Providing parts to mechanics

[Eagle 1773]

Repco are miles worse than any dealer and supply mostly garbage. Rip every poor c**t off is no joke.

Dealerships seems hit and miss as far as parts go, some stuff is crazily prized compared to the same thing overseas, but sometimes it's actually cheaper.

[Deano1968 40]

On 6/4/2025 at 1:01 PM, deedub said:

Just got off the phone with Greg from Greg Hantz Autos in Hamilton. Booked in with them. Was happy for me to supply parts. Super friendly.

Thanks @gjm for the recommendation. Tracked down an old post last year where I was asking for recommendations for local BMW specialists around my way. You recommended Greg.

Greg's our go-to mechanic as well. Top bloke. Does everything from the classics to modern stuff. Coombes Johnson BMW in Hamilton told me they send the cars they can't fix to Greg. 

[deedub 118]

34 minutes ago, Deano1968 said:

Greg's our go-to mechanic as well. Top bloke. Does everything from the classics to modern stuff. Coombes Johnson BMW in Hamilton told me they send the cars they can't fix to Greg. 

Thanks for that. My car is going in to Greg soon. Nice to know I've found someone I can trust with my BMW's. 

[E30 325i Rag-Top 3026]

22 hours ago, M3AN said:

Someone in the chain is making significant margins on original parts sold into the NZ market if we can import them ourselves for less than we can buy them here. Fact. A 10mm screw that is used just as much on a 1996 car as it is on a 2019 car does not, and should not, cost $4 when I can buy 10 original BMW ones for $4 and $2.50 postage from offshore.

“Rip off” is a bit of a strong and emotional term, especially when you are not comparing all the facts (one example out of how many millions of part numbers?) nor comparing apples with apples.
It all comes down to economies of scale, and how costs are spread across the supply chain. FCP Euro would probably have a bigger parts turnover than BMW NZ, let alone BMW North America who would be the equivalent point. 
As mentioned above NZ parts can be reasonable for fast moving volume medium cost items. If it’s a larger, low volume item that has to be ordered in especially then unfortunately the costs won’t be comparable with the US who is still probably buying exponentially more per year. This then gets into a “chicken and egg” situation as more people buy on line from the bigger vendors. 

The issue then is supporting the local businesses in terms of time scales, yes most things can be sent over-night, but this then gets tricky for larger parts like bumpers for crashed cars, wheels, Lithium batteries (dangerous goods), etc. If the significantly increased freight costs (post Covid) are then passed on insurance companies will soon up the premiums to recover and more cars will get written off.

Would that it was possible for FCP to be a supplier. However, you might want to ask Toyota Aussie and Toyota NZ how they ended up with fake parts in their supply chain and the $$$s it cost to sort that mess.

Is there room for improvement..? Always. Will systems evolve over time..? Most definitely. Will people still claim “dealers charge 100% mark up” .? We shall wait and see. *Purely my personal opinions as an innocent bystander, any resemblance to persons dead or alive are purely coincidental.

[Eagle 1773]

My main issue when ordering bulk vehicle parts in NZ(more so as retail customer) is the lack of online ordering systems. Ordering from overseas is so much efficient for anyone accustomed it. Sending big parts lists to the dealership for pricing\availability creates too many issues unless you dont care about pricing and\or delivery schedules, not to mention extra work for the parts guy. 

[HowieD72 2]

Hi all.

I read this discussion & I just signed up today on this forum. I've looked around the sight but not quite switched on yet. So, I thought I'd ask here if anyone could recommend a good "Indy" in Auckland that would be happy with me taking in parts for a rod bearings replacement on a 2006 E63 M6? (I don't own a BMW yet but I'm looking at buying a 2006 E63 M6). 

There is a BMW Indy up here in Whangarei, but I'm not sure yet (I just emailed them this evening) if they would do the job with parts supplied by me. So, I'm just preparing in case they say no, or they charge me like a wounded bull because they are the only BMW specialist up here. I've heard/read it's an expensive job anyway (around $3.5 to 5k?) to get done, so I'm just keen to get the job priced at other workshops and compare.

Any advice, tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[M3AN 4110]

I'd call the site sponsors, @HELLBM, and have a chat with them. I'm not them so can't confirm their stance on you particular need but I'm sure they'll hear you out at the very least.

Edit: @HowieD72

Edited Sunday at 11:22 PM by M3AN

[Olaf 3413]

On 6/11/2025 at 5:17 PM, Eagle said:

Repco are miles worse than any dealer and supply mostly garbage. Rip every poor c**t off is no joke.

Dealerships seems hit and miss as far as parts go, some stuff is crazily prized compared to the same thing overseas, but sometimes it's actually cheaper.

there's a place for REPCO in the world.  Who's open and providing quite possibly the only thing standing between you and getting your daily off jack stands on Sunday night to drive to work in the morning?  They're certainly not my first choice, though I do appreciate that they're there when we need em.

Edit: Not to mention they're often open on public holidays.  Not to be overlooked or underestimated. 

Edited yesterday at 07:17 AM by Olaf
more openings

[Olaf 3413]

On 6/22/2025 at 9:56 PM, HowieD72 said:

Hi all.

