc, check brakes, all that stuff.  However, suppose an ABS warning light comes on.  To whom do you then go?  An independent garage, who may, or may not, be able to decode the computer, or an franchised garage for the make. 

The key, I think, is in the bit about the cost of acquiring the equipment, and presumably the relevant codes, to interrogate the various maker's electronics.  If the independent has to buy this, he presumably can't do the job at half the price of the agent.  However, even the franchised garages have to buy the kit, as part of their commitment to the brand. 

The theory is that they get their investment back through sales promoted by the manufacturer's advertising and, by holding the franchise, the servicing revenue as well.  Nevertheless, I know of two local firms who have terminated long standing franchise agreements, one with Fiat, and one with Renault, because they found the costs of maintaining the franchises too great.  However, both still service and maintain the vehicles for which they were originally franchised, using all OEM parts, but their charges are nowhere near half the price of the remaining franchised dealerships.  Watch this space!

[colinfrier]

Here in Spain after parts are hard to come buy so OEM are often order of the day and very expensive 2 or 3 times the price.

As to the electronics a friend of mine has a small local garage in GB and has a lap top with necessary soft wear and loads of adaptors so for a modest cost he can interigate most cars black boxs etc.

The death of local garages would be a real tragedy there labour costs more like £45 hour main dealers up to £95.

Just had a small job done here at a Main Hyundai dealer labour 34 euros an hour all labour charges are posted in reception.

[davenewellhome]

Even though OEM quality spares are available at reasonable prices from factors there are still parts thathave to come from the main dealers. A friend of mine had the near side rear window of his Toyota Avensis smashed earlier this week, the toerags hoyed a lump of concrete through it hard enough for it to severely damage the door trim on the off side rear door. how much do you reckon for a new door card for a 54 plate Avensis???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£417 inc VAT and £79 for the window glass!!!!! >:-(

 

D.

[malc d]

It seems to me that a lot of the excessive prices are aimed at insurance companies, i.e. they aren't priced for sale to individuals.

 

:-(

[terry1956]

Not just parts, the service labour costs for my hymer in france have shot up from £35 per hour to £80. and this is not due to the fall in the pound, but more to do with the EU laws coming into force in the France labour market and the dealer moving to larger showrooms. A lot of the smaller garages are going to the wall in france due to the EU.

As to spare parts, I knew about the tires having to meet new EU standards but not smaller non OE parts.

I think the EU is out of control, and doing more harm then good these days.

michael

[Mr. Grumpy]

Have you tried to buy a new key for a Ducato? By the time you have paid for the key, have it computer matched to the vehicle, paid labor & vat it's around £300, quoted by my local Fiat main dealer.

[Clive]

Vehicle servicing in the USA is SOO much cheaper then in Europe according to my relations who live in Houston. Why? Because we are mugs enough to allow ourselves to be tied up by so much buer.... Garbage!

 

[lizken]

What is the EU thinking on availability of parts when the Original Manufacturer has gone bust?

Ken

[terry1956]

Hi, when a company makes a car or van etc, it must make sure that parts are available for that unit for 10 years under EU law, by then I think new EU laws will make it very very hard to own anything older then the 10 years,

michael