G'day All,
3 months ago I bought a 1997 XK8 Classic Coupe with low KM's. What has astounded me since then is sourcing the simplest (well I thought it would be simple) spare parts.

As part of the spruce up I have decided to have my mechanic overhaul the cooling system. So I wanted new hoses, expansion tank cap and drain plug for the radiator. No problem. Except trying to get a supplier for a hose kit etc.

Trivett's rang my mechanic back after about 3 days and then have not followed up since he indicated he'd order the parts. So I took the bull by the horns and ordered a hose kit from British Parts UK. Incidentally I ordered 2 new tail lights off them a month ago and they arrived via DHL 2 days later.
Well, within 3 days I had the hose kit, expansion tank cap and drain plug, landed here for $388.00.

Trivett's still haven't rung my mechanic back.

Is this typical of Jaguar Dealerships? And does this mean I'll be sourcing all my regular spares from the UK or USA?

Pretty pathetic I thought.

Anyone else had these sort of issues?

Cheers
Greg

 

Forget Trivett or Alto unless you have an account and want to pay massive markups.

If you do order from them make sure you specify the latest year model that the parts can be fitted on. Price for the same part are marked up for each extra year.

Ie the same part for an 05 is less for an 06 ect

For consumables I order OS but there are plenty of jag parts here is you need something in a hurry.

Try these
Jaguar Spare Parts Supplier - Jagdaim - Australia's Largest Independant
Cathouse Jaguar Spares | Cathouse Jaguar Spares
Jagspares and British Four Wheel Drive - Jaguar, Land Rover and 4x4 Parts and Accessories Specialist
AJG Spares | New and Used Car Parts for Jeep, Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover models

Best Prices are from OS though
Most of the above source parts OS

Cheers
34by151

 

Thanks for the advice on those local suppliers.

I am only too willing to give the local blokes a go.

Greg

 

It's a sad case of affasirs but yes, that's the way it goes here in Oz...frankly I think it's disgusting and they are not doing themselves or jaguar any favours locally.
I have dealt with Jagdaim and I also deal with Roadbend Jaguar in Perth who are most helpful and usualy come up with the goods on ost things.
I myust sya over the past six years, I get most of my parts OS from British Parts UK or Welsh Enterprises and XKS unlimited US
Quite a number of parts are available over the counter at Repco or Bursons Automotive.

 

I was also like you try local companies first but when prices are 5 times what you pay overseas and they don't have them in stock anyway also it,s a couple weeks wait sometimes more I gave up I use these guys in the UK Jaguar XK8 - XKR | Jaguar | British Parts UK
I recently needed a Fuel pressure regulator for my car no shops could tell me what I needed as the Lucas parts numbers where jaguar specific the local parts guys wanted 250$ for one I got it for 100$ au shipped and was here in 3 days if you are super rich and don't care about costs keep searching they do sell parts over here sporadically
the dealer has to order most things in as they didn't keep a lot of stock inventory anyway and these cars are getting old now

 

foeget about the local dealers, sydney melbourne or where ever they are,. All thay do is order from the UK and double the price exaclty. Then you pay for the local shipping too!
These local merchants dont want to invest any money in inventory so they order each peice from the UK. Thanks to the internet , those channels are open to us now directly. Int he past these local merchants would have had alittle black book of phone numbers to the UK suppliers that we didnt have access to, now that business model is gone.
I wanted a pair of fuel tanks, UK price. $400, local $820... rear view mirroor.. local $600 installed.. uk price $300.
When you buy things from overseas, order everything you need and keep the total under $1000 so you dont pay GST on the import. That way you minimise shipping cost which is the only real extra cost.. but you would pay it anyway throught the local fellas .
best regards
Peter

 

I am currently working on my XK8 and am sourcing nearly all my parts from overseas. repco quoted me $220 for a $35 serpentine belt this week. Crazy prices. I recently bought chain tensioners, water pump, thermostat housing, body badges etc from British parts uk, delivery in 3 days and parts a fraction of Aussie suppliers. The world has gone mad when you can get bits from 12000 miles away cheaper and faster than here in Oz.

 

So far I have sourced the majority of my parts from British Parts UK and am can't believe that they can air freight them here within 3 days for 50% of the cost.

I will continue to source them from British Parts. I ordered tonight a brand new High Mount Stop Light ( the one in the rear window) as the mountings are broken on the original one. Couldn't even source one here, but British Parts, no problem at all.

 

I think the logic is that buying jaguar parts from the UK makes sense that's where they come from and have the greatest following bar America
Here in Australia we just don't matter and the small guys that specialise in them are going to do it tough with the ability to go on-line and shop making it so easy
Hardly any Australian companys selling jaguar parts or service actually have online presences a shame as by the time they do they probbaly will be broke only making it harder to get parts locally
I also buy parts from British parts and have given up even trying to buy stuff here not from want of trying just to hard
The internet has globalised us whether we like it or not

 

If you are looking for parts for your XK8, I suggest you forget trying to source in Australia and try Jagbits in US. Lots of parts available as reasonable prices with quick responses and fast airmail delivery.

