 | | | 
04.02.2009, 09:40
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Zurich
Posts: 4,801
Groaned at 104 Times in 91 Posts
Thanked 4,965 Times in 2,360 Posts
| | Where to Find AUTO Parts
I have been in this country for over a year, and I have yet to find, or know how to ask for an auto parts store. It appears I have a hole in the radiator pipe/tube something or other, a piece that everyone back in Detroit laughs whole heartedly on the phone that I should be able to repair by myself, and it is leaking coolant every time I stop the car and the engine starts to smoke. Well I think it's the coolant spewing onto the engine, rather then the engine itself smoking. If parts don't exist, does anyone know a respectable shop I could go to in the whole Zurichsee region? The kind of shop that I enter that repairs only the parts needed, not my brakes as well?
I prefer a parts store.
Thank you
| 
04.02.2009, 17:59
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: V.South West of Zurich
Posts: 1,193
Groaned at 7 Times in 6 Posts
Thanked 417 Times in 285 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
People are very shy of DIY here, hence less shops that supply parts etc. Usually the garages can be trusted to do the work you ask them to do as labour is expensive.
| 
04.02.2009, 18:04
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
Part of the problem here in Switzerland is where do you want to do this repair work on your car? Most people live in apartments and it's strictly forbidden by law to do repair work on vehicles parked in the garages of multiple family homes.
| This user would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
04.02.2009, 18:08
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tir na nÓg
Posts: 3,628
Groaned at 54 Times in 35 Posts
Thanked 2,388 Times in 1,209 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | I have been in this country for over a year, and I have yet to find, or know how to ask for an auto parts store. It appears I have a hole in the radiator pipe/tube something or other, a piece that everyone back in Detroit laughs whole heartedly on the phone that I should be able to repair by myself, and it is leaking coolant every time I stop the car and the engine starts to smoke. Well I think it's the coolant spewing onto the engine, rather then the engine itself smoking. If parts don't exist, does anyone know a respectable shop I could go to in the whole Zurichsee region? The kind of shop that I enter that repairs only the parts needed, not my brakes as well?
I prefer a parts store.
Thank you | | | | | There is a motor factors in Hinwil, I can't remember the name of it but it is off the street that goes between Wetzikon and Hinwil near the McDonalds. There is a big furniture store in the area too. You will see it easier if you come from the Hinwil side and drive towards Wetzikon. It will be on your left.
| This user would like to thank Eire for this useful post: | | 
04.02.2009, 18:32
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
You could try Derendinger for the parts.
Not exactly cheap (in some cases more expensive than genuine dealer parts compared to UK!), but you do save on the labour costs...
| 
04.02.2009, 20:46
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
If all else fails, you can certainly buy the parts from the local car retailer.
Aftermarket are harder to find and don't always pass the MOT test.
| 
04.02.2009, 21:03
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Geneva
Posts: 1,251
Groaned at 7 Times in 5 Posts
Thanked 1,033 Times in 534 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | Part of the problem here in Switzerland is where do you want to do this repair work on your car? Most people live in apartments and it's strictly forbidden by law to do repair work on vehicles parked in the garages of multiple family homes. | | | | | Seriously? I'm interested as we are soon buying a motor bike, and I'm sure I will need to adjust the chain, top up the oil etc etc from time to time. Do you know if that sort of "repair work" is allowed? Any idea where I can find more details (preferably in either English or French)?
Thanks!
| 
04.02.2009, 23:02
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | Seriously? I'm interested as we are soon buying a motor bike, and I'm sure I will need to adjust the chain, top up the oil etc etc from time to time. Do you know if that sort of "repair work" is allowed? Any idea where I can find more details (preferably in either English or French)? | | | | | I know this for a fact because I own my apartment and we just had an inspection in November of our garage by an official from the local fire department. He sent us a statement showing improperly stored materials and it stated that repair work was forbidden on all vehicles in the garage. He pointed out the repair work violation because one of owners has a couple of motorcycles which are clearly in the middle of tear down and repair. The bikes ironically belong to a police officer (who should know better).
| 
05.02.2009, 09:00
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Geneva
Posts: 1,251
Groaned at 7 Times in 5 Posts
Thanked 1,033 Times in 534 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | I know this for a fact because I own my apartment and we just had an inspection in November of our garage by an official from the local fire department. He sent us a statement showing improperly stored materials and it stated that repair work was forbidden on all vehicles in the garage. He pointed out the repair work violation because one of owners has a couple of motorcycles which are clearly in the middle of tear down and repair. The bikes ironically belong to a police officer (who should know better). | | | | | OK thanks, so it sounds like an afternoon of light tinkering should be ok, but leaving it for more than a day not fully back together is probably not going to go down too well...
| 
11.02.2009, 17:40
| Newbie | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Uetikon am See
Posts: 1
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
If all else fails, try eBay.
