Supplying Your Own Parts to Mechanic. Thoughts?

baskinghobo on 04/07/2022 - 23:52
Last edited 05/07/2022 - 00:27

So my gf's window fell into the door and after going to an autoglass shop to get it checked out, one of the guys there told me the regulator needs to be replaced. He told me he could have it installed for $150 but I needed to get the part myself so I went out and bought a window regulator for the Hyundai i30 2009 and it cost me $370 from the dealer. I did try the wrecker first but they didn't have any for the car. After I bought it I searched the price on eBay out of curiosity and found this one for $80 - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/144088596547?fits=Model%3Ai30%7C… .

Almost a whole $300 cheaper. Granted it is an aftermarket part but window regulators tend to last a while anyway I think. This made me think what else I could have bought for cheaper and supplied myself. For example I also had the timing belt replaced and with the minor service it cost me a bit over $1000. But I read that mechanics do not like to use supplied parts due to liability issues.

Is this true? Because the amount in potential savings makes it quite tempting and even if you don't know much about cars all you really need to do is about 30min to an hour of research and then make a thread on a car forum (preferably for your type of car) to ensure you are buying the correct parts for the problem.

Automotive

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2022 - 00:17

    i read a comment somewhere about a decent mechanic who was happy to use supplied parts but marked up his labour charge to make up the difference with what he lost on selling the parts

    it probably just depends on the mechanic, there are some aftermarket parts that are better than others, sometimes they can even be better than official parts.

    independent mechanics would likely be much more willing to use them, i doubt a dealer would do it at all, just ask around and see what their opinions are, they may have a reason for or against aftermarkets that you hadn't thought of yourself.

    • mini2 on 05/07/2022 - 10:03

      i read a comment somewhere about a decent mechanic who was happy to use supplied parts but marked up his labour charge to make up the difference with what he lost on selling the parts

      Yeah I've experienced this first hand though that workshop didn't last long before it phoenix'ed itself to its current iteration, they've been on a rampage on damaging customers' cars.

      • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2022 - 10:24

        the guy i heard about was supposed to be a decent mechanic, a group of co-workers used him, but a new co-worker came along and when asking about mechanics, got referred to him, he didn't like that when he brought his own parts the mechanic charged him more for labour (essentially all savings were negated by this), the mechanic was upfront about it, so the new co-worker went to a different mechanic and ended up getting shafted.

  • dorikin on 05/07/2022 - 00:19
    +5

    For service items like oils and filters they will probably roll their eyes at you and think you're a penny pincher haha

    for more specific parts like your window regulator they'll probably be grateful you did the legwork and saved them the time

    • baskinghobo on 05/07/2022 - 00:45

      I was thinking for the more big ticket items as well. I don't know how independent mechanics stock their parts but I feel like for the more expensive and specific parts they tend to just buy the parts from the dealer anyway to avoid wasting money on unused stock + most customers don't want to wait over 2 weeks for a part. My mobile mechanic used to order parts off eBay before my service but unfortunately he went to work for another company. May he rest in peace 😢

  • SF3 on 05/07/2022 - 00:45
    +5

    Sure, if your mechanic is good with it.

    Next post: bought my own gearbox, now engine is stuffed, mechanic said is my fault, what to do?

    • baskinghobo on 05/07/2022 - 01:00

      I feel like the risk would be worth it. Imo the savings from the huge markup for parts from the dealerships outweighs the times things may go wrong and the mechanic may blame me wrongfully or rightfully for the incorrect part. I see it similar to paying for warranty on shipping. If my package goes missing I won't be happy but I will accept that I took the risk for not paying that extra. And If I'm really worried such as if I'm ordering a $6000 GPU then I will pay that bit extra for the peace of mind.

      • Quantumcat on 05/07/2022 - 09:21

        Not the same as insurance on shipping as it's the seller's responsibility to get it to you, if they don't you can get a refund on PayPal. Any insurance payout goes to the seller so it should come from their pocket, as it doesn't benefit you at all.

  • joeyg4343 on 05/07/2022 - 01:02
    +1

    I've done this multiple times. After I've gotten the mechanic quote that includes the part I say can I supply this part myself and they always seem pretty happy. Only for really expensive parts because I bawked at the quote.

  • pegaxs on 05/07/2022 - 07:48
    +6

    Depends on the part and depends on the mechanic. We allow some parts that the customer brings in, some, we don’t.

