• From: Wildest Bedfordshire
  • Registered: 5 Sep, 2009
  • Posts: 18

Topic: The Cost of Spare Parts

Last week my '72 Truck Cab was MOT'd. It failed on a couple of small points. The main one was a diesel leak. It was an injector pipe and easily fixed. Cost of pipe £1.66 +VAT (Paddock)
A minor one was screen washers. I tried it on the journey to the test and it worked fine.
It did not work for the tester.I immediately tried it after and water fell on the passenger floor, and on removing the trim the T-piece was disconnected.
I fixed it along with the fuel leak and it ran for a few seconds and stopped- the pump was hot and seized. As I was wanting to get the re-test done I dashed to Halfords for a new pump. I fitted it and got the pass-great!
The point of this story is that at Halfords this pump cost me 15 quid, on the internet an identical unit is £5 and a proper replacement is £6.40.
I feel ripped off, and like avoiding Halfords at all costs in the future.
Am I being unreasonable?

I didn't get where I am today by being sensible!
  • From: Duston, Northampton.
  • Registered: 4 Dec, 2008
  • Posts: 264

Re: The Cost of Spare Parts

I have a Halfords not 10 minutes from me and I only ever go there for a browse around. For all my bits and bobs, I go to a one man band type of place, who will go out of his way and works all hours to get you the bit your need. I would rather look after the corner shop than a fucking rip off place like halfords.


1972 Series 3 109 2.25 petrol called "Fluffle-Valve-Express"-
Response call sign NH66
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii6/Fluffle-Valve/138-372.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii6/Fluffle-Valve/responseandlogocopy-1.png

Fluffle-Valve's Website

  • From: The Cucumberland Coast
  • Registered: 3 Dec, 2008
  • Posts: 268

Re: The Cost of Spare Parts

Due to my location I get the choice of Partco, an independent spares place or Hellfrauds.

Partco and the indy spot aren't open weekends (well Partco between about 8 and 12 on Saturday) which leaves me the option of Hellfrauds when it all goes tits up on a Sunday default/sad

Partco are generally thumbs up. You sometimes need to go through their parts book to make sure they are getting the right part in for you. The look on the guys face when I got an oil filter element and he had to check that Landrover had used the same filter since 1958 default/tongue

The independent place is not bad for mainstream bits and pieces but useless for Landy stuff.

But neither could help when I needed a relay. Just a relay, a bog standard relay. That was a Hellfrauds trip and paying nearly 9 quid for it. Same relay available from t'internet for £2.95 BUT paying the extra on a Sunday at Hellfrauds got me fixed and sorted.

I wouldn't ordinarily choose to use Hellfrauds but as put by one Edmund Blackadder "Needs must when the Devil vomits in your kettle"

Fred '81 Series III 2.25 petrol 109" (going to be the Dray if I ever finish the bugger)
Tubs '81 Series III 2.5 n/a diesel 88" Station Wagon (not mine - the other half's)
  • Registered: 9 Mar, 2010
  • Posts: 12

Re: The Cost of Spare Parts

If it got you through the MOT then I feel its worth the £15 but they do rip you, I shop at the scrap yard unless I have one in the shed default/big_smile
I just bought a brake hose £4, local factor £10, but none in stock so I drove to Landrover supermarket in Liverpool, most bits are cheap, but its the time spent getting them.
I assume you all know Dave at http://www.llama4x4.com/
He sells Stainless braided brake hosed to fit any vehicle any length you want, makes them same day and sends them out first class and he charges the same as my local motor factor for a rubber one.