Can You Buy Parts from a 4S Store?
4 Answers
Can You Buy Parts from a 4S Store. Here is some relevant information about 4S stores: Business scope of 4S stores: In a region, there will be several 4S stores for a brand, mainly determined by the size of the city. There is competition among each 4S store, even though they belong to the same brand. According to the current situation in China, standard 4S stores only exist in cities and above, while some county-level cities do not have automotive 4S stores. Characteristics of 4S stores: They are established according to the manufacturer's unified standards, with a consistent model, and are authorized by the manufacturer to sell only a single brand of vehicles. Within the price range allowed by the manufacturer, they attract customers with the most affordable prices, reflecting the brand's value and maintaining its reputation. However, it is important to understand correctly that 4S stores should not be mistaken for the automobile manufacturers themselves.
Sure, I often buy parts from 4S stores. Last time when the wiper linkage of my car broke, I directly went to the familiar Toyota dealership to order genuine parts. Although I had to wait two days for the delivery, the quality of the parts was indeed reassuring. Their warehouse management is quite strict, with anti-counterfeit codes on the packaging of the parts, but the price is about 30% higher than in auto parts markets. The key is to ask in advance, as some uncommon parts may need to be ordered from the manufacturer and could take about a week. Remember to bring your vehicle license to register the VIN, otherwise they might refuse to sell for fear of ordering the wrong part. If you know a bit about installation, taking the parts with you can save on labor costs.
As an experienced auto mechanic, I often visit 4S stores for parts. To be honest, it depends on connections. At the Honda store I frequent, I can go straight to the parts department to place orders since I'm familiar with the process. New customers might need to go through service advisors - they're worried about liability issues from improper parts usage. Genuine parts come in packaging with brand logos and part numbers. Consumables like oil filters can usually be picked up same day. But for precision components like transmission sensors, stores will verify your VIN before selling due to compatibility concerns. Remember to keep receipts when doing DIY replacements for traceability in case of issues.
Worked as a service advisor at a Mercedes-Benz dealership for five years. The parts department is indeed open to private customers. But be aware, genuine OEM parts are priced at cost plus 40%, significantly more expensive than Taobao. Once a customer damaged their headlight - dealership quoted over 7,000 RMB, but they found aftermarket parts for just 2,000 RMB. Important warning: self-installation voids factory warranty. We had a case where a customer replaced shock absorbers themselves, then had oil leaks - dealership refused warranty coverage. For electronic components, you'll need to sign liability waivers, which adds hassle.
