How not to buy spare parts?
Many readers have learned the hard way that experience matters a lot when keeping a vehicle on the road. Some owners take the car to a service, have the mechanic disassemble it, and then tell the customer exactly which spare part to purchase. The owner goes to a shop, buys that part, and brings it back to the service. There, it may become clear that the chosen part does not fit this particular modification. The return process can be a headache, especially if the part has been used or altered, and the car sits idle at the workshop while the mistake is corrected. In short, buyers place their trust in the mechanics and parts sellers, and if either party slips, the bill lands on the owner.
To avoid overspending, it helps for a car owner to investigate the problem and locate reliable, affordable parts that are guaranteed to fit. Most likely, the needed spare part will require a few days to source, so starting the search well before a planned repair is wise rather than scrambling on the day of service.
How do you search for spare parts to repair your car?
The search can be divided into four main phases:
- Identify the original spare part and verify its suitability for the specific vehicle using the VIN code;
- Find an article for an analogue spare part and again check VIN compatibility;
- Choose a supplier offering the best overall value, considering price and reliability;
- Reserve the required spare part on the supplier’s site and arrange a personal pick-up.
And now all is clear.
How do you find the part number?
A dealer catalog or an unofficial catalog is typically needed. Such catalogs can be found online on various sites, with some popular options including Exist, Autodoc, or Elcats.
Readers can search for their model to locate the correct spare part and should always verify the VIN number for exact compatibility when comparing options.
Unlike dealer catalogs, unofficial catalogs are often free to use. However, these sources may not decipher non-European VIN codes or VINs of domestic vehicles, which can limit their usefulness in certain markets.
1. The original part number is shown above. 2. The manufacturer’s original replacement is shown below. Both parts may work, but for those aiming for the authentic design, a replacement part is typically preferable for its improved engineering. 3. Analogue substitutes from other manufacturers.
There is no need to buy only original spare parts. In many cases, non-original markings appear in original packaging. Car manufacturers often do not produce parts for steering and hydraulic systems or various engine attachments themselves. Transmissions for brands like Bentley, Volkswagen, Peugeot, and Citroen are commonly produced by partners such as Aisin.
To search for an analogue, it helps to identify the manufacturer of the original spare part—sometimes by inspecting the part’s markings or by consulting forums—and then search for the cross reference, the common term for a compatible alternative.
If a good deal is found, the search can be considered complete. Yet there is often room to save at least twenty percent by exploring alternatives more broadly.