OE parts....expensive, but better

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lightning

lightning

Well-Known Member
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High Peak
Although OE Land Rover parts can be ten times the price of aftermarket parts, it can sometimes be worth it.

I had a new exhaust fitted last week, but the rear section was a poor fit. I tried another make but it was no better.
So l bought the LR original part today. It fits perfectly and is a work of art after the fairly rough and ready manufacture of the pattern parts.
At five times the price (£170 v £35) it was one of those times where l was prepared to pay the extra.
 
Ive come across the same in the truck world.
Ive had it where truck brake pads barely lasted 6 weeks or 20k when the oe ones did the usual 200/300k and the price difference wasnt even 20 quid.
But even they arent perfect as we had several trucks off the road for weeks as there were no water pumps available as they had all been boxed up wrong and the maker thought they had hundreds when in fact they had none!
 
Main dealers can get the part next day delivery to them if yer order it early enough in the day, or they're prepared to put anthoer order in that day to help yer.
 
When I was looking for a Defender and was the purchase viable for me I looked in depth at the cost of spare parts.
I was totally gobsmacked as how inexpensive everyday parts were (service parts and wear parts) you know the parts you would typically need to keep a Defender on the road. Ok I did not price them at a main dealer but from adverts in Land Rover mags and looking at the likes of John Craddock, Paddocks, MM4X4 and others on the internet.
Defender purchased and as you can imagine it was not long that I needed to replace something, Door seals because I was getting wet, off to one of the suppliers mentioned and two new door seals from Britpart in my sticky hands. Returned home to fit them could I make them fit and seal properly not on your life could I. Tried to return them but they were not having them saying they had sold many and never any returns just take care and they will be as good as the genuine ones or we could fit them for you (at a cost). Stuff this for a game of tin soldiers went to main dealer two new genuine seals fitted in no time and the doors shut easily and seal. Cost difference Britpart £12.18 for the two and LR £114.02 for the two.
In the coming months I purchased a number of things mainly Britpart I was not enamoured by the quality but the price was good.
In a very short time these replacement parts started to fail in what I believed was not a useful service life, Getting disillusioned with after market parts quality at the point I purchased a transfer box HI/LOW switch which was a blue box Britpart part and when I opened the box to fit it, it has fallen apart in its packaging. In a fit of temper I chucked it down the garden and said that's it no more after market parts only genuine.
I believe I have had to replace all the none genuine parts I fitted because they have failed except for door mirrors (but I did have to modify them to stop them vibrating).
You get what you pay for but it has made ownership a lot more expensive than I had budgeted for.
 
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I have generally found that aftermarket trim parts were OK.
Britpart seat base, still perfect after 30,000 miles. Likewise side steps, headlamp surrounds, window winder handles, carpets, mats, wiper blades, pedal rubbers etc from aftermarket suppliers such as Bearmach.
Mechanical parts less so. The Britpart drive shaft/drive member l fitted recently already has a bit of play in it after 3,000 miles.
But the Land Rover item was literally ten times the price and l just couldn't afford it at the time.
Next time it'll have to be genuine and go on the credit card! At least it's an easy part to change.
 
