Why are parts so crap these days?

Discodevon · Mar 27, 2025

Spending a few bob on my Landy making things look nicer and getting a few nice goody’s because haven’t in a while

Always wanted one of these tow balls and stumped out over £40 quid and this is how it turns up, its quite scrappy do da day but of paint missing bits of rust, funny how on the advertising picture it looks immaculate isn’t it, I know it’s only a tow ball but still…

Forrest Gump · Mar 27, 2025

Discodevon said:
Spending a few bob on my Landy making things look nicer and getting a few nice goody’s because haven’t in a while

Always wanted one of these tow balls and stumped out over £40 quid and this is how it turns up, its quite scrappy do da day but of paint missing bits of rust, funny how on the advertising picture it looks immaculate isn’t it, I know it’s only a tow ball but still…

Well enjoy working on your pride and joy…found the same working on my old pal… a lot of the parts I found were not quite to the same standard as the old stuff…bit of a mine field finding parts. Shop carefully boss.

Discodevon · Friday at 08:34

Shall I send it back or paint it that’s that question, such a shame

ER1C · Friday at 09:02

Its the same everywhere

... .I am restoring a 45 year old classic and the reproduction parts are ****e..... with the exception of rubber which perishes over time the seals, o rings and fittings from the original vehicle re-fitted are better than the newly made ones. A truly scary thought tbh..... engine mount was showing early splitting signs so swapped for a new one £70.... literally as soon as it took weight the rubber just sheared away from the plate its adhered to.... sh1te everywhere.

I would paint it or accept it will scuff quite quickly anyway and not worry.

mystery · Friday at 09:39

Chinese imports by European and UK brand at European prices just more profit and to hell with the quality as the Chinese cut the corners for the same reasons greed is rife and we are the mugs paying for it

Anaconda · Friday at 10:10

Makes you wonder about what it's made from and how strong it is.
Taking into account shipping and profit etc your £40 is probably more like £10 worth.

Discodevon · Friday at 12:45

Lucky I got it from eBay so I can send it back although it’s a pain in the bum

It come in a britpart box but always liked the push the pin in hitches just never thought to spend that 40 odd quid on one until now what a shame

Anaconda · Friday at 13:14

I reckon you would be better of buying a Dixon Bate one for a little bit more.

Discodevon · Friday at 19:51

Anaconda said:
I reckon you would be better of buying a Dixon Bate one for a little bit more.

I do like the Dixon bate ones but just like the look of these ones more, ended up rubbing down and 5 coats of primer, painted drop hitch satin black as well, going to lacquer the hitch once it’s painted to hopefully give it a bit more protection

Firebobby1 · Saturday at 05:59

Anaconda said:
Makes you wonder about what it's made from and how strong it is.
Taking into account shipping and profit etc your £40 is probably more like £10 worth.

This.

Discodevon · Saturday at 09:17

Firebobby1 said:
This.

It’s got the 3.5 tonne stamp on it at least lol! The old paint came off so easy it’s like they wiped it on with an old rag laying about or something

resto_d1 · Saturday at 15:10

Always have to hunt out ‘g’ parts and even then it’s sometimes hard to find certain bits or they’re ridiculous money if they’re G. Thankfully, Land Rover parts are a lot cheaper than jap or premium German. But, do they break more so it evens out anyway?

Discodevon · Saturday at 19:25

resto_d1 said:
Always have to hunt out ‘g’ parts and even then it’s sometimes hard to find certain bits or they’re ridiculous money if they’re G. Thankfully, Land Rover parts are a lot cheaper than jap or premium German. But, do they break more so it evens out anyway?

You say that Land Rover parts are cheaper but tbh only the knock off stuff is cheaper, genuine door seals over 100 quid for one door

The little sticker that says Diesel on the td5 11 quid it’s literally the size of fingernail

Genuine top coolant hose like 90 quid it’s annoying anyway lads after a massive faff it’s looking a beauty now, even polished the metal bits

Anaconda · Saturday at 20:02

Discodevon said:
You say that Land Rover parts are cheaper but tbh only the knock off stuff is cheaper, genuine door seals over 100 quid for one door

The little sticker that says Diesel on the td5 11 quid it’s literally the size of fingernail

Genuine top coolant hose like 90 quid it’s annoying anyway lads after a massive faff it’s looking a beauty now, even polished the metal bits

That looks worth the money now.
You do know that the paint will come off the first time you attach a trailer don't you?

Discodevon · Saturday at 23:49

Anaconda said:
That looks worth the money now.
You do know that the paint will come off the first time you attach a trailer don't you?

Yes intentionally masked the tow ball off because of that reason, but after you said it i probably should have wire wheel the paint off and polished that too

anyway I have purchased a Land Rover tow ball cover now to hide that bit lol

lynall · Sunday at 03:47

Pattern parts have always been poor, because we want cheap and they make us cheap.

If you want to see expensive you want to see truck parts prices, scania aftermarket brake chamber 200 quid, genuine 2.5x that.
Super single tyre for a truck 500, genuine DAF exhaust system 18k, 2 injectors fitted in our workshop by DAF 3.7k, scania track rod 600 quid and they might last 3yrs, scania door check strap 250 quid, we are flabbergasted almost daily.

Voluntary brake test 20 quid an axle, vol hlamp check 20 quid, mot 120 quid each bit, so 240 for whole outfit, not sure if it is vatable.

Scania hub reduction hub socket 402gbp plus the vat.

Why are parts so crap these days?

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