Repair It? Wossat Mean, Like?

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Many years ago we needed a door handle mechanism for a Ferrari, the price from Maranello Concssionaires the dealer was in 3 figures even back then.

Found out that the handle on a Fiat X19 was exactly the same item for about 15% of the price from a Fiat dealer!

Nothing changes…

Cheers, Martin

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Compatible parts are probably more widely spread than even vehicles built under the same umbrella group. Engines are one area where there has been collaboration between rival manufacturers. It’s funny how even oil has become manufacturer specific, I wonder if they really do brew up a special formula for some manufacturers and if it really matters if you just use the generic product. You used to see specific suppliers endorsed on stickers or in handbooks but I suspect they were little more than paid for adverts.

Mike

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 04/05/2021 21:05:22:

I think there are two other shameless practices that ought be stamped on.

One is the price-by-use fraud, typical of major car manufacturers, whereby an identical part is priced according to the particular make and model that uses it. It was an Audi/VW dealer who told me this – VW's main spares warehouse is twinned with one labelled 'Audi', and the same parts are much pricier in the latter. If bought-in components they are likely to be much costlier than the same ones in boxes labelled as say, Ford, spares. To disguise the fact, the parts are given identity-numbers by different systems. These companies are by no means alone in it though; and the insurers are in cahoots with the racket by their insistence on using only the main-dealers' OEM supplies.

That's just progressive taxation. I approve of the gentle pressure to buy cheaper cars.

regards Martin

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Oh dear, I promised myself I wasn't going to get involved in this thread – it's a health hazard…

I'm a committed repairer and restorer and hate what is happening to manufactured goods.

Designed-in obsolescence has been with us a long time. Look on the 'Tube for 'The Light-bulb Conspiracy', but be cautious if your blood pressure is unstable. This cynical attitude to business is a disgrace, but it's not going to go away. The public is required to conform, comply and consume. Simple.

Of course, if the consumer wants to buy cheap, that is what he'll get.

The problem is more widespread than manufacturers' reprehensible practices. It's now getting difficult for the privateer to perform legally many DIY tasks that were routine only a couple of decades ago. Here in NZ, legal DIY plumbing and electrical work is made stupidly difficult by legislation. This is effectively policed by the relevant trades' associations, so the poachers are now gamekeepers. I understand that In Oz, it's even worse – the householder can't even legally loosen a wall light-switch surround to make decorating easier. This is all in the name of 'safety'. So, conform, comply and consume, and snuggle down in the nice cotton-wool wadding the government wants to smother you with. It's for your own good.

[Keith Hudson 2Participant @keithhudson2]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 05/05/2021 08:28:53:

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 04/05/2021 21:05:22:

I think there are two other shameless practices that ought be stamped on.

One is the price-by-use fraud, typical of major car manufacturers, whereby an identical part is priced according to the particular make and model that uses it. It was an Audi/VW dealer who told me this – VW's main spares warehouse is twinned with one labelled 'Audi', and the same parts are much pricier in the latter. If bought-in components they are likely to be much costlier than the same ones in boxes labelled as say, Ford, spares. To disguise the fact, the parts are given identity-numbers by different systems. These companies are by no means alone in it though; and the insurers are in cahoots with the racket by their insistence on using only the main-dealers' OEM supplies.

That's just progressive taxation. I approve of the gentle pressure to buy cheaper cars.

regards Martin

Running an older Audi, as I do, it can be used to your advantage, for a few years after Audi discontinue spares support you can still get many items from the VW or Skoda parts listings.

[Gerard O’TooleParticipant @gerardotoole60348]

I think rules are changing to make manufacturers make their products repairable.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Kiwi Bloke on 05/05/2021 11:40:36:

….

….

….

This is all in the name of 'safety'. So, conform, comply and consume, and snuggle down in the nice cotton-wool wadding the government wants to smother you with. It's for your own good.

It is also a matter of ‘keeping the workers busy’ – and improving the taxation income.

Remember, the government disapproves of thieves. Why? Because they don’t like the competition!

[Rex HanmanParticipant @rexhanman57403]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 04/05/2021 21:05:22:

One is the price-by-use fraud, typical of major car manufacturers, whereby an identical part is priced according to the particular make and model that uses it. It was an Audi/VW dealer who told me this – VW's main spares warehouse is twinned with one labelled 'Audi', and the same parts are much pricier in the latter. If bought-in components they are likely to be much costlier than the same ones in boxes labelled as say, Ford, spares. To disguise the fact, the parts are given identity-numbers by different systems. These companies are by no means alone in it though; and the insurers are in cahoots with the racket by their insistence on using only the main-dealers' OEM supplies.

During my youth, my first car was a Mini. Not knowing a thing about car repairs I called into a local main agent to ask what a new clutch would cost. I was given a stupid price for the bits, but when I asked about the cost of fitting it the nice gentleman said "Oh, I'll have to check the hourly rate for that."

That's when I found out that main agents charge differing hourly rates depending on how expensive the car was originally! I fitted a new clutch myself.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Someone once told me he bought a 5l can of the Recommended oil for his Ford-whatever-it-was… and was surprised to find it no more expensive at least from the garage he used, than the generic equivalent. I suppose Ford or their dealers realised they'd sell more of the "Approved" Ford-branded lubricant if they priced it competitively.

Hewlett-Packard Chief Inks Officer, are you there…?

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

With my first computer came an Epson printer. Eventually, for no good reason, (other than a message saying that it was worn out ), it stopped working. Apparently it incorporates a counter, so that after a finite number of prints it ceases operation.

A local computer shop reset the counter form £40. next time it failed, presumably for the same built in obsolescence, it was as cheap to buy a new, more sophisticated Canon printer/scanner/copier.

Now, I wonder what unpleasant surprises that has in store for me?

Regarding engines, we expected a life of at least 5,000 hours. Through poor maintenance and operation some didn't make that One in the channel tunnel, with careful servicing was still going strong at 27,000 hours!

No wonder Sales Dept complained that we over engineered them!

I have seen "Genuine" spares for several different marques coming down the same line, in batches, as generic aftermarket parts. Guess which cost less when you bought it?

Having grown up in an age when replacements were not available, and "Make Do and Mend" HAD to be the watchword, scrapping something instead of a repair is total anathema.

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 05/05/2021 18:01:25

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