supersix 0 Posted April 20, 2010 So the OH mk1 has been getting some TLC lately with a new exhuast system as the old one was modified and the cars going back to standard, A new breather pipe as the old one was wrotten as a dead skunk and a service, The service parts make me cry at how cheap they are what it costs me for 1 plug she can get all 4! BUT when needing a new breather pipe i got on the blower to all parts as there just down the road who said it was a dealer only part, So i went to the dealer who said the reg wasnt coming up on his system and he needed the chassis number (keep a pic on my phone sad innit!) this didnt work either, So we did it the long way! He then tells me that the breather pipe ceeased production in 2005! and the exhaust in 2003 / 2004! And VW are deleting mk1 and older cars of the system. needless to say i was livid, That would suggest as a loyal VW customer if i was stupid enough to take the car to the dealer they wouldnt be able to reapair it surely? I managed to get the parts from GSF who unfortunately are on the other side of town with the Breather costing £4.99 and the exhaust from a specialist £150 Now my G60 is 1991 Manda's mk1 is 1983 if you think that parts were discontinued around six years ago and cars deleted then i recon the rado's got 3 years left! Anyone else think its :censored: that manufacturers rely on aftermarket suppliers to fufill there shortfall? stupid if you ask me as they fuel the factors who fuel the garages that steal there business with lower prices, Even if it does cost more you should always be able to go back to the manufacturer for a part its not like its a pen and they dont make the ink cartridges its a :censored: car! 2nd biggest purchase in most peoples lives, people shouold be rewarded for looking after the manufacturers heritage not penalised! :mad2: Rant over Discuss Pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mimjed 0 Posted April 20, 2010 how else do they make you buy a new car? :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dukest 0 Posted April 20, 2010 its already happening! viewtopic.php?f=15&t=91590&p=1056514&hilit=pedal+position+sensor#p1056514 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolbaron 10 Posted April 20, 2010 There used to be a sign in the dealers saying they carry stock of all parts for 10 years from end of manufacture. Therefore parts would have stopped being made in 2005. Any available items now have possibly been sat on shelves for 5 years unless they have also been used for other later cars or are a popular part. I dont think anyone can seriously expect a manufacturer to carry on producing every part for every car they've ever made can they? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
supersix 0 Posted April 20, 2010 There used to be a sign in the dealers saying they carry stock of all parts for 10 years from end of manufacture. Therefore parts would have stopped being made in 2005. Any available items now have possibly been sat on shelves for 5 years unless they have also been used for other later cars or are a popular part. I dont think anyone can seriously expect a manufacturer to carry on producing every part for every car they've ever made can they? Ths is whats rediculous though, the car manufacturers dont make the parts, parts manufacturers do! And they are still producing the part or an OE equivalent and retailing through the Motor Factors under there own name such as Delphi etc, So why cant VW stop being so tight and at least be able to order you a part should you need it? If VW themselves were producing the part then i could understand or even if there was no OE equivalent available its just pure cost saving and its :censored: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2010 According to a VAG parts manager who is on this forum, parts availability is done on a supply & demand basis, so if no one orders MK1 breather hoses for X amount of months / years, it's made obsolete. Blame end users who araldite things back together instead of buying the proper parts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
V-Dubstar 0 Posted April 20, 2010 According to a VAG parts manager who is on this forum, parts availability is done on a supply & demand basis, so if no one orders MK1 breather hoses for X amount of months / years, it's made obsolete. Blame end users who araldite things back together instead of buying the proper parts. Does that mean that no-one has been buying handbrake cables from their dealer?! :shrug: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2010 Obviously not. My Corrado has had new handbrake cables once in 185,000 miles. Agreed with Mr Baron, why would VW keep 1000s of handbrake cables in stock based on such infrequent replacement? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
supersix 0 Posted April 20, 2010 Obviously not. My Corrado has had new handbrake cables once in 185,000 miles. Agreed with Mr Baron, why would VW keep 1000s of handbrake cables in stock based on such infrequent replacement? This is true and i agree with you, But VW wouldnt have to hold the parts there are companies out there such as FPS distribution who specialise in holding stock for the motor factor groups, why couldnt they do this for the manufacturers too? industry is too divided between aftermarket and Dealers, end result is the end user suffers, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2010 Yeah and the politics and insest within the car industry does your nut in. Even though ATE make the ABS system for the Corrado, you can't buy directly from them, they tell you to speak to VW. VW say they can't help. ATE say, speak to VW, and round and round you go in endless BS, unhelpfulness and arrogance. It's like with Petrol. Why doesn't the whole country TRY and just stay at home on an agreed Sunday and not go out to the beach or down the shops or where ever. Millions of £s lost in petrol sales. That would send out a strong message to the oil companies. Ditto with cars. Why not just everyone to use an independant for one of the services? I'm sick of companies, all companies, taking our money and schitting on us.... it's got to stop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yeti 0 Posted April 20, 2010 Obviously not. My Corrado has had new handbrake cables once in 185,000 miles. Agreed with Mr Baron, why would VW keep 1000s of handbrake cables in stock based on such infrequent replacement? This is true and i agree with you, But VW wouldnt have to hold the parts there are companies out there such as FPS distribution who specialise