    Example, bring in your own headlight or tail light because the old one is broken, sure, we’ll fit that for you… bring in brake pads or a timing belt with no names on them, yeah, nah, not going to fit those, sorry, champ.

    The last thing I need is some cheap arse brake pads failing and running a customer’s car over a cliff or into a tree or a shitty timing belt lunch itself after 3 weeks and killing an engine.

    There is no amount of paperwork I can get a customer to sign that signs away their rights in the event that the shit house $18 brake pads they got from eBay that I fitted, fail and caused the drivers death.

    I wouldn’t care about fitting a customer supplied window reg though.

    • Muzeeb on 05/07/2022 - 09:08

      Here is a perfect example of giving your mechanic cheap arse parts to fit.

    • SF3 on 05/07/2022 - 09:24
      +3

      OP will cross you off as their potential mechanic.

      Seeking confirmation bias not logic.

      • baskinghobo on 05/07/2022 - 10:09

        Seems like a fair response to me. I suppose the gist of it is that I should avoid supplying my own parts if it's critical to the safety of the car unless I don't mind losing the warranty and i make sure the mechanic is cool with it beforehand.

        Btw I found a genuine part on eBay for $160. I also had a local mechanic quote me $320 for parts including a new motor and labour or $100 for just labour. I don't know if the mechanic got a trade discount for a genuine part or has an aftermarket part in stock but will just be using the mechanic next time.

        • pegaxs on 05/07/2022 - 11:00
          +2

          A good rule of thumb is "ask first"… Don't just turn up on the day your car is booked in and bring in a big cardboard box full of spare parts in.

          Unless I can see those parts are either genuine (come in manufacturers parts bags with correct part numbers) or are a brand that we would use ourselves or a reputable brand we know of, I just don't touch them. And even if the customer supplies "genuine" parts, it always goes on the invoice that we do NOT support the warranty of the part if it fails. They will need to chase that up with whom they purchased the parts from.

          The other issue is that a lot of people don't understand the difference between "Model Year" and "Build Date". They will scream black and blue that their car is a 2016 because they bought it in Feb '16, but the VIN is telling me it's a 2015 and has a different engine and gearbox in it and the parts they bought me wont fit. Apparently me not being able to fit a 2016 DOHC timing belt to a 2015 SOHC engine makes me the shit mechanic.

          • Domicron on 05/07/2022 - 20:19

            @pegaxs: Mate. If you cant fit a carburettor to my 2GR, then you are a shxt mechanic! Haha

  • JIMB0 on 05/07/2022 - 07:55
    +6

    Why stop at sourcing the parts? May as well fit them yourself as well.

    • holdenmg on 05/07/2022 - 08:51

      Oooh,… playing the "be the mechanic" card. lol

  • racer1234 on 05/07/2022 - 07:55
    +5

    What happens if you supply the window regulator, the mechanic installs it and it dies a week later. Who pays to replace it? If the mechanic supplies the part then they will warranty the part and the work so should be replaced at no charge. If you supply the part then you are up for a replacement regulator plus the labour to fit it again. There are also lots of very cheap parts on ebay for example that don't actually fit very well. I brought an electrical part and the connectors looked identical but where fractionally smaller everywhere and would not fit. Took an ages to make it fit rather than five minutes. Then it died a week later. I got the $30 back from ebay but who how would you feel having to pay for 2 hours labour again because the cheap part failed?

  • Euphemistic on 05/07/2022 - 08:02
    +1

    As Peggie says, it depends on the part. The mechanic will want to be satisfied the part is not going to cause warranty issues. Mechanic supplied parts will have some form of warranty E.g. if they break it during install, they get another one. If it breaks after a short while they should fix it for you etc.

    If a cheap window regulator fails a week after they’ve installed they are more likely to charge you again to replace it, and you’ll need to do the legwork to chase up a replacement under warranty.

    End of the day it’s more risk on you to supply your own parts.

  • afoveht on 05/07/2022 - 08:09

    I did this with a timing belt and water pump about 10 years ago. The mechanic was fine with it. About a year later the mechanic said the water pump showed signs of leaking.

    I was friendly with the mechanic as well as the supplier of the water pump, and they were friendly with each other too - it put me in a weird situation. Worked out fine for me as the car ended up having other issues later and I disposed of it before the water pump became an absolute priority to replace. But I generally would dodge such an arrangement again.

