Shortage of Disco Parts

[HowardSmall]

A friend recently had the top radiator hose on his D3 go and was told that Land Rover did not have one in Australia. He was so put off that he sold the Disco and bought a Prado. Has anyone else experienced this or a similar problem?

[grey_ghost]

That’s a bit of an extreme reaction. While I have not needed a D3 radiator hose - it is very easy to buy parts for Land Rovers. I have ordered parts directly from the UK and had them on my doorstep less than 1 week later...

[Russrobe]

He probably should have researched Toyota's parts availability first. If it's not in Aus, and a lot of their parts are not as they don't stock them, you have to wait up to 2 weeks.

I've never waited longer than 3 business days to get parts from the UK delivered to my door. And I've ordered a lot of parts over the past 2-3 years while I was getting my high km D4 ready for touring.

Ordered $1000 worth on Friday morning and have a scheduled delivery for Monday...

[Russrobe]

Who wants to pay double the price to buy from Aus anyway.

[HowardSmall]

I think this was the last straw. He does not fix these things himself and expects to be able to go to a Land Rover dealer and have it done. Being told such a crucial part, which can be expected to fail at some stage, was not available got to him. Thing is, I do not doubt him but wonder if this is really the case or if he got a bum deal from his dealer...

I must say I would be a bit peeved, too. All very fine to say these things can be obtained from the UK, but should you have to sit with your car some distance out of town for days or weeks waiting for a simple part for a fairly recent model car? I suspect that will not be the case with his Prado...

[grey_ghost]

I understand his concern about a radiator hose (a common part), but I still think it was an extreme reaction. I had an similar issue with a VW golf a few years ago (car was losing coolant - the engine cover cut through a hose, sound familiar..?)
Anyway - part not available from a dealer. I then rang an independent parts supplier and had the OEM part THAT DAY.
Dealers aren’t always perfect...
Wish he had of sold me his D3! [emoji26]

[Hugh Jars]

Going off and buying a Prado?

That’s a classic example of impulse buying.

[ATH]

Actually Huge Jars... It was a toss up between the D4 and a Prado for us but during a brain storm I went and got the Disco ...... but must say we're very happy with it. So far. :)
We had a good run with a 120 series Prado and I really did consider another.
AlanH.

[Zeros]

Should have been carrying a spare radiator hose himself. ...Sounds like he was looking for an excuse to swap the disco for a prado.

[DiscoClax]

What Zeros said.

[HowardSmall]

I can't believe how many replies totally miss the point. There are probably many things you can say about what he could/should have done, why he should have kept his disco, why he should not rely on the manufacturer of the vehicle to support it but the original question was intended to determine if supply of parts has been an issue with other owners and if his situation was normal or maybe the result of a slack dealer.

[HowardSmall]

And what other spares when driving a reasonable distance from home? Should it be normal to carry a whole host of spares sufficient to support a trip across the top end every time you drive out of your garage?


Should have been carrying a spare radiator hose himself. ...Sounds like he was looking for an excuse to swap the disco for a prado.

[orville]

I bought two last week after reading the post about them being cut by the cover. I had to order them and wait until next day.

[goofyr]

I had a radiator hose replaced by my indie they said they had it in stock, during replacement they found that the connection to the radiator was rusted. A day later I had a new hose and radiator. Later on I had a standard service and pretrip inspection, found rear propshaft needed replacing. Ordered and installed same day.

[HowardSmall]

Thanks to those who have shared their experience. It is looking more likely that it was a local issue...

[Odysseyman]

I recently posted a thread about my top radiator hose being sliced by the top engine cover. When my indie enquired about a replacement hose they were told there was not one in Australia nor in the UK. I then contacted a dealer about claiming it on warranty, to which they agreed, and they were able to book me in within two days and completed the repair with a new hose!
there was no suggestion from them that the hose was unavailable.

I reckon your friend made his “interesting” decision based on any number of other issues as well and this was merely the straw that broke the camel’s back. (My personal opinion is that he took a giant step backwards...)

Cheers
David

[LGM]

In have been an LR owner since 1995 and have owned 4 Disco's two of which are still in the family (D3 & D4) and have had them all serviced at either the LR Dealer / Independent Service Agent / Land Rover Service agent. I have never experienced a parts shortage. That is not to say the every part needed was on the shelf. But the parts were in the country and available within a couple of days maximum. Not bad given that I don't live in a city i.e. I live rural.

When I read the original post I checked with my LR service agent and they had the in question hose in stock?

If someone has experienced the situation as outlined then I reckon there is a fair bit of licence being used by the person explaining the lack of parts.
Understand this though, when I used the word 'licence' it is not the word that I would have preferred to use!
[bigwhistle]

[4bee]

Well. licence gets through the online Censor, Bull**** doesn't.[smilebigeye]

[Bigbjorn]

Try buying parts for certain makes that are more than 5-7 years old. "Obsolete, no longer available" is a common response. Many manufacturers run a ruthless obsolescence programme no longer supporting "old" models. Their business is making and selling new vehicles.

