It’s funny how most people, or at least most people who use the internet, buy almost anything online without hesitation. They buy hygiene products, computer accessories, perfumes. However, there is one area where people hesitate when buying auto parts.
Most of us do all of our auto repairs at a local garage, or if you’re lucky, you might have a mechanic or car enthusiast who can help you out.
People are often wary of buying parts or items
They can’t fit themselves, or they think that if they’re trying to save money by having a car part delivered to a local garage, they’re offending by doing so. One way to look at this is with the analogy of taking fresh fish to your local restaurant and asking them if you could eat there if they would cook the fish they brought you.
Well, guess what. Chefs and mechanics don’t think alike! If you bring your fish to a restaurant to ask for a cheaper meal, you will no doubt be quickly shown the door. However, this is not the case when you need auto parts.
Garages will prepare a repair invoice for you,
Which will include the cost of the parts and the labor cost to assemble them. As we all know, garages make most of their money from labor, and even car parts costing a few pounds can cost you hundreds of pounds after labor costs are added.
The truth is that as long as the engine parts installed are in good condition and work (ie they are the right parts for the right car model), most garages and mechanics are not averse to supplying your parts themselves. They still get their badge from labor. Next time you’re facing an MOT repair, find out what parts are available and ask if you can buy your own. Yes, it might slow things down a bit (and if you need a quick fix, you’ll probably have to use the garage offer), but if you’ve got the time, go for it!
This means that you can sometimes save a lot of money by buying
The engine parts you need online instead of buying through auto repair shops or major car manufacturers.
One of the open markets online is the skrot bilmarket. These are people who buy a car that is no longer roadworthy, literally wreck it and sell it. For those selling these parts online, it’s like going to a junkyard without talking to a solid scrap yard. For those of us who know relatively little about cars and don’t want experts to point out what auto parts we need, it can be a big help!
Online auto parts, especially those that offer used auto parts, can thus save you a fortune. And it’s not just for auto repair. If you have minor problems with your car, such as broken windshield wipers or lights that don’t work, buying parts online and installing them yourself can save you a lot of money. If you don’t know how to adjust a particular part, a quick Google or YouTube search will almost certainly turn up plenty of resources that will tell you what to do with them. Car enthusiasts take pride in their own repairs and are usually very enthusiastic about helping others do repairs. As long as you’re polite and reasonable (and as specific as possible about your requirements), you might be surprised how easy some car maintenance and repairs are, even if you’ve never owned a car that isn’t considered a car.
Also consider purchasing a Haynes car owner’s
Manual for your car model – and even check the car owner’s manual that came with your car. Both will give you plenty of car maintenance tips to help you cut down on those trips to the garage.
