Parts Quality is changing
 

About 8 months ago I decided to change the back box on the Contemporary as the cheap one I bought was just too loud. There’s a lesson in itself when it comes to quality!
Very happy with the Klarius Exhaust I got from Car Parts 4 less. Quality and nice and quiet. It even looked like an original by way of its box shape rather than oval. £53 delivered.
Just a few weeks ago it was clear the back box on the other V6 was not going to pass the MOT as some holes had appeared. Back to the same web site, this time £49 delivered.
It arrived and it was clear this was a different shape and you’ve guessed it, not so quiet. Oval in shape and no hanging strap. Hangers were welded to the box. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a supplier change items and I’m annoyed that it appears there are fewer good supppliers with a consistent range of parts of quality. Any other examples out there? Does anyone have a really reliable source with consistent quality?

I get fed up with the quality of the parts being supplied these days, I had a go at my local factor recently after a water failed on a customers cars after less than 3 months :eek:. Yes they supplied another and some antifreeze but were not going to refund the time.

There excuse is everybody wants to know can they do a better price? Of course this gets back to the manufacturer and they produce an even cheaper item.

I have had parts supplied for classics that are of such poor quality they don't even work when supplied and have to be sent back for replacement.

We need to stop looking at the price and start looking at the warranty period. If it does not come with a 2 or 3 year warranty go somewhere else.

The list of poor quality parts is endless but the ones that scar me are brakes and tyres, I have seen pad material come away from its backing, discs crack after a couple of thousand miles on small low performance cars and brake hoses that wont hold pressure and leak. This is not unbranded parts but from manufacturers that used to be top of there game. Don't even start me on the tyres, it is scary to see tyres that have less than 4000 miles with tread missing and uneven ware due to poor manufacturer.

So think about it, next time you need a part ask for the one with the 3 year guarantee or if it is a critical part would you trust that part if you have to do an emergency brake when YOUR children run out in front of you?

When available it is often worth ringing the main dealer for parts, you will often be surprised at how competitive they will be on consumables. I recently bought some discs from a Ford dealer cheaper than my Factor could do.

Nothing is built to last any more (well not last much longer than the warranty). The term "built in obsolescence" comes to mind. Cheap labour, cheap materials- need I say more? :shrug:

Agreed - recently I was surprised by how reasonable Mercedes prices were for genuine discs and pads for an E Class.

Yes - you do need to say more. :} It all ultimately comes down to cheap buyers - most want to buy cheap regardless of quality.

I suspect that given the low volumes involved, it would cost upwards of £200 to produce a good quality lower suspension arm. How many here would pay that given the regular comments about the price of the current items?

We're doomed, our cars are doomed....!:}

Sadly that is our problem - there is no main dealer, and the quality of parts from what was the official parts supplier cannot be relied on anymore either. :getmecoat:

A few years ago I thought that the electronics would be the downfall of our cars as they aged, but they seem to last if looked after, and we have some great chaps on here who can repair just about anything electronic (you know who you are!) should it go wrong, so I think it is the quality of replacement parts that will be the killer blow for sending many of these cars to the scrapheap. :mad:

The replacement backbox on my ZT-T sounds like a Chieftain tank at full chat.
Rather annoying, but I'm not doing that job again in a hurry. It does seem well built though, as it's done nearly 100,000 miles, and was only £50!

What about you Mat ? can you not get some in ?

I would buy a nice quiet diesel one to replace my V8 sounding one :-)

Pete

Looking at the bigger picture - given that the "public" have now been successfully weaned off "buying" cars and onto PCP do the manufacturers want/need something that lasts more than 3 or maybe 4 years?

And given the rate at which facelift or new models appear that can be steamrollered into the marketplace I'm guessing that the manufacturers are more than happy with their decisions & quality choices?

Not too sure what's going to happen when the Earth starts to run out of the raw materials to build this ever growing production of new stuff but hey, that'll be someone else's problem....

Very good point about looking at the length of the warranty. Thanks.

Andy.

Mot today passed with advisory that the osf suspension rear Bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement,miles covered since fitting 189!!!:eek:

Hi, what kind of bush was it? rubber, or the new plastic type?