EuroCarParts - Bad; Halfords - Good

[vikingaero]

About 10 years ago I was regularly using ECP and their myriad of discount codes and false pricing. The stuff was good value even when you had to put up with the bullsheet - Widgets £19.99 this week with 66% off code!!!! - Next week Widgets £19.99 with 33% off code!!!! If anything I've moved to buying car parts online since Covid as we don't have a decent motor factor nearby.

I decided to put new brake discs and pads on my Mums Jazz and the prices were:

ECP Pagid Pads £37.99
Halfords Pagid Pads £17.99

ECP Pagid Discs £57.99 (single disc)
Halfords Pagid Discs £44.00 (2 discs)

Do ECP really want us amateur mechanics and only want to supply trade? I've checked a few other things and Halfords seems reasonably priced for same day collection items.

[GreenV8S]

I have never seen discs and pads sold singly. Are you sure you understood that correctly?

As far as prices go, there is usually a range of specs of parts available for the same vehicle so don't assume that you're getting the identical part from Halfords just because they are for the same vehicle and the box carries the same brand.

[Jakg]

GreenV8S said:

I have never seen discs and pads sold singly. Are you sure you understood that correctly?

Bizarrely, they sell discs individually

ECP said:

We require this product to be purchased in pairs - 2 units have been added to your basket

[cliffords]

I have recently found Halfords to be good on line, same day or next collection. The local motor factor by me has suddenly upped the prices by about 40% and says they haven't. So it Halfords for me right now

[GreenV8S]

ECP said:

We require this product to be purchased in pairs - 2 units have been added to your basket

Priced singly but sold in pairs? How bizarre!

[TarquinMX5]

I gave up with ECP several years ago due to their silly pricing, having used them for many years and, as I understand it, their owners have taken over GSF as well, which isn't ideal. IIRC, they've priced discs singly for a long time.

[Fore Left]

TarquinMX5 said:

I gave up with ECP several years ago due to their silly pricing,

Especially when their alter ego Car Parts 4 Less is often cheaper.

TarquinMX5 said:

they've priced discs singly for a long time.

They price them singly but will only sell them in pairs.

[rlg43p]

I have found that https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/ is worth a look.

Longer delivery times, but better pricing than ECP or GSF, but you do need to check all three because prices do vary and ECP and GSF can be more convenient if you are in a hurry.

I bought some brake discs for my 640d from onlinecarparts - for reasons I won't go into now I bought the cheapest they sold (RIDEX) and they have been brilliant despite costing around 25% of the price of more recognised brands.

[Mercdriver]

That is interesting never considered Halfords as parts supplier tended to go with ECP but like most found the discount code tedious.

Tried to compare prices for brakes and disks for my car but they put cookies on iPad and want my address, why? It is just an enquiry, might never be back on their website why at pre you cluttering up my memory?

How do you know you are comparing like for like, I think pagid make more than one quality of pads and disks

[droopsnoot]

Mercdriver said:

How do you know you are comparing like for like, I think pagid make more than one quality of pads and disks

I have been reading recently that a make of brake pad sold by ECP is very different to the same make sold by someone else. I forget the make, now.

[Belle427]

rlg43p said:

I have found that https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/ is worth a look.

Longer delivery times, but better pricing than ECP or GSF, but you do need to check all three because prices do vary and ECP and GSF can be more convenient if you are in a hurry.

I bought some brake discs for my 640d from onlinecarparts - for reasons I won't go into now I bought the cheapest they sold (RIDEX) and they have been brilliant despite costing around 25% of the price of more recognised brands.

They are basically Autodoc I think that's why delivery times are longer.

[vikingaero]

TarquinMX5 said:

I gave up with ECP several years ago due to their silly pricing, having used them for many years and, as I understand it, their owners have taken over GSF as well, which isn't ideal. IIRC, they've priced discs singly for a long time.

That's interesting to know because I also checked on GSF and immediately closed the window when their prices were even more than ECP!

[Ritchie335is]

ECP used to be the go-to place for quality parts at a reasonable price but things have certainly changed. I’ve read that they have bought up companies like Febi and Lemforder and are now selling parts under those (previously quality) names but the actual parts are now of a much lower quality. How true this is I’m not sure.
I know I always used them for everything years ago, but now I don’t at all.

[vikingaero]

Mercdriver said:

That is interesting never considered Halfords as parts supplier tended to go with ECP but like most found the discount code tedious.

Tried to compare prices for brakes and disks for my car but they put cookies on iPad and want my address, why? It is just an enquiry, might never be back on their website why at pre you cluttering up my memory?

How do you know you are comparing like for like, I think pagid make more than one quality of pads and disks

I've never thought about buying parts from Halfords, but it seems plenty of people do. There was a queue of about a dozen people when I when to pick up my Click & Collect order, possibly because of instant availability and reasonable pricing.

Funnily, I went to check out the Pagid website to see if they have different "models/brands" under their umbrella. There was a tab saying "Buy as Retail Customer" and on clicking it, it diverted me to ECP!

[MajorMantra]

Ritchie335is said:

ECP used to be the go-to place for quality parts at a reasonable price but things have certainly changed. I’ve read that they have bought up companies like Febi and Lemforder and are now selling parts under those (previously quality) names but the actual parts are now of a much lower quality. How true this is I’m not sure.
I know I always used them for everything years ago, but now I don’t at all.

Likewise I used to use ECP all the time but they're much less competitive than they used to be. I tend to buy from the likes of Carpartsinmotion on eBay now.

I don't think ECP owns Febi - Febi is the main parts brand of the Bilstein Group. (Ferdinand Bilstein -> Febi). Not sure about other brands like Pagid, or what licensing arrangements might exist. It's all very murky.

[ARHarh]

I used to use ECP all the time, I could even put up with the silly pricing model. A few years ago the prices went up and were not competitive anymore.

I now often to use https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/ they have good choice, decent delivery and helpful staff.

[Silverbullet767]

Unrelated, but if you take the EPC stock number and enter it into www.carparts4less.co.uk it was usually cheaper. It's the same owners and you collect from your local EPC anyway.

[Dave.]

If I have time, I tend to get stuff from "official" stores on eBay.

If I need stuff in a hurry ECP will have to do.

[Belle427]

I thought i read here that euro car parts supplied pagid is their budget line if you like, not sure if there is any truth in it.

[Pica-Pica]

I bought a replacement headlamp from ECP for my E36 many years ago. Never again. Cheaper, but poor quality, hard to get it aligned properly.