saving money by buying own parts before service?

fifib

car is booked in for service on Monday and I know it needs a few bulbs replacing and wipers etc..
Is it worth my while getting these myself before then or leaving it all to the garage? bit strapped for cash these days so if getting them myself would save a few bob then I will, tho i dont know if il be able to replace the bulbs myself (himself usually does this and is away at the mo) but I could do the wipers myself.

from a previous servicing bill it cost me €18 + Vat for 2 front wipers for example. are the car shops any cheaper or online perhaps? Im in galway so if anyone knows a good/cheap place to get the bits and bobs..
Thanks

mickdw

Some garages will get abit annoyed by you bringing the bits yourself as they will have a bit of profit on them when they supply them. saying that, I have brought my own oil to garage before when I knew they wouldnt use the best oil for my car.

keithclancy

fifib wrote: »

car is booked in for service on Monday and I know it needs a few bulbs replacing and wipers etc..
Is it worth my while getting these myself before then or leaving it all to the garage? bit strapped for cash these days so if getting them myself would save a few bob then I will, tho i dont know if il be able to replace the bulbs myself (himself usually does this and is away at the mo) but I could do the wipers myself.

from a previous servicing bill it cost me €18 + Vat for 2 front wipers for example. are the car shops any cheaper or online perhaps? Im in galway so if anyone knows a good/cheap place to get the bits and bobs..
Thanks

You generally won't save much, but you'll be able to pick quality parts.
Service isn't all that hard to do yourself !

Hellrazer

mickdw wrote: »

Some garages will get abit annoyed by you bringing the bits yourself as they will have a bit of profit on them when they supply them.

Its not even about the profit.We`ve spent hours in the past trying to fix a car that the customer supplied their own parts for.Turns out they bought second hand and the unit was fooked.
As for service parts--we only use genuine as per the terms of the franchise agreement.

saying that, I have brought my own oil to garage before when I knew they wouldnt use the best oil for my car.

We also allow customers to supply their own oil especially if they want to use a high spec oil in ther car.

djimi

My last service I bought all the parts myself, and it came to just under €100, which included €50 for NGK Platinum spark plugs. From now on there is no way on earth I am ever going to let any garage fleece me for service parts.

The last garage I let service my car was more than happy for me to bring my own parts.

L-M

I can't imagine too many garages being happy with you bringing parts to them?

I thought the same when I brought an exhaust I'd bought myself to be fitted, no one would fit it, yet they gave me the pipe and I fit it myself for free:p

I thought they'd be happy making money on the labour rather than doing nothing (he wasn't busy) but that clearly wasn't the case...

peasant

fifib wrote: »

I could do the wipers myself.

In that case just stick a new pair on before the service and tell them that they are new and don't need replacing.

Bringing in a set of wipers for them to stick on is just a tad too miserly:D

the merchant

It's like bringing Tesco steaks to a restaurant and asking them to cook them for you :-)

Viper_JB

peasant wrote: »

In that case just stick a new pair on before the service and tell them that they are new and don't need replacing.

Bringing in a set of wipers for them to stick on is just a tad too miserly:D

Ya I'd do the wipers myself, but I'd normally buy the oil - sparks - pads (if needed) and filter myself, some garages will be a bit begrudging alright but screw them if they were willing to charge a reasonable price for parts in the first place there wouldn't be a problem. For example I bought full set of performance sparks for the car - 4 for 80 Dollars, they were looking for 200 euro for the bog standard ones in one of the irish garages I rang up - pure rip off.

keithclancy

the merchant wrote: »

It's like bringing Tesco steaks to a restaurant and asking them to cook them for you :-)

Theres restaurants now that will let you bring your own wine

MetzgerMeister

Viper_JB wrote: »

Ya I'd do the wipers myself, but I'd normally buy the oil - sparks - pads (if needed) and filter myself, some garages will be a bit begrudging alright but screw them if they were willing to charge a reasonable price for parts in the first place there wouldn't be a problem. For example I bought full set of performance sparks for the car - 4 for 80 Dollars, they were looking for 200 euro for the bog standard ones in one of the irish garages I rang up - pure rip off.

