Spare parts value soars in recession (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Spare parts value soars in recession

12:28pm Friday 6th March 2009

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MOTORISTS are opting to perform their own minor repairs on vehicles rather than pay a visit to the local garage, according to a parts recovery website.

A survey by online car parts breakers, Breakeryard.com, also found that many motorists are also hanging on to their vehicles for longer – a trend in keeping with the recent drop in new car registrations.

The website, which sources low-cost car parts from a network of car breakers and scrap yards from around the UK, said the knock on affect was having an impact on used car parts sales – with some components increasing by as much as 50 per cent in value.

The questionnaire revealed that Mercedes-Benz drivers were among the most likely to perform a DIY repair, with parts for the Mercedes E Class and C class including models such as C180 and C200 and C220 being the most sought-after.

Renault owners were also actively scouring the second-hand car parts market in order to get significant savings compared to dealer and garage prices.

The survey also found that the jobs typically being performed by motorists at home were lower-skilled fixes, such as minor bodywork and electrical repairs.

“This is a fantastic way of saving money during this economic slowdown ensuring vehicles are kept well maintained and on the road,” said Breakeryard.com’s operations manager, Matt Bott.

For more on cutting motoring costs through cheaper car parts, visit www.breakeryard.com

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