 

You have it right Greg. Been through it all. Cheaper faster and right parts are online. Jagbits and British parts are where I buy too.
Try to think ahead when ordering is my plan..IE buy genuine service kit (filters etc) with the parts that you need more urgently so postage works out better. There can be a huge variance in freight costs from the same country for the same parts too. Point of interest-my service history shows 8 new spark plugs @ $800 plus fitting. Are they serious. A set online is less than $100 inc delivery. Also I have been charged more for local postage (rural Vic) than OS. My Jag has worked out costing less for general service parts than a Ford falcon. I could go on for ever!!!

 

Ive used Dave Roche in the past and recommend him.
I have a set of hoses on the way from Dave at the moment

Cheers
34by151

 

Last Monday I contacted a Sydney spare parts place, and on Tuesday they emailed me saying they would get back to me with prices shortly. I couldn't wait so orderd rear new springs, a set of suspension bushes and other bits from British Parts UK which all arrived on Friday morning. Shortly after I got a price quote from Sydney, and everything was more expensive. So you can get bits shipped out from England quicker than you can get a quote from Sydney. The VAT saved on UK prices almost paid for the DHL freight.

Rear suspension rebuilt now, one more job crossed off the list.

 

And it's not just Jags...water pump for Clark Forklift in Oz $800 plus GST plus freight. Delivered from USA with thermostat thrown in $AU128.00. Do they think we are that stupid?

 

For some of the less specialised parts, rockauto.com ships internationally ... usually Fedex.

serpentine belt: $16.00
denso tt plugs: $2.70
waterpump: $45.00
cam cover gasket set: $50'ish
thermostat: $10'ish
pressure cap: $5'ish

above in USD of course

watch out for the fact that they ship from multiple locations and each location incurrs a separate shipping charge. By playing around with the particular brands, you can minimise the shipping.

 

90% of parts overseas are cheaper the alternator in my wife's Jeep went it was $1800au from Jeep not including fitting

I rang round got a non genuine one offered to me for $900au

I got a genuine Valeo from Rockauto brand new in the box $409au including shipping to my door

It hurts not supporting local businesses but when the part comes quicker that than the reply to the quote you cant say no

Also lots of the parts guys over here don't really know what you need the old boys that do are just not there any more unless the parts guy did his apprenticeship with the model you are asking about he just doesn't know

As for parts quality stories I bought a complete hose kit from the US for my XJR only hose I didn't get was the octopus hose as its different on the RHD cars
I ordered a non genuine Octopus hose from the UK still cheaper than here in Aus

A month after fitting hoses,pulleys and belts my brother noticed that coolant was coming from the front of the car quick inspection looked like the water pump I thought damn just replaced all the hoses,pulleys and belts

It turned out to be the octopus hose the coolant was coming from the octopus hose
The hose was de-laminating as these hoses are made of an inner and outer layer with fabric between them for strength
I got the usual talking to from my mechanic about overseas generic parts called the supplier in the UK they where prepared to send me another hose all I had to pay for was shipping but the talking to from my mechanic made me think Ill just go genuine bite the bullet $857au later new genuine hose and new coolant again the storey should have ended there

A month later after a high speed run down from Brisbane my wife noticed coolant coming from the front of my car again I called my mechanic he is 105 k,s from where I live as he is the XJR6 specialist and the only guy with factory diagnostic equipment there are local guys but the reason I still see him is another post

Well guess what it was the hose again same problem coming from the hose de-laminating he replaced the hose at his cost but that still cost me $857au for the hose plus $240 for towing both times
It would have been cheaper to buy 3 generic hoses from the UK and pay my mechanic 3 times for the install of the hoses than to buy the one hose here in Aus and get warranty on that hose

It also taught me that some of the genuine parts come from the same manufacturers of the generic parts

I have used Jag-bits in the US plus a lot of other places but I keep coming back to British parts they are not necessarily the cheapest but the delivery times are fantastic order Friday here by Tuesday you cant argue with that

 

One of the reasons parts are so dear in Australia is the markup included in retail price. Dealers usually buy parts in bulk to minimise cost to them. When they order their fast moving stock (filters, gaskets, brake parts, lights, lenses) they also have to order some slow moving stock which may sit around for a while. They need to cover this cost in their sales.

 

Sorry Pamco. Don't agree. I have 6 vehicles on the road and all parts are cheaper OS if they are compatible parts. Wish I could buy engine oil OS!
Would you think the compounding GST and our over paid work force and huge operating business costs and the taxes here in Oz contribute?
How many of Jag consumables are made by Jaguar themselves? Parts come with Jag Logo and "made to jaguar specifications" Then if you buy from a dealer and want them to fit those parts the Labour costs is $150 + per hour,usually done by the Apprentice.
But I do agree with you about the incredible mark up margins.(I do this myself, 300% of cost and some times up to 1000%) On a global scale we are a small market.

 

Being around for 76 yrs nothing surprises me any more with aussie business...tried wreckers,jag dealers,you name it all i wanted was a defroster air vent for 1999 s-type as mine just disintergrated with slightst pressure....all venues gave same reply."Get back to you mate."Weeks later still waiting.Soooo! Off now to British Parts UK.And they all wonder why we shop overseas!Love the online stuff!

 

Hi Doug,
Many thanks for your quick response. I registered this morning. Back to the distributor cap, allen head screws? Possible but that small? I have a complete set of allen keys so, I will give this a try for sure. Will let you know of the outcome. Once again, thank you for your help.