12 replies to this topic

[jbonevia]

OK this may be a bit of a rant, but where are all the good automotive supply shops in the UK???

I've just moved over from Australia and bought a S reg rover cooper. I'm living in SW Greater London/Surrey.

I'm very hands on and do as much work as i can on my cars, it saves me money and i enjoy doing it.

Back in Australia if i needed tools or consumables there was a number of large chain auto parts places/hardware stores plus a number of smaller individual parts places that all carried good stock, all within a 10-30 minute drive. Repco, Supercheap Auto, Bunnings to name a few of the larger stores. Repco for example carried a very large range of their own branded automotive tools at reasonable prices, plus a large range of oils, lubricants and accessories.

Today i have been looking online for various tools and consumables that i need, ideally i would like to walk into a single store and buy various 500g tubs of different types of greases (copper anti-seize, rubber grease, lithium based) plus pick up a few of the odd sized sockets i need to work on the suspension, 1 5/16", 1 1/2" deep socket etc.

I'm really struggling to find the kind of retailer that i need and i suspect they dont exist here.

Take for example a 500g tub of copper anti-seize grease/paste:

Halfords - checked online, nope, only have a spray can of the stuff
Machine Mart - seems to have a good range of tools, not much automotive consumables. dont stock it.
B&Q - dont seem to stock it
Homebase - dont seem to stock it, and part of the B&Q group anyway
Screwfix - only have it in a spray can, plus i'm getting sick of their warehouse/counter setup as i always seem to have to wait up to 15-20 minutes for service.

Many of the larger stores, B&Q and Homebase in particular seem to cater to the pseudo DIY person and really carry a large percentage of very poor quality products for not very good prices (unless they are having a sale).

The local corner auto supplies place hardly had any shop stock and although they got me the service bits i wanted I had to make two trips there and their range of their oils and lubricants was small. I had to settle for the mineral oil that they had which was not a known brand name and would not have been my first choice.

So it seems if i want something, i'm forced to spend hours searching for things online, then pay for and wait a few days for delivery. For example for the greases i wanted, the only place i found that stocked them all was http://www.tools-supplies.co.uk and it was going to be 30 pounds all up for three tubs and delivery.

Am i missing something here and not looking in the right stores? Educate me!

Edited by jbonevia, 14 December 2010 - 04:23 PM.

[crazycoleman118]

you need to look for motorfactors not retail shops, they purely sell a few items and other household/ building supplies

try searching for places such as autolec, eurocar parts, unipart, or even see if a main dealers will sell you consumables

[shellspeed]

Camberley Auto Factors - http://www.camberley...i...3&Itemid=33

Usefull for some stuff but depends on the branch

Unity Motor Spares
24 High Road
West Byfleet, KT14 7QG
Phone: 01932 340100
Fax: 01932 336637

Very good

http://www.ahc-cambe...o.uk/about.html - branches in Camberley and Farnham - Sell UNF/UNC bolts inc stainless - Good for tools as well

Failing that get a Sealey cataloge http://www.sealey.co...od=mGetHomepage

[almarsh132]

I work at halfords and we pretty much sell everything you just mentioned lol. The copper grease comes in small tubes and 500g tubs which are by the brake pads. Also CV, Lithium based e.c.t. And have an extensive range of tools and sockets in the glass cabinets! Im not trying to advertise halfords but we are good lol. My trade discount comes in very handy when my mini fails! haha

[Bungle]

i have a very good independent motorfactors near me

if they haven't got it they normally can the next day

[Guess-Works.com]

Halfords is probably your best one stop, and don't rely on the website, it's much much better to walk in and have a look...

then you need a motor factor for the nitty gritty...

but if you don't mind mail order there are a multitude of mini specialists where you can get the special tools which may not be commonly available

[me madjoe 90]

Uni-Part/part co do all thet work shop supplys and things you could need.

Mini parts might be bit harder to get but theres lots of small mini specilaists around who stock the parts. Failing that halfruads. Small motorfactors are good but often expencive and have limmited stock good for some hard to find bits tho like have already been metiond.

Ask the local garage which parts supplyer they use and go to them, we use unipart where i work but there might not be local to you so .

[minidaves]

the little car parts shops are gold mines, my local one moto's of kenly for example, I dont think there is much he has not had in stock when i have needed it, and when he aint got it, 3 hrs later it there during the week and is much cheaper than halfords too....

dave

[almarsh132]

I dont order my parts in at work, much cheaper to go unipart/sc's! Freindly discount to regulars aswell

[danrock101]

bigger wilkinsons aren't too bad some times, I mainly order my bits online, or I'll end up going to abot 5 differnt shops just to get what I want. And by bits I mean anything from latex gloves to WD40 to drill bits etc lol

Edited by danrock101, 14 December 2010 - 07:45 PM.

[ma11b]

I work at halfords and we pretty much sell everything you just mentioned lol. The copper grease comes in small tubes and 500g tubs which are by the brake pads. Also CV, Lithium based e.c.t. And have an extensive range of tools and sockets in the glass cabinets! Im not trying to advertise halfords but we are good lol. My trade discount comes in very handy when my mini fails! haha

+ 1

i also work at halfords and the copper grease in 500g is in there

pretty good for most parts
its only when you need vehicle specific parts like engine parts

things like belts
batterys
wiper blades
mirrors
ect....

its a good shop

[almarsh132]

high 5

[tommy13]

Local motor factors are usually excellent. I am in the motor trade and we use Unipart or 90% of our parts and workshop consumables. They have vans connecting all the branches, with 2 or 3 deliveries a day from other local branches. They have the added advantage of being able to get tools very quickly from the Draper range, because they buy as a group where small local factors have to wait to raise a minimum order to offset postage costs. There may be one near you.
http://www.unipartlo...in/uabranchlist