2 leading & 2 trailing: US - $80 (RE7C), franchise dealer here: €290 (RE8C)

I usually get all my service parts from the US and do it all myself. Huge savings!

djimi

It might depend on which garage you go to. Main dealers probably wouldnt allow it, but who in their right mind goes to a main dealer to get their car serviced? Im sure there are a lot of smaller mechanics out there who would be happy of the of the labour costs alone.

fifib

ok thanks guys. Yea i will try and replace the wipers myself..never did before but how hard can it be! I will get the bulbs i need replaces anyways and give it a lash myself tho ive see my bf doing it before and judging by his mood after its a b*tch of a job to do!
wouldnt have a clue if need new spark plugs etc so il leave that to garage..just thought the bits i do know about id try and save on them if i could!

that leads me to... any recommendations for places in Galway to buy the parts? I know of Calbro and Top parts on Tuam rd after this not a clue!

djimi

Wipers are usually very easy to change. Bulbs vary from car to car; some are straightfoward, others (like my old car) involved dismantling half the engine bay to get at them. Worth a try tho (or get your bf to do it!).

Muckie

Bulbs and wiper replacement is about the easiest things to change on a

car. Some motor factor chaps would probably even change them for you.

Just ask them nicely when buying.

CaraFawn

keithclancy wrote: »

You generally won't save much, but you'll be able to pick quality parts.
Service isn't all that hard to do yourself !

It is pretty easy most of the time to pick up parts cheaper than the dealer or you usual mechanic. And they would be the same brand and all, well obviously less the main car manufacturer logo.

As far as the service goes, you can do many things yourself, but changing engine oil or suspension parts is not necessarely easy given the fact most people do not have a garage or means to securely lift a car to work underneath. Lifting a car to work under it is a seriously risky business.

And getting rid of the engine oil etc, very messy business if you do it yourself.

Anyway OP, some garages let you bring down the parts, some others don't. Just ask. A dealer usually will never fit any aftermarket parts, but if you have original parts, they would normally.

And yes come on, wipers and bulbs. Do not be afraid, very easy to do, make sure the arm does not snap back without the wipers on, you could brake you windshield.

keithclancy

CaraFawn wrote: »

It is pretty easy most of the time to pick up parts cheaper than the dealer or you usual mechanic. And they would be the same brand and all, well obviously less the main car manufacturer logo.

As far as the service goes, you can do many things yourself, but changing engine oil or suspension parts is not necessarely easy given the fact most people do not have a garage or means to securely lift a car to work underneath. Lifting a car to work under it is a seriously risky business.

And getting rid of the engine oil etc, very messy business if you do it yourself.

Anyway OP, some garages let you bring down the parts, some others don't. Just ask. A dealer usually will never fit any aftermarket parts, but if you have original parts, they would normally.

And yes come on, wipers and bulbs. Do not be afraid, very easy to do, make sure the arm does not snap back without the wipers on, you could brake you windshield.

Depends on whether your comparing a main dealer or an indie, my local mechanic was able to get stuff cheaper than I could find in any of the local motor factors. Unless i was going to go ordering stuff online.

Lifting the car securely is safe as long has you have the right bits, namely level ground, chocks and an axle stand, if your living in the City Center its a no no of course

Getting rid of the oil is also easy as long as you have a container large enough and aren't clumsy enough to crop the sump plug into the oil.

Then its just a trip down to the disposal center

Also on alot of new cars its not possible to change the Bulbs yourself, new Ford Fiesta i think is a dealer job, maybe the lupo as well.

A mate of mine was telling me a story of how the Dutch cops confiscated his car because he couldn't change the bulbs on the roadside and it was unsafe in their view to keep driving.