I read this discussion & I just signed up today on this forum. I've looked around the sight but not quite switched on yet. So, I thought I'd ask here if anyone could recommend a good "Indy" in Auckland that would be happy with me taking in parts for a rod bearings replacement on a 2006 E63 M6? (I don't own a BMW yet but I'm looking at buying a 2006 E63 M6). 

There is a BMW Indy up here in Whangarei, but I'm not sure yet (I just emailed them this evening) if they would do the job with parts supplied by me. So, I'm just preparing in case they say no, or they charge me like a wounded bull because they are the only BMW specialist up here. I've heard/read it's an expensive job anyway (around $3.5 to 5k?) to get done, so I'm just keen to get the job priced at other workshops and compare.

Any advice, tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

The blunt view - and understandable - is frequently "do you take your steak to a restaurant to get them to cook it?".

It's a minefield for the business too - they get your car up on the hoist, the part you supplied is wrong.  Now what - the hoist is tied up with a job that's stopped.... and for what, labour-only charge?  It's not worth it.

Or, you pay for the job, they install your part.  Part craps out.  You obtain a replacement and pay for them to change it out.  Now you've paid labour twice - if you'd just had the workshop do the job, make their small margin on the part, it becomes their problem - you go back and say 'love the work you've done, it's crapped out - can you take care of it with your supplier please?' and leave the car with them,  For want of a small margin on parts, it's a pretty good deal.

I think there's an obligation under some consumer act or another that makes this difficult to opt out of.

Put yourself in the position of your chef; would you want to stake the reputation of your restaurant on a punter bringing in his own steak?

[HowieD72 2]

2 hours ago, Olaf said:

The blunt view - and understandable - is frequently "do you take your steak to a restaurant to get them to cook it?".

It's a minefield for the business too - they get your car up on the hoist, the part you supplied is wrong.  Now what - the hoist is tied up with a job that's stopped.... and for what, labour-only charge?  It's not worth it.

Or, you pay for the job, they install your part.  Part craps out.  You obtain a replacement and pay for them to change it out.  Now you've paid labour twice - if you'd just had the workshop do the job, make their small margin on the part, it becomes their problem - you go back and say 'love the work you've done, it's crapped out - can you take care of it with your supplier please?' and leave the car with them,  For want of a small margin on parts, it's a pretty good deal.

I think there's an obligation under some consumer act or another that makes this difficult to opt out of.

Put yourself in the position of your chef; would you want to stake the reputation of your restaurant on a punter bringing in his own steak?

(1) No, I don't. Because restaurants don't allow it. Do a lot of workshops? Yes. I was simply asking if anyone knew of a BMW Indy that DOES allow it. Nothing more, nothing less.

(2) I very rarely supply the wrong part. Why? Because it's called research, verify, enquire then purchase. Do the job right the first time, there is no second time.

(3) I've had labour only at plenty of dealerships and Indy workshops fitting parts I supplied. Just never a BMW dealership or Indy. Hence my question.

Please, don't overthink it.

[HowieD72 2]

On 6/23/2025 at 11:21 AM, M3AN said:

I'd call the site sponsors, @HELLBM, and have a chat with them. I'm not them so can't confirm their stance on you particular need but I'm sure they'll hear you out at the very least.

Edit: @HowieD72

Thanks for your comment.

Basically, I was just looking to get some non-OEM rod bearings to install and not the OEM part. I was just unsure if an Indy or BMW dealership would install them because of them being aftermarket. I don't want to install OEM again if there are better aftermarket parts to replace them.

Thanks.

[Eagle 1773]

10 hours ago, Olaf said:

there's a place for REPCO in the world.  Who's open and providing quite possibly the only thing standing between you and getting your daily off jack stands on Sunday night to drive to work in the morning?  They're certainly not my first choice, though I do appreciate that they're there when we need em.

Edit: Not to mention they're often open on public holidays.  Not to be overlooked or underestimated. 

Yeah i agree they can be some what convenient at a certain time, basically a Sunday if you messed up. My point was more directed at them being your typical multinational company with share holders - focus on growth and increasing payouts while reducing quality and costs. There was a time not too long ago that they actually had supplied decent quality stuff for a reasonable price,  not cheapest stuff they can slap their name on with a big markup. They have gotten to the point where a significant amount of branded products they on sell are vastly more expensive than average retail price(even with trade discounts), go look up Loctite 243 for an example. They are actively trying to buying smaller companies who actually have a good rep and supply better parts at cheaper prices, doesn't take a expert to figure out how that would turn out. 

If they went under tomorrow the country would keep running no problem and there would be plenty of others to take their place. f**k GPC.

Edited yesterday at 10:44 AM by Eagle

[MD13 545]

15 hours ago, Olaf said:

The blunt view - and understandable - is frequently "do you take your steak to a restaurant to get them to cook it?".

It's a minefield for the business too - they get your car up on the hoist, the part you supplied is wrong.  Now what - the hoist is tied up with a job that's stopped.... and for what, labour-only charge?  It's not worth it.