    • dtc on 05/07/2022 - 10:34

      I disposed of it before the water pump became an absolute priority to replace. But I generally would dodge such an arrangement again.

      the old 'make it someone else's problem' solution

      • afoveht on 05/07/2022 - 21:20

        I don't think the wrecker saw it as a problem.

  • Archi on 05/07/2022 - 08:56

    they were friendly with each other too - it put me in a weird situation

    one of those scenarios i see.

  • bhubb18 on 05/07/2022 - 09:42

    As long as its 100% the correct part, then its usually somewhat ok.
    I work selling primarily Genuine parts, many go to workshops on behalf of a customer.

    But when you start getting cheap replacements that aren't always correct, you put the workshop in a bad position and they don't like that haha

    • Keplaffintech on 05/07/2022 - 16:35

      do independent mechanics have access to the same genuine parts and prices that a dealership does?

      • Domicron on 05/07/2022 - 20:21

        Yes. They usually pick it up from the dealer or their own suppliers. Parts are delivered to them.

  • dogboy on 05/07/2022 - 09:48

    They don't want you to supply parts because then they cannot charge you a ridiculous markup on the parts in addition to their labour.

  • mini2 on 05/07/2022 - 10:07
    +3

    As long as you understand if the parts you brought in are incorrect and they've already started disassembly, you're on the hook for the labour incurred.

    As long as you understand if the parts you brought in have failed and the replacement parts and labour to fix it again will be on your dime, not theirs.

    As long as you understand the workshop has every right to refuse to fit the parts you've brought in then it's all good.

    • pegaxs on 05/07/2022 - 11:00

      100% this…

    • brendanm on 05/07/2022 - 18:58

      As long as you understand if the parts you brought in are incorrect and they've already started disassembly, you're on the hook for the labour incurred.

      Unfortunately, the law doesn't agree with you, even though this would be common sense. By fitting the part, the mechanic has deemed that it is of "acceptable quality", and they are on the hook for labour if it fails.

      • dtc on 05/07/2022 - 19:14

        the law doesn’t deem anything of the sort. The labour is under warranty, the part isn’t. At best the mechanic might be deemed to have agreed that the part appears suitable (or not unsuitable) ie if you turn up with a GM truck part for your VW polo and the mechanic puts it in. But if you turn up with an eBay part that says it’s for your model, then that’s on you

        • brendanm on 05/07/2022 - 20:46

          Then the mechanic fits it. Then the part fails. Then the customer accuses the mechanic of being the cause of the failure. The mechanic then has to warrant labour on a part they didn't fit. It's one of the reasons that lots of mechanics won't fit customer supplied parts. Another is that they supply the wrong parts, costing time and money, and often workshop space.

          • dtc on 05/07/2022 - 23:19

            @brendanm: But thats not how the law works…

            I completely understand why mechanics wont install parts the customer has provided. But not because the 'law say the mechanic is deemed the part of be of acceptable quality'.

            • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 06:24

              @dtc: Look up consumer law. The mechanic must deem that the part is of "acceptable quality", if they fit a part that is not of "acceptable quality", they are liable. If they fit a part that is of "acceptable quality", and it fails, they open themselves up to being accused of causing the failure.

              Why would anyone choose to lose money in not supplying the part, have the possibility of being supplied the incorrect part, have the possibility of some goose taking you to Xcat over your alleged poor fitment/damage of said part that you lost money on.

      • mini2 on 06/07/2022 - 10:20

        How is the mechanic responsible for the customer's failure in obtaining the correct part? I've fked up in the past (heh no hope for me to become a parts interpreter) and either had to eat the labour to refit the failed part back on or get the mechanic to organise the correct part at a much higher price than the usual overseas sources. Which is fair, it's not like they've given me the part number.

        A responsible workshop would run the part number against the VIN to confirm if it's the correct part to slap on.

        • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 10:44

          How is the mechanic responsible for the customer's failure in obtaining the correct part

          They aren't, but they pay for it in loss of labour, loss of a hoist etc etc while a replacement is sourced.

          A responsible workshop would run the part number against the VIN to confirm if it's the correct part to slap on.

          So not only do they lose out on revenue from parts sales, they also have to waste time looking up some random crap. Sounds good.

          • mini2 on 06/07/2022 - 11:44

            @brendanm:

            They aren't, but they pay for it in loss of labour, loss of a hoist etc etc while a replacement is sourced.

