Recently acquired ‘97 xk8 convertible(gorgeous Cabernet red), and have read that some of you supply your own parts when you take a vehicle in for repairs, etc. Just wondering if that’s common, and do the shops ever balk or refuse? I know that they markup quite a bit, and I’m pretty used to going online and checking various sources for almost everything I need.
Of course, I also know that the forum is my best source of info on most everything...Jaguar related, that is.
Thanks!!!

 

Depends on the shop how accommodating they will be. My experience is most specialists don’t mind you bringing your own parts, especially if they frequently service older things where parts are not easily available.

No warranty on parts you bring yourself of course.

 

Stewart's Automotive will not. Mark ups are huge. Not sure about Brit Car Services. They are always 2 months out. General shops (transmission for instance) don't seem to care. One guy was happy he didn't have to figure out correct fluid or get filter. Good luck!

 

Check with you mechanic. I have one I have used for 4 different cars over 7 years. If he can acquire the parts locally, he usually will, at a fair price. If not he asks me. Had to replace Hyd. lines for top recently. He asked the I get them if possible, because he would have to send out for special order. I di, and he installed them for labor only.
Of course I always take him and his crew cookies at Christmas, as well as a few bottle of 'Pop' to was them down with, after work.....

 

Depends upon your relationship with the person. I usually ask if he would be offended and make clear that i understand that it is fair for charges to reflect any lost retail markup if that is his model. Surprisingly, mine and many others only charge for labor and pass the wholesale cost on to the customer. When professionals figure out that one does not nickle and dime them, they are more than happy to accommodate. I know that this is in violation of the golden internet rule that everything must be done as cheaply as possible and that social points are earned for making people work for close to nothing and that it is a badge of honor to tell someone how he paid .2 cents too much for something and should have spent ten times the energy to have the savings. Back to the point.

It has been my experience that my indie sometimes has his own connections to get a better item or deal and does not like to inconvenience the customer by making him hunt. It is good to manage expectations. Is the default that he wants things done perfectly for the customer to not ever have a problem again? This is good motivation. Perhaps he is personally concerned over people having problems and frustrations in the future. This is where used parts can go either way. Recent job, my indie could not get two parts that i was willing to pay for new. Sourced them salvage on my own after asking if he was ok wit hit . We were both thrilled. I know what frustrates him and makes him busy when he needs to be working on cars. Good professionals are like this. They are very busy because they are good, and not all can afford the overhead of having personnel to do their front end and parts hunting.

The best way to start off is to have a conversation with the person as to what he thinks is a good idea, and how he likes to work. One might be surprised. Whenever i get some bright idea for something that i cannot do or do not want to do, i run it by him first.

 

If you know the mechanic well, he’ll be fine with you bringing parts, as it’s your fault if the parts don’t perform. Plus there won’t be any warranty on the work. So long as you understand that, the mechanic should be fine.

Be prepared for the weird scenario where your new parts aren’t same as original. It’s common for many manufacturers to replace bad parts with DIFFERENT new parts. Then your mechanic will say WTF!

 

It's a crap shoot. The local independent shop I took my XK8 to has a VERY LARGE sign over the counter that reads: "We refuse to install any parts supplied by the customer." After I discovered his mark up on parts prices I understood why (3x). But the local Jag dealer had no problem with using parts I supplied. Go figure. The Jag dealer won't stand behind the aftermarket parts but does stand behind his work regardless. I actually expected the Jag dealer to adamantly REFUSE to use non-OEM parts or parts from his known suppliers.

 

Your Jag dealer is ok w/ customer supplied parts? That's surprising. I'm going to ask my local dealer the same question. Considering what the local indie is charging, I'm also going to get quotes on repairs.

 

Hello.... again. I’ve discovered so many different opinions on oem versus aftermarket parts , about sensors reacting to aftermarket(?).
. Is it worth the high price, even wholesale, for oem parts like various filters(air, fuel, oil) ? I am seeing quite a discrepancy in pricing. Personally I tend to go mid-range on prices, and wouldn’t be looking at parts that are trickier. And just would take advantage of buying several of each, if the price and quality were good.
Again...fact finding , researching.
Thanks!
Cindy

 

markup is the name of the game, they need to make money.

if you get billed for genuine parts verify they’re using them

 

The shop rate on any "Jag only" shop in the area is pretty hefty. The local picks the most expensive possible parts then marks them up 100% to make more money.