I once worked for a mining and construction equipment company that was taken over by a major diversified corporation. The new owners put the operation under the magnifying glass and made changes.

Spare parts to be stocked only for the current models on sale and the previous model. Two models old and parts no longer to be ordered when stock ran out. Older models than this not to be supported and declared "obsolete". Only newer used equipment in good condition to be kept in the used yard. Old clunkers to be cut up and sent to scrap dealers. Old machines were not to be wrecked for parts as this only kept another old clunker going. We were reminded that the company's goal was sales of new machines. Spare parts were told to write off and dump all the old parts. They had been supporting machines up to thirty and more years old which were common in the pastoral industry. Customers were not happy but got over it or went after-market for parts.

[4bee]

Ain't that the truth Bigbjorn. [bighmmm]

I took my '95 facelift Discovery into a well known East of the city service joint. Can't recall the problem I had at the time, alternator I think it was, & was told by the principal that "they didn't work on cars this old."

Maybe they didn't have the expertise.

I found that remark a bit stupid as there was a Series "something" in there for repairs.[biggrin]

These stupid people should count them selves lucky that all models of LR go in for repairs somewhere & the high & mighty attitude did them no favours at all.. A job is a job, right & the arse will fall out of this side of things one day.

We are not all Brain Surgeons & Lawyers etc, etc. but the attitude was such that I believed that was what they were all concerned about.

ie. Drop your LR in for the day & give then an open cheque to fit what ever they could get away with + labour at 10 million $ per hour & no questions asked at time of pickup. Spares prices were a bit out of this world as well.

Not the most in-expensive place to go & their attitude was really ****.

As it happened, the car needed to go back in there as the alternator crapped itself & had to be replaced under warranty.



Here endeth the first lesson.

[rick130]

The funny thing is I can name at least three independent importers of genuine Land Rover parts that would have that hose in stock.
You would have it overnight in a major centre.

These importers supply the independents and often dealers.
If they are a conscientious dealer.

[Russrobe]

I have a 2005 Mitsubishi that no longer has parts produced or available at the dealer. My oil feed lines were improvised substitutes of suitable material found at a hydraulic shop! Must be expected to scrap our vehicles every 10 years.

[Homestar]

I believe OEM’s only have to stock parts for a model for 10 years after it goes out of production, so anything mid 2000’s now will be on borrowed time unless they’re popular enough for aftermarket manufacturers to get involved. Filters, normal wear and tear items should be ok for that, but anything too specialised will become hard to get.

[CraigE]

Nearly any hose set up can be doctored using off the shelf lengths. May take a bit of though but can be easily done. There are many more reliable supplier other than LR themselves. These days you can have one from the UK quicker and often cheaper than delivery from one side of Australia to the other. Having said all that, being prepared is partly the answer. I would not have any vehicle without spare main hoses and belts in the back at all times.

[orville]

This was dispatched yesterday via AirMail,this is a non-trackable economy postal service.

Eta is around 16 working days but often canbe received sooner, I would expect you would receive this towards the beginningof January.

Many thanks,

Emily

Customer Services
Rimmer Bros.

[Russrobe]

Rimmer Brothers. You get what you pay for, I go with Advanced Factors or Duckworths LR and have any parts at my door within 3 business days.

[DiscoJeffster]

Well they don’t run their own shipping companies so it’s down to the purchaser to select the shipping method they would like based on price and time. I’ve used all the above and most DHL if you want to pay. For smaller things I’ll take the Royal Mail / Aus post route to save some $$$ if it’s not important. There is nothing wrong with Rimmer Bros. Used them a few times now, I select DHL and had my parts in three days, much like the others.
I will say Island 4x4 has let me down. Three weeks and counting, and 28 quid to ship some ceramic brake pads. Now that’s been poor considering I paid good money for international courier

[4bee]

Hell! That really is a ripoff.
You could have walked there at leisure, had a few days in the Green & Pleasant at a 5*, walked home & had your own Xmas celebrations before expectantly donning your overalls in that time. WTF! Oh yes, & visited your rellies.

Shirley these places send enough stuff to Oz to be aware of the best & most economical Carriers? I also go for Royal Mail/OZ Post & have found them quite ok.

I believe Tracking (some) costs extra, but at least you have a good idea of where your gear is at all times.

I recently received some Discovery Door Lock springs but as they were only a few $ I didn't choose Tracking so I waited in expectation & they cleared the PO just prior to Xmas.


And now the lock appears to have mysteriously rectified itself.[bighmmm]

[DiscoJeffster]

It is a rip off to not have received them in a few days definitely! I expected a DHL/Fedex three day turnaround as I’ve had for others for that price. That retailer has done their dash with me that’s for sure.

[4bee]

And why not?

When this has happened to me (a) I stick a written rocket up their arse & (b) let my feet do the talking. They may not give a stuff but it sure makes me feel a lot better.[smilebigeye]

I am convinced that some of these "lower" prices are compensated for by higher than normal freight/postage charges so at the end of the day one does not always get a good deal.

If they do not take PayPal I don't deal with them at all.