spare parts

Posts Tagged ‘warranty’

Munich / Bonn. Brakes are ailing, quarrels, the injection pump and the jerk-arm, fast should spare her. But it may not always be original parts. Reconstruction or replacement parts for your car cost less – and are not necessarily bad.

Repair is not the same repair: garages operate on different levels. The show tests of automobile associations and trade magazines again and again. But even with spare parts varied quality. It is not always have to be expensive originals – especially if the vehicle is older.

Then recycled replacement parts are often the first choice: You are, according to the ADAC by up to 50 percent cheaper. There are also so-called replica parts that are modeled on the original parts. But the quality of ordinary drivers can often be difficult to estimate.

“The layman does not know most, the marks for safety-relevant parts are required and how they look,” says Arnulf Thiemel from ADAC Technical Centre in Landsberg. Which replacement is recommended for the repair should be discussed with a free-parts dealer or repairer of trust.

“If someone is selling a bad product, is talking about the” so Thiemel. For the vehicle owner without specialist knowledge this “indirect method” is often the only way to gain clarity.

Neofitos Arathymos by the German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK) in Bonn also recommends visiting shops that are members of the guild are car. In case of problems could be an arbitration board to be heard: “The arbitration award must submit to these workshops.” Reputable firms would eighth anyway that they are working to rule. “They are in the liability for defects,” says art expert.

A basic rule is: When one is young vehicles with original parts on the safe side. The new parts are more expensive to maintain, as a rule but also the longest. For vehicles over the age of about four years may be the bottom line replacement parts is a worthwhile alternative. Then I do not always have spare parts that hold twice as long as the originally installed parts, “says Thiemel.

When replacement parts are old or defective parts that were prepared standardized. 2009 brought, for example, the parts supplier Bosch 2.5 million on its feet: 9000 from 29 different product categories – including air compressors, diesel injection pumps, starters and alternators.

Company spokeswoman Heather Rose Dreiner explained that for example, dynamos often windings were broken, the steel jacket but remain intact. Besides the cost advantage of roughly 30 percent of replacement parts would be better because in the life cycle: Because many manufacturing processes omitted in the preparation, could be compared to the new production of more than 60 percent of CO2.

Not only are free providers rely on replacement parts. Even manufacturers such as VW, Ford, Opel, Toyota, Citroen, Peugeot and Renault mix with. “Many manufacturers carry product lines with refurbished parts,” says Thiemel. Before a repair customers should always ask for replacement parts for their vehicle. For older models, sometimes even only this replacement is to be had. Usually, the customer gets to the same warranty as a new part.

Imitation parts, the experts recommend, however limited. “The goods must not be inferior,” says Thiemel. Good quality is expected, when reputable suppliers had developed parts for competitive reasons in the original equipment of new cars but did not come into play.

These components are often very close to the originals and are cheaper. Arathymos urges caution, however: “One should look at exactly who from simulating the parts.” Established suppliers usually met the criteria required by law. In circulation but are also parts of inferior quality.

Another is for the customer difficult to assess alternative among the so-called imitation parts identification parts from free trade. Although the name suggests, the quality of the original parts. But the term is not protected, warns expert ADAC Thiemel: “There is no independent quality audits.”

Therefore, identification parts are bad compared to originals. is hard to find out about whether the parts were manufactured on the same machine as an original part. If so, does the ZDK no problems.

Generally, car owners can on your own often cheap spare parts from online retailers or on specific parts search engines. ZDK expert Arathymos but warns: “I do not part with safety relevance would buy on the Internet.” In this he includes all the components of brakes, steering, suspension of the vehicle or wheels and tires.

Breaks the down car, the trouble often begins later – in the workshop. But customers are not defenseless against the professionals. Here is a littler advice… [ Mechanics in a garage: In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, customers should hold on car repairs in writing to all agreements.]

The engine brakes down, the tires burst, the glass shatters – sometimes every driver must bite the bullet and bring its rolling base to the workshop. Many repairs are now dependent on professionals, because of all the electronics in the vehicle even experienced Do-it-yourself-mechanics must rely on the help of automotive experts. But can you really trust what is done in workshop? Must it be the manufacturer’s authorized repair shop? And how can I tell too expensive spare part prices?

The guarantee of the manufacturer

For one and a half years, the car went without errors, then suddenly the engine and jumps on strike simply no longer: a typical case of warranty the manufacturer must pay for the spare parts and its repair. But take note: In order to obtain reimbursement of the repair costs, you have to visit a repair shop. Fixed by a free operation around the corner, your warranty will expire and you will be stuck with the cost.

For manufacturers, the scheme is also a tool for customer retention. What many do not know: accident repairs, maintenance and inspections can be carried out on a free service or a workshop without the manufacturer’s warranty expiring for the car. The oil change can for example be done in any workshop. Also, spare parts must not carry the same logo as the car itself. Background is a European Commission Regulation of 2002, which is in June once again been revised. The aim of the authorities in Brussels is to increase the competition for maintenance services.

Repair shop in the test better

Basically car owners have the choice between a repair shop and a free workshop. One is on the BMW or Renault, on the other ATU, Pit Stop or Autofit. In the ADAC test from last year were the result of the franchised front: Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford, Opel and Toyota good to satisfactory grades received. The reason: Employees are trained on the vehicles from the manufacturer and supplied with appropriate specialist tools.

Free Business and workshop chains performed during the test in the majority of cases only a sufficiently. Often overlooked by the mechanics are damages to the vehicle’s underbody or a low fluid level in the coolant tank – defects that can have expensive consequences.

The new version of the so-called block exemption of the EU comes in force on the first of June. This could now improve the quality of services of free operators. The regulation stipulates that spare part manufacturers will be required to provide free workshops with significantly more product information than ever before. This gives the enterprises of technical knowledge that was previously only reserved to the brand’s own repairmen.

Another tip: Pay attention in the workshop on a round plate with the words “motor vehicle manufacturing”. This means that this company is a member of a motor vehicle guild. The advantage: If you have problems you can get help with the arbitration of the competent guild.