in holding stock for the motor factor groups, why couldnt they do this for the manufacturers too? industry is too divided between aftermarket and Dealers, end result is the end user suffers, VW dont make most parts. Parts are made under close guidance by suppliers, the suppliers specialise in what they do and will make the same type of parts for lots of manufacturers. I work in the Automotive industry and just one of our suppliers for example supplies Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar and GM companys. Considder the amount of tools they would have to keep and store if they kept everysingle part ever produced for every model and variance. Its so easy now to take a part and reverse engineer it its no wonder other companys are doing it , they have minimal design fees, the market already exists for the product and its not hard for a specialist to work out what material a part is made of. Its very cheap to batch produce parts out of the far east and then distribute to motor factors such as gsf or euro car parts. unfortuantely older cars are harder to maintain as a result which is why IMO there is such a market for breakers yards as well! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dukest 0 Posted April 20, 2010 Its so easy now to take a part and reverse engineer it its no wonder other companys are doing it , they have minimal design fees, the market already exists for the product and its not hard for a specialist to work out what material a part is made of. Its very cheap to batch produce parts out of the far east and then distribute to motor factors such as gsf or euro car parts. but the problem is they're not doing it Andy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2010 They are. I've lost count of the parts cloned in China.... idle valves, turbos, manifolds, fuel pumps, you name it..... Take this for example - http://www.worldcarparts.co.uk/tabid/14 ... fault.aspx That ain't no Bosch valve. I know this for a fact. I should have guessed really by the price. £70. VW want £250 for the real deal..... Reverse engineering the parts is possible and going on, but the quality isn't there in a lot of cases. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
supersix 0 Posted April 20, 2010 Obviously not. My Corrado has had new handbrake cables once in 185,000 miles. Agreed with Mr Baron, why would VW keep 1000s of handbrake cables in stock based on such infrequent replacement? This is true and i agree with you, But VW wouldnt have to hold the parts there are companies out there such as FPS distribution who specialise in holding stock for the motor factor groups, why couldnt they do this for the manufacturers too? industry is too divided between aftermarket and Dealers, end result is the end user suffers, VW dont make most parts. Parts are made under close guidance by suppliers, the suppliers specialise in what they do and will make the same type of parts for lots of manufacturers. I work in the Automotive industry and just one of our suppliers for example supplies Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar and GM companys. Considder the amount of tools they would have to keep and store if they kept everysingle part ever produced for every model and variance. Its so easy now to take a part and reverse engineer it its no wonder other companys are doing it , they have minimal design fees, the market already exists for the product and its not hard for a specialist to work out what material a part is made of. Its very cheap to batch produce parts out of the far east and then distribute to motor factors such as gsf or euro car parts. unfortuantely older cars are harder to maintain as a result which is why IMO there is such a market for breakers yards as well! Totally agree with you, What i was trying to say is if the part or OE equivalent is still being produced and stored by somone it should be available through VW, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dukest 0 Posted April 20, 2010 Reverse engineering the parts is possible and going on, but the quality isn't there in a lot of cases. i meant doing it reputably to a reasonable standard! although i guess if chinese rip-off brake pedal position sensors are all we can get then we will be beggars not choosers.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2010 Just found out the VR6 Master Cylinder is obsolete aswell, probably part of the "servo unit" now :roll: If they obsolete the wheel sensors aswell, we really will be stuffed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henny 0 Posted April 20, 2010 time to ditch the ABS? :norty: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2010 I've thought about it, but the way I drive, I kind of need it as a back up :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henny 0 Posted April 20, 2010 you'd be better with a parachute or an ejector seat! ;) :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John-M 0 Posted April 20, 2010 I've thought about it, but the way I drive, I kind of need it as a back up :D :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Forinor 0 Posted April 21, 2010 This is actually quite worrying if more parts become obsolete. Seriously, I'd like to discuss this, what would we do? How do the people who have ancient restored cars keep their cars on the road? What can be our solution? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted April 21, 2010 am sure custom parts can be made. the land rover 101 i own is the same, hardly any parts can be bought for it new. The 101 club runs a spare parts scheme, like a group buy i spose, where they find a manufacture to make/supply custom parts. http://www.101club.org/spares/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted April 21, 2010 i fancy fitting a corrado bodyshell to the latest audi TT :lol: could that be done, all the looks of the rado but with new techology :norty: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Portent 0 Posted April 21, 2010 i fancy fitting a corrado bodyshell to the latest audi TT :lol: could that be done, all the looks of the rado but with new techology :norty: Sort of... couldn't you just go with a 1.8T conversion and completely update the suspension and brakes? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henny 0 Posted April 21, 2010 i fancy fitting a corrado bodyshell to the latest audi TT :lol: could that be done, all the looks of the rado but with new techology :norty: Yes, Jay Wrenshaw did it ages ago with a 24V V6, TT dash, wiring, firewall etc... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites