| Author |  Topic  | |
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts |  Posted - 12 Jan 2022 : 16:23:54  
| The front suspension on my son's Suzuki Swift collapsed on one side this morning.
Spring broke, wrecked the bottom spring cup, which shredded the tyre.
Lots of fun.Luckily he was moving slowly out of the drive at the time.
It could have been catastrophic if he'd been doing 60 mph......
It's a McPherson strut, so the whole caboodle strut and spring needs changed.
I decided to first go to a local motor factor, and got the whole assembly for around £100.
As a matter of interest I went into the main Suzuki dealer in town, and asked them for a price.
The spring alone £454 in VAT!!!! The strut itself, £202, ie total cost £656.
How on earth can this be? 6 times the price??
I know that there will no doubt be a difference in quality, but SIX TIMES the price?
It can't be THAT MUCH better!
Comments invited.
Andy
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro |
Edited by - andydeans3 on 12 Jan 2022 16:27:14 |
|
Borstlap
V4 Fanatic
Norway
334 Posts | Posted - 12 Jan 2022 : 17:40:04
| Sounds like legalized theft. But where does the dealer part come from? If it was produced in the Far East and shipped to Europe shipping cost Will be part of the price. And every link in the chain wants to earn on it. As long as nobody blinks an eye at the dealer hearing prices why should they lower them? Any difference in warrantee terms?
Alex |  |
|
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts | Posted - 12 Jan 2022 : 18:11:33
| Alex
Most things sold in the UK normally come with a 1 year warranty. I will check though.
I haven't actually got the part yet, the £100 part might be made of chocolate!
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro | |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 12 Jan 2022 : 20:00:46
| I'm tight as hell, but I happily fork out for OEM suspension and brake parts. That being said, I usually don't buy them from main dealers...
www.saabv4.com | |
|
Dirtbiker
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1061 Posts | Posted - 13 Jan 2022 : 19:31:00
| I always try and buy OEM quality but from the factors as they usually offer a few options. For my campervan I aim for Lemforder suspension parts but a couple of years ago needed a ball joint quickly for an Mot. All I could get was the cheapest and it was so poor it simply didn’t fit which proved more of a faff as the van was then stuck on my friends ramp.
I always try to buy the best but not from the main dealer. | |
|
| | Topic | |
Relative prices - main dealer vs motor factors.