| 
11.02.2009, 18:24
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: varied, now Nouvelle Normandie
Posts: 1,024
Groaned at 24 Times in 21 Posts
Thanked 907 Times in 455 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
There's a DIY rent-a-space garage near Zürich in Dietikon, it's called www.selfmech.ch
I haven't used this place but I will be soon as I need to do a few little jobs on my car - the garage it looks very well equipped.
| 
19.02.2009, 12:54
|  | Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Geneve
Posts: 18
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | I prefer a parts store | | | | | Just try your luck here www.ricardo.ch. But it is in French/German and you need to register first. I got my spare parts from here.
| 
22.02.2009, 11:34
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: by the lake (either one)
Posts: 2,510
Groaned at 45 Times in 39 Posts
Thanked 3,136 Times in 1,363 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | There's a DIY rent-a-space garage near Zürich in Dietikon, it's called www.selfmech.ch | | | | | There's also a DIY garage in Zurich-Oerlikon: www.do-it-yourself-garage.ch | 
15.10.2009, 16:37
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: bitog
Posts: 392
Groaned at 6 Times in 4 Posts
Thanked 69 Times in 53 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
Nice place to buy auto parts: http://www.autoteile-meile.ch/
It is only in German, but google translate can handle it: http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=
The prices are a way lower if compare with http://www.derendinger.ch/ and for sure are lower than in any swiss garage. In Toyota official garage for a boot drive shaft I was asked 180 CHF (just for a part), in derendinger 120, while in autoteile-meile it is 40. There is difference, huh? | The following 4 users would like to thank volodymyr for this useful post: | | 
15.10.2009, 16:58
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Glarus
Posts: 8,082
Groaned at 484 Times in 403 Posts
Thanked 14,715 Times in 5,780 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | I know this for a fact because I own my apartment and we just had an inspection in November of our garage by an official from the local fire department. He sent us a statement showing improperly stored materials and it stated that repair work was forbidden on all vehicles in the garage. He pointed out the repair work violation because one of owners has a couple of motorcycles which are clearly in the middle of tear down and repair. The bikes ironically belong to a police officer (who should know better). | | | | |
when I do things like check the oil and coolant levels etc before a long journey my neigbours make snide remarks and give funny looks, I'm sure most swiss people wouldn't even know where there bonnet release switch was
| 
15.10.2009, 17:04
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: bitog
Posts: 392
Groaned at 6 Times in 4 Posts
Thanked 69 Times in 53 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | when I do things like check the oil and coolant levels etc before a long journey my neigbours make snide remarks and give funny looks, I'm sure most swiss people wouldn't even know where there bonnet release switch was | | | | | Not sure. My neighbor on a parking place is a swiss, he is quite old, well, not young. 60 I guess. Recently I saw him mounting a windshield on his Honda Shadow motocycle, it was 22.00 and he was in the garage. So I commented: wow, cool shield. He sad: yea, and cheap: 400 CHF if order in USA, 1000 CHF if order in local Honda garage ...
The second neighbor is having his pontiak currently mounted on a special "stands", he is probably changing transmission. I can make pics if you want | 
15.10.2009, 18:09
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: bitog
Posts: 392
Groaned at 6 Times in 4 Posts
Thanked 69 Times in 53 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | | | | | | I forgot to mention that it makes sence to buy several parts, because they charge for delivery 20 CHF in CH.
But at the same time, I was shocked, when I saw the prices for distributor for my car in www.derendinger.ch it was 152 CHF, while in http://www.autoteile-meile.ch/ it is 50 CHF. What shocked me, is that both shops sell the same model, BERU and the same id of model ... And the price is different in 100 CHF ... That is, even with 20 CHF fee for delivery it is still much cheaper | 
15.10.2009, 23:13
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: zurich
Posts: 574
Groaned at 4 Times in 4 Posts
Thanked 495 Times in 231 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts
Have you actually ordered and received parts from http://www.autoteile-meile.ch/ ? I ordered a fairly basic and common VW/Audi part from there - price was good - but received an email after a week saying they couldn't supply it.
| 
16.10.2009, 06:37
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | I forgot to mention that it makes sence to buy several parts, because they charge for delivery 20 CHF in CH.
But at the same time, I was shocked, when I saw the prices for distributor for my car in www.derendinger.ch it was 152 CHF, while in http://www.autoteile-meile.ch/ it is 50 CHF. What shocked me, is that both shops sell the same model, BERU and the same id of model ... And the price is different in 100 CHF ... That is, even with 20 CHF fee for delivery it is still much cheaper  | | | | | This i believe is the basis of capitalism; sell for whatever the market will bear | 
16.10.2009, 09:54
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: bitog
Posts: 392
Groaned at 6 Times in 4 Posts
Thanked 69 Times in 53 Posts
| | Re: Where to Find AUTO Parts | Quote: | |  | | | This i believe is the basis of capitalism; sell for whatever the market will bear | | | | | In our particular case it is speculation.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 07:30. | |