            Why wouldn't they bill the customer for the loss of hoist time/labour is beyond me.

            So not only do they lose out on revenue from parts sales, they also have to waste time looking up some random crap. Sounds good.

            Customer service? It's not that hard to fire up EPC, plug in the VIN then the part number to confirm? 5 minutes tops and I wouldn't think every single customer will be bringing in their own parts?

            • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 12:02

              @mini2:

              Why wouldn't they bill the customer for the loss of hoist time/labour is beyond me.

              Have you ever actually dealt with any of this? Car could be stuck on a hoist for days or longer for an incorrect clutch. You think you can bill a customer for that?

              Customer service? It's not that hard to fire up EPC, plug in the VIN then the part number to confirm? 5 minutes tops and I wouldn't think every single customer will be bringing in their own parts?

              You are still not getting paid for the parts, and spending valuable time looking up rubbish. Do you understand how many different manufacturers there are of the various parts? All with their own part numbers. It's not a 2 second job.

  • Drakesy on 05/07/2022 - 10:45

    The timing belt service is almost all labour so you can't really escape that one, i think timing belts are up to $90 with roughly a days labour depending on how complext the fit is.

    Window regulator understandably would be much cheaper on Ebay than from a stealership.

  • Darayus on 05/07/2022 - 12:18

    I had Holden Vectra 15 years back, good car, to get some specific sensors and parts you either go to Holden that they charge you a bomb or call a UK parts supplier and import by post for 1/3 the price. So I was importing original spare parts from the UK suitable for my vehicle with VIN Compatability and then visit my local mechanic and he verify the replacement parts before he start the job. it turn out very beneficial relationship that he know that I am doing the right thing by getting original parts from overseas and he was happy to charge his standard hourly rates to fix my job.

  • BandB on 05/07/2022 - 12:36

    I supply oil filter because I wont a specific brand my mechanic doesn't carry, engine, auto transmission oil and coolant purchased at Supercheap 40% to 50% off sales. I've supplied a turbo, front hubs,shocks and springs and other parts. He is happy to use them.

    • Domicron on 05/07/2022 - 20:25

      Once a friend brought in Royal Purple for his RB26… Coincidentally, a brand new bottle of Royal Purple with the same viscosity happens to be sitting next to the hoist where the car was serviced.

  • maybeamacy on 05/07/2022 - 13:27

    My inde is happy for my to supply my own parts for regular services too. I asked my stealership (VAG) and they were happy for me to supply genuine parts for them to use during services (seeing as euro parts are dirt cheap when importing via Europe/US eg. $10 for a filter vs $80 here) but wouldn't fit any aftermarket parts - they still get their $200/hr labour to do an oil change. They were happy for me to supply my own compliant oil as well - they just checked that it met manufacturers requirements when I dropped it off and that it was sealed (think they charged something ridiculous like $200 for their own oil vs $80 buying it from SCA on sale).

  • brad1-8tsi on 05/07/2022 - 16:09

    If you supply the parts and the new part fails the mechanic will charge you to R&R the failed part. You need to pick your parts well.

    Personally, I wouldn't supply cheap eBay parts.

  • Keplaffintech on 05/07/2022 - 16:33

    A good/honest mechanic will not charge you extra on parts, they will just charge you parts + labour (or have it combined on the invoice).

    If you supply the part to the mechanic, they will just charge you the labour, so you're not saving anything. Often it will cost you more due to economies of scale (e.g. oil only comes in 5L containers)

    Of course, half the trouble is finding an honest mechanic.

  • megadeth on 05/07/2022 - 19:48

    Some bits are pretty standard like brake pads rotors etc, as long as you buy the correct parts for your car and the mechanic can fit them it should be fine. I’m giving rotor/pads and a refurbished turbo for my bmw for fitting in a few weeks time.

  • serendibb on 06/07/2022 - 10:54

    I have the same issue as OP with a 2007 i30. Windows reg broke. Mechanic replaced it with an aftermarket, sourced by themselves. I kept getting squeaks when I use the window. Got it looked at twice before the mechanic replaced the whole thing 3rd time round. No extra charges for parts or labour.

  • Hackney on 07/07/2022 - 06:04

    I have supplied parts for years.Never ever had an issue, period.They are more than happy to do it, & do not charge a higher labour rate.

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