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[BazaJT]

Was talking today about parts and prices.For instance Omega timing belts,if a v6 belt kit will fit any V6 why do eurocarparts list three contitech kits under three different part numbers with three different prices?Or oil coolers why does the local stealer insist that [for mine] it would have to be for a 3L with aircon and auto box [at £258 a go]?Surely a V6 oil cooler is a V6 oil cooler etc.?I'm sure from talking that similar anomalies apply to other makes/models.

[Nick W]

They do it because they can. It's nothing new, and more expensive models often have higher prices for the same part: several years ago I bought an oil filter for the 2.8i Capri engine we were fitting into my Superminx.  When I was given the price, I told him to put it back and give me one for a 2.0l Capri. I knew they were the same, and less than half the price as I'd bought one there less than a fortnight earlier. You get similar differences with RS Turbo brake discs; you want to pay for Sierra ones which are identical.

[YZ250]

Many years ago a set of points for my old Yamaha would cost around £7. They would come in a sealed pack with Yamaha on it.
The same set of points with Lucas on the box would cost around 50 pence. 

[biggriffin]

This seems to be turning into, "bits fora vehicle I owned in my you'ff"

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I know Lotus were 'doubling up' on part numbers a few years ago. ie: Lotus buy the vast majority of parts from other companies, as we know, especially so when under GM. Buy the Lotus Esprit door handle, for instance, which in reality is one off a Cavalier, and Hethel were charging christknows how much more.

Then we go into the depths of things that are different, but still fit, and you can save a chunk.. like, for instance, Vectra V6 HT leads - these do fit Omega V6s, theres a few mm difference here and there, but still plenty of room.

[Entwood]

Goes back a long, long way in reality ... when I was rebuilding the MGB in 1970 I needed two new headlights due to the silver being corroded, MGB boxed were £46 each ( a lot of money in 1970! ), Austin 1100 boxed were £9.00 ... the only difference being the fixing bracket, 1100 was a sprung fitting, MGB a screw.... so simply buy the 1100 lights and swap the fixing brackets over .. a 2 minute job !!

Probably goes back even further but that's the earliest I can quote !!

[Marks DTM Calib]

The old man used to say the same about Triumph parts

You could get a gearbox for silly money from Triumph or speak to the right person (who is now a multimillionaire by the way) and one turned up in the boot of a car next day straight from the factory......

[Andy B]

.... or speak to the right person (who is now a multimillionaire by the way) and one turned up in the boot of a car next day straight from the factory back street......

My Dad did that once when he wanted a prop shaft for a Transit. Unbeknown to him at the time, it was sourced from some poor bugger that probably couldn't work out why his Transit wouldn't drive away next morning! 

[Nick W]

The old man used to say the same about Triumph parts

You could get a gearbox for silly money from Triumph or speak to the right person (who is now a multimillionaire by the way) and one turned up in the boot of a car next day straight from the factory......

Ah yes, the midnight requisition. The trick is knowing who to ask.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Wasn't there a spate of cars getting stripped of parts in the night recently?    Around Noofland as I recall. 

There was an article on the BBC where a girl came out in the morning to find her newish Corsa stripped of it's bumpers and other trim.  I think they caught a couple of Polish guys who were seen on CCTV in the act! 

[Marks DTM Calib]

.... or speak to the right person (who is now a multimillionaire by the way) and one turned up in the boot of a car next day straight from the factory back street......

My Dad did that once when he wanted a prop shaft for a Transit. Unbeknown to him at the time, it was sourced from some poor bugger that probably couldn't work out why his Transit wouldn't drive away next morning! 

Thank the unions in this case, they got a 'no search' policy put in place, stuff then went flying out the door.

Said person also used to supply tools and when he left Triumph continued selling tools from the back of his car. He lived in Cromwell Crescent and setup a company of a similar name......recently sold to the yanks for a 9 figure sum!

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Wasn't there a spate of cars getting stripped of parts in the night recently?    Around Noofland as I recall. 

There was an article on the BBC where a girl came out in the morning to find her newish Corsa stripped of it's bumpers and other trim.  I think they caught a couple of Polish guys who were seen on CCTV in the act! 

Yup, the local Corsa owners are all bricking it. Apparently you can remove the whole front end in a matter of minutes.
 The bits I assume end up on EBay or Gumtree... takes all sorts but it seems the sporty fronts are desirable...

[STEMO]

Wasn't there a spate of cars getting stripped of parts in the night recently?    Around Noofland as I recall. 

There was an article on the BBC where a girl came out in the morning to find her newish Corsa stripped of it's bumpers and other trim.  I think they caught a couple of Polish guys who were seen on CCTV in the act! 

I wonder why 

I saw one buried in a hedge just last week.
Yup, the local Corsa owners are all bricking it. Apparently you can remove the whole front end in a matter of minutes.
 The bits I assume end up on EBay or Gumtree... takes all sorts but it seems the sporty fronts are desirable...

[EMD]

Wasn't there a spate of cars getting stripped of parts in the night recently?    Around Noofland as I recall. 

There was an article on the BBC where a girl came out in the morning to find her newish Corsa stripped of it's bumpers and other trim.  I think they caught a couple of Polish guys who were seen on CCTV in the act! 

Gets me why they didnt take the whole car 

[05omegav6]

Wasn't there a spate of cars getting stripped of parts in the night recently?    Around Noofland as I recall. 

There was an article on the BBC where a girl came out in the morning to find her newish Corsa stripped of it's bumpers and other trim.  I think they caught a couple of Polish guys who were seen on CCTV in the act! 

Gets me why they didnt take the whole car 

Practicalities... doesn't take long to winch it onto a flatbed, but it's noisy, and people might readily look out, then you've also the issue of the car being very visible once loaded.