When the genuine part is worth the premium, and when a quality aftermarket alternative does the same job for less.
Most problems on the road give you warning long before they become expensive. The difficulty is knowing which signals matter and which are simply the character of an older vehicle. This guide walks through what our technicians look for first and why.
What to check first
Start with the cheap checks: fluid levels, belt condition, tyre pressures and any fault codes stored in the ECU. A large share of the cases we see resolve at this stage, long before a part needs ordering.
When to replace rather than repair
Replacement makes sense when labour dominates the bill, when the component is a known wear item, or when a failure would strand you. Ask for the old part back — a reputable workshop will always hand it over.
Getting the right part
Match by part number wherever possible rather than by model year alone. Mid-cycle revisions are common and are the single biggest cause of a part arriving that simply will not fit.