Locating The Right Parts For Your Vehicle
A lot depends on budget and what you feel the right replacement option. For example a genuine like for like OEM part from the dealership may be your only consideration. Certainly for many upmarket vehicles, using original parts with receipts will help retain your vehicles value. But then you could look at new after market parts. These tend to be copies made of the originals, they will still come with a guarantee and be made to a usable standard.
Then there is the used market, mainly supplied from breaker yards up and down the country. Most of these parts will be a discount price and will the same OEM version that came with the vehicle. However, do not underestinlate the cost of removing parts form a vehicle, cleaning then packing anmd sending to you. Therefore not all parts will be supplied this way, and new will be the only way to go.
New Parts
Buying new gives you the confidence that the part will come with a guarantee and is most likely to be manufactured to a quality that will last a long time. There is also a bigger chance to have a greater choice, although the genuine parts are more likely to be sourced from a local main dealer stores, such as Ford, BMW, Mercedes etc.
Newer vehicles may require that only OEM parts bought from a main dealer can be used otherwise any warranty may be null and void.
There are many online suppliers than may deliver cheaper options, than driving to the local car accessory shop. But of course, if that vehicle needs to be fixed today, than the onlline and delvered option is no longer a solution. Here are some suppliers, you may have used before.
Eurocarparts
The biggest online retailer and a huge range of spares, often with more than one option.
Eurocarparts also supply local garages with their parts too, so sourcing spares quickly is part of their service.
In some cases, I may be easier to order online then collect from the local store.
www.eurocarparts.co.uk
More Suppliers
Used Car Parts
The actual transaction of used parts are mainly delivered by the many breaker yards that serve the UK, but there are some clever search systens, that will match what you are looking for, by sending a request to several breaker yards. They than return with a quote for what they have in stock.
Advantages of buying used is first price, clearly huge savings over the price of new can be made. You can also consider asking for a genuine OEM part, rather than an aftermarket replacement from your local shop.
Then there is the re-cycling and green aspects of re-using something, that would just be melted down or go into land fill. So much of our aftermarket spares come form China, purchasing a used option, could help reduce the demand of manufacturing reducing CO2 gasses, though heavy manufacturing.
247 Spares
One of the original large find a part websites and still going strong. Enter your reg number and what you are looking for, and depending on how rare the item is, expect to get quotes in minutes, even phone calls, if you have volunteered your mobile number.
www.247spares.co.uk
1st Choice
Another very large website, that will help you locate your part through their own network of breaker yards. You reg number is key to identifying your vehicle and year. Then expect to get severeal quote, depending what you are looking for.
www.1stchoice.co.uk
PartsGateway
This is different to those above in that it only deals with specialist breaker yards, who only deal with a type or make of vehicle. For example VAG breaker yards, who only deals with vehicle built by the VW group. Then of course Ford, Vauxhall, French, Japanese specialists etc. Sometimes, you are more likely to find success with a specialist than knows what vehicle to source and what parts are in demand.
www.partsgateway.co.uk
CarSpareFinder
Unfortunately this spares finder service (www.carsparfinder.co.uk) is now defunct and no longer offers a service. It was very popular in its day as it showed right from the start where your request had gone to and who to expect a return call from. Other services than adapted this later on.
www.carsparefinder.co.uk
Ebay Of Course Old and New
Of course don’t forget this mammoth of an auction site, where even top dealerships have an online shop to sell their spares. Of course you can access the private seller through this format, but there may be little come back if it is not up to standard.
An advantage over other online sites, is useful data that will show if that part will match the year and spec of your vehicle and when using Paypal, there is a security not easy to get through credit card alone.
Local Gumtree
Aimed at local face to face buyers and sellers, but you never know there could be a bargain, just around the corner. This is a free service, with photos and reviews.