Or, you pay for the job, they install your part.  Part craps out.  You obtain a replacement and pay for them to change it out.  Now you've paid labour twice - if you'd just had the workshop do the job, make their small margin on the part, it becomes their problem - you go back and say 'love the work you've done, it's crapped out - can you take care of it with your supplier please?' and leave the car with them,  For want of a small margin on parts, it's a pretty good deal.

I think there's an obligation under some consumer act or another that makes this difficult to opt out of.

Put yourself in the position of your chef; would you want to stake the reputation of your restaurant on a punter bringing in his own steak?

Not sure I fully understand this comment. I have been to shops that have installed a new part (from whatever supplier they use). Part has crapped out shortly after. Yes they have replaced the part but they still charge you labour to do it so no difference.

[M3AN 4110]

16 hours ago, HowieD72 said:

Thanks for your comment.

Basically, I was just looking to get some non-OEM rod bearings to install and not the OEM part. I was just unsure if an Indy or BMW dealership would install them because of them being aftermarket. I don't want to install OEM again if there are better aftermarket parts to replace them.

Thanks.

If you haven't yet purchased the bearings then you're in an even stronger position, talk to an indy and ask them if they might procure the aftermarket parts you want on your behalf, they probably already have relationships with many parts places (locally and internationally).

[HowieD72 2]

14 minutes ago, M3AN said:

If you haven't yet purchased the bearings then you're in an even stronger position, talk to an indy and ask them if they might procure the aftermarket parts you want on your behalf, they probably already have relationships with many parts places (locally and internationally).

Great advice! Thank you.

[Spinner99 64]

Just to add some extra thoughts for buying parts locally from the dealer vs overseas, with the assumption you're a personal (not trade) customer,  when you buy from your local dealer the price includes GST, any import duties they have to pay etc, which the overseas store doesn't charge.  Your local dealer also has to warranty the parts.

When buying parts from overseas I feel like I'm accepting the warranty risk as it's highly unlikely I'm going to be able to return it at a reasonable cost.  I once took the same weight and dimensions of a care package I received from an overseas parts store that shipped with FedEx for <$100 in freight costs , and the same package doing the reverse journey to the original sender was quoted by the FedEx NZ website at $1200 NZD. I know there is NZ Post but they also aren't necessarily economically sensible compared to the cost of the part being returned.

I've tried aftermarket parts before, for example I purchased a "Rein" brand coolant hose because it was cheaper than a genuine one, but it didn't last long.  I ended up going down to the local dealer and buying a genuine one and muttered to myself it would have been cheaper in the long run to just buy the genuine one to start with.

I echo what @Eagle said, if there was a web site where I could see prices and stock, assuming the price was reasonable I would order from the local dealer more.  They are always nice to me when I ring so this is about me not them, but I feel like ringing and taking someone's time up to find that information out when I'm not necessarily going to purchase from them is an inconvenience to them and I don't want to be an inconvenience so I avoid doing so and stick to web browsing.

 

[HowieD72 2]

2 hours ago, Spinner99 said:

I echo what @Eagle said, if there was a web site where I could see prices and stock, assuming the price was reasonable I would order from the local dealer more.  They are always nice to me when I ring so this is about me not them, but I feel like ringing and taking someone's time up to find that information out when I'm not necessarily going to purchase from them is an inconvenience to them and I don't want to be an inconvenience so I avoid doing so and stick to web browsing.

 

Agree with you 100%. 

[Olaf 3413]

11 hours ago, MD13 said:

Not sure I fully understand this comment. I have been to shops that have installed a new part (from whatever supplier they use). Part has crapped out shortly after. Yes they have replaced the part but they still charge you labour to do it so no difference.

I'd respectfully suggest there is a difference, and you may be doing business with the wrong shop.  Warranty on the repair?  

I had a window regulator replaced.  "Hey my window's stopped working.  I'll bring it in tomorrow." 
"your regulator's shot.  We'll replace it."
"thanks!"  pays bill.

Six months later, "hey, window's gone down.  Won't go up.  Yes the one you replaced six months ago.  It's raining, can I bring it straight in?"

"sure thing we'll replace it.  sorry bout that".

[Olaf 3413]

On 6/24/2025 at 9:59 PM, HowieD72 said:

(1) No, I don't. Because restaurants don't allow it. Do a lot of workshops? Yes. I was simply asking if anyone knew of a BMW Indy that DOES allow it. Nothing more, nothing less.

(2) I very rarely supply the wrong part. Why? Because it's called research, verify, enquire then purchase. Do the job right the first time, there is no second time.

(3) I've had labour only at plenty of dealerships and Indy workshops fitting parts I supplied. Just never a BMW dealership or Indy. Hence my question.

Please, don't overthink it.

you've answered your own question - why bother asking?  I think you're better playing alone.  

[Neil McCauley 447]

Meeee-reow 🤣 

[Jono51 60]

OP

Here lies within one   reason why workshops reject owner supplied parts

1)

insurance,

If the workshop should make a claim for total loss on your car for failure due to a service provided .. it will be inevitably rejected on the premise of owner supplied parts