Main dealer cheaper than Internet

[andrew e]

Needed a battery for my Audi, so tried all the obvious, then tried local ex-sales but still authorised service Skoda franchise.

 

The result? £54 inclusive, you can't grumble with that.

 

[Bone]

Good value that is, and not an internet 'Turbo Nitro Gen Power' made in Bumpong or somewhere with no traceable address. Youarsers are decent batteries.

[twosmoke300]

That will have come from TPS the vw trade suppliers . Good batteries at reasonable prices too.

[mercrocker]

My local motor factor consistently under-cuts net prices with his Yuasa range.  They have honoured guarantees past the date on at least one occasion too.   I like the green indicator on these, too - not infallible but a quick visual guide.   

[Honey Badger]

Coxs Honda sell Honda batteries cheaper than you can get an aftermarket battery, even adding postage.

[Eddie Honda]

Coxs Honda sell Honda batteries cheaper than you can get an aftermarket battery, even adding postage.

They may well do. I've looked up a Jazz battery and they are (or were) the same price £59.99. When it's 4.15pm on a Sunday in the Lakes, Halfords (in Penrith) is going to win.

 

It's always worth checking the stealers for these things. I'm a big fan of Volvo batteries, as they are boring black, I can unscrew the cell covers and they aren't all that badly priced.

[Bear]

Service items on older Mercedes should definitely be checked. Examples include rear boot gas struts for the SLK (£13 each rather than £49-79 for a pair on eBay/Amazon), coil springs (around £50 each - I've seen breakers asking £90 each used!), tie rods, various bits & bobs like PCV valves. Some electrical components like MAF or Cam sensors can be a bit steep though.

[Junkman]

That internet, huh?

Should be switched off.

[xtriple]

My new battery for the Honda was cheapest at the dealers (Speedwell Honda who I love and adore and I want to have their children as they are so good) and they had it in stock and fitted it for me FOC. All the factors wanted about £30 more and that was before Speedwell discounted it for me!

 

Also, many years ago, I snapped the timing chain on a 230E (it had been rattling its tits off for ages) and I bent hundreds of valves. The local Merc dealer were cheaper for the bits than any of the factors or specialists (and I get 'trade' ) by a comfortable margin and got the bits next day where the factors etc were quoting days/weeks to get the bits.

 

Oh and Rolls Royce oil filters are cheaper than the factors (just thought I'd throw that in, in case anyone had forgotten I have a ...)

[michael1703]

That will have come from TPS the vw trade suppliers . Good batteries at reasonable prices too.

Ive got a TPS that delivers to me (cheques made payable to VW Group ltd incidentally) and they are stupidly cheap And decent quality

[Hendry]

Vauxhall service bits are usually reasonably priced and quite often cheaper than factors, if you can wangle a trade club card their prices are ridiculously cheap also.

 

More often than not in my experience a factor part is only cheaper because its crap quality inferior parts made by companies youve never heard of.

[BavarianRetro]

There's a plastic HT lead conduit on the BMW M20 engine that always breaks its mounts and hangs free. We sold them for £25.

 

We were building an engine for a sales car and had run out.

 

"Bugger! Phone the dealer and just ask how much they are, out of interest."

 

£7.00 plus vat less discount.