best places for parts

[Mike597]

As noted elsewhere I've just invested in an A3 2.0 TFSI. Its an 09 plate and covered 58k and there's inevitable a few small niggles. I've just ordered a replacement sun visor clip as the passenger side was broken @ 12 quid from stoke audi, which seemed reasonable until they loaded it a four and half quid delivery charge! For a piece weighing about 1 gram. Not so good.
I'm also bothered by the drivers side aluminium door trim which is all scratched up. I can see you can just pop it off so I figured the simplest option is a replacement. I've heard (ok, I've not called yet to check so I could be wrong) that these are in the order of £70-80 from Audi themselves which if true is astonishingly expensive for a trim piece - that's up in Porsche territory.

Are there any other place to get order parts from or is Audi my best bet? I guess i'm looking at specialist Audi breakers or fleabay outlets. I've searched the latter and not come across anything, as yet but I realise it may be a case of watch and wait. Just wondering what the well-known options are. On my other cars there's a couple of well know sources for good parts other than manufacturers, wondering if Audi has the same secondary markets.

cheers,

Mike

 

[Jonathaan]

For your trims eBay/Gumtree sell as a full set. People are usually not willing to split as it will make it difficult to sell the rest.

You could have it painted, vinyl wrapped - but you would probably need them all doing so it doesn't look odd/daft.

An alternative to the dealer would be the likes of TPS, these can supply OEM replacements and are usually cheaper than Audi.

 

[Mike597]

thanks I'll look into TPS. I did consider a wrap with carbon and realise I'd have to do the full set. I may still do that as I actually don't like the aluminium trim at all, I think it looks nasty and scuffs up way too easily. Yes I did notice that on ebay it tends to be full sets or entire door cards.

 

[_Zerocool_]

+1 for tps. I get all my parts from them and get my trusted mechanic to fit. Bought a cam belt kit, drivers door electric window switch, rear washer jet, rear pads and alternator belt from them yesterday for £215 yesterday. I reckon thats at least £100 less than audi. I also recently got a set of genuine black edition rotors from and audi distributor in germany via ebay for £1200 which is at least a grand cheaper than audi here!! Worth a look on there too

 

[mjr901]

<------- Forum veteran here and also a Main Dealer Parts Manager.

Suprised my message box is relatively empty to be honest.

A lot of people are knocking on the wrong doors!

 

[_Zerocool_]

Am I knocking on the wrong doors then mj. I'm always looking for the best sources for parts to save a bit of coin.

 

[curlo]

You can't go wrong with @mjr901 - super chap to deal with!

 

[mjr901]

Send me the TPS invoice, and I'll see what you could have saved.

Would be interesting to see!

 

[voorhees]

<------- Forum veteran here and also a Main Dealer Parts Manager.

I didn't know that and I live on ASN !

 

[mjr901]

I didn't know that and I live on ASN !

Been through 3 8P's over 6 years on Audisport.

Started as an avid reader with no membership, all take no give, I know...

Then one thing lead to another...and it's time to give something back.

It took up most of my life for about a year of constant reading!

Had to calm down with it, so now I come and go offering advice and low cost genuine parts to anyone up the creek with no paddle.

No one likes to be ripped off - I am the answer....

Your man on the inside if you like.

 

[mjr901]

No problem - I don't take the work computer home with me - so will have a butchers at that either tomorrow afternoon if I'm sad enough to go into work on my day off or Monday.

 

[_Zerocool_]

Ok cool thanks. it would be interesting to see. Do you do all vag parts or just audi. The mrs has just bought a 60 plate golf gti... oh and do you do parts like genuine alloys etc. Where are you based? Thanks again.

 

[voorhees]

Fairplay @mjr901

No prices please though peeps PM only

 

[_Zerocool_]

Sorry v I didn't know

 

[mjr901]

I actually work for a SEAT dealership in the West Midlands.

However, all our franchise systems are all interlinked and Audi is one of them, as is VW and Skoda + a million more non VAG.

Either way, you most often find the part is used across the VAG range anyway due to using the same chassis and engines!

Usually just the cosmetics that are different part numbers - nevertheless, all order-able just fine, no matter your make of car.

 

[mjr901]

Fairplay @mjr901

No prices please though peeps PM only

Ofcourse - the best things happen behind closed doors.

 

[voorhees]

Sorry v I didn't know

Wooah no need just saying in case someone says advertising

 

[curlo]

Ofcourse - the best things happen behind closed doors.

Unless one is an exhibitionist, of course...

 

[DomH]

Unless one is an exhibitionist, of course...

Or into dogging...

 

[simonrad]

Just to add another thumbs up for Mike (mjr901), I needed to order a small shopping list of parts and found this post whilst browsing. After several discussions with Mike by phone and email I have now received the parts ordered for our 2 cars (A2 & A3). I found the service and help offered to be the best I have experienced. Where needed, the part numbers I had were cross referenced with an Audi dealership within the network Mike's company is part of (for peace of mind that the parts would be correct). Mike is a really helpful guy who also did his best to beat any prices I had, I will be ordering again when needed and would be happy to recommend to anyone looking for parts.

 

[mjr901]

Just to add another thumbs up for Mike (mjr901), I needed to order a small shopping list of parts and found this post whilst browsing. After several discussions with Mike by phone and email I have now received the parts ordered for our 2 cars (A2 & A3). I found the service and help offered to be the best I have experienced. Where needed, the part numbers I had were cross referenced with an Audi dealership within the network Mike's company is part of (for peace of mind that the parts would be correct). Mike is a really helpful guy who also did his best to beat any prices I had, I will be ordering again when needed and would be happy to recommend to anyone looking for parts.

Everyone likes a trusted Main Dealer.

Thanks again

 

[Deze2014]

Interesting