Tim4x4 said:
When I was looking for a Defender and was the purchase viable for me I looked in depth at the cost of spare parts.
I was totally gobsmacked as how inexpensive everyday parts were (service parts and wear parts) you know the parts you would typically need to keep a Defender on the road. Ok I did not price them at a main dealer but from adverts in Land Rover mags and looking at the likes of John Craddock, Paddocks, MM4X4 and others on the internet.
Defender purchased and as you can imagine it was not long that I needed to replace something, Door seals because I was getting wet, off to one of the suppliers mentioned and two new door seals from Britpart in my sticky hands. Returned home to fit them could I make them fit and seal properly not on your life could I. Tried to return them but they were not having them saying they had sold many and never any returns just take care and they will be as good as the genuine ones or we could fit them for you (at a cost). Stuff this for a game of tin soldiers went to main dealer two new genuine seals fitted in no time and the doors shut easily and seal. Cost difference Britpart £12.18 for the two and LR £114.02 for the two.
In the coming months I purchased a number of things mainly Britpart I was not enamoured by the quality but the price was good.
In a very short time these replacement parts started to fail in what I believed was not a useful service life, Getting disillusioned with after market parts quality at the point I purchased a transfer box HI/LOW switch which was a blue box Britpart part and when I opened the box to fit it, it has fallen apart in its packaging. In a fit of temper I chucked it down the garden and said that's it no more after market parts only genuine.
I believe I have had to replace all the none genuine parts I fitted because they have failed except for door mirrors (but I did have to modify them to stop them vibrating).
You get what you pay for but it has made ownership a lot more expensive than I had budgeted for.
Click to expand...


I think thats one of the sad things about early landrovers, if you own the car for ant period of time you end up doing the same job at least once more and its not always becasue the bits are cheap just its a **** design.
Wheel bearings being a favourite especially if you off road the thing.
 
lightning said:
I have generally found that aftermarket trim parts were OK.
Britpart seat base, still perfect after 30,000 miles. Likewise side steps, headlamp surrounds, window winder handles, carpets, mats, wiper blades, pedal rubbers etc from aftermarket suppliers such as Bearmach.
Mechanical parts less so. The Britpart drive shaft/drive member l fitted recently already has a bit of play in it after 3,000 miles.
But the Land Rover item was literally ten times the price and l just couldn't afford it at the time.
Next time it'll have to be genuine and go on the credit card! At least it's an easy part to change.
Click to expand...

Bit **** on the drive shafts! I just fitted them to mine, though they are £80 for a set of shafts & flanges so that isnt bad really. Guess ill buy another set next year keep em just incase and pack em when I go off roading.
 
I will very rarely touch anything in a blue box (Britpart = Sh*tpart), never heard a good word about most of their stuff, and my local parts place doesn't stock their bits as a rule.
However there are some perfectly good aftermarket bits, you just have to be a bit careful what your buying.
 
Grimmer said:
I will very rarely touch anything in a blue box (Britpart = Sh*tpart), never heard a good word about most of their stuff, and my local parts place doesn't stock their bits as a rule.
However there are some perfectly good aftermarket bits, you just have to be a bit careful what your buying.
Click to expand...
Yes you are correct there are good aftermarket bits, I should qualify what I mean by never purchasing anything other than genuine LR.
If I were to say the parts that were fitted when it came off the production line that keep in running, stopping or cooling I would replace only with genuine LR.
If I needed a seat then some good after market and some far better than genuine LR, Carpets (I know carpets:eek:, mine is a CSW) and the like. I have aftermarket mirrors and now that I have modified them to stop them vibrating they are as good as the genuine LR parts that were fitted at a fraction of the cost.
 
I agree with regard to buying OEM but the over £1,000 l was quoted for a pair of drive shafts/flanges from LR was just absurd.

I used to own a Ferrari and l thought parts prices for that were high (it was easier to work on than you might think) but they were more reasonable than LR main dealer parts prices.
 
I think I've just been lucky. I usually avoid britpart if possible, but sometimes I've had no choice due to them being all I could get my hands on.

As a rule if a britpart has a G at the end of the part number it's oem and will be fine.
I've done nearly 30k in mine with some britpart buys and non have failed, although I e had so e genuine replacement parts (fuel pump being one) fail in that time
 
I learnt the hard way on this, its really hit and miss. Sometimes you can buy Britpart or other low price tackle and it is fine, but something you can tell they are just not up to scratch and they will let you down. Classic example I had were engine mounts, bought a set of cheep ones, 1 was fine, 1 sheered the thread when I was tightening it (Im a fitter, I know how tight things should be and it wasnt "tight" ) the third one split 10miles down the road. Bought a set of LR ones, no problems!
 
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