ECP no longer stocking sphere's

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 20 Nov 2010, 19:24

I spent the day giving my BIL's 2.1 Exclusive a good going over and having tested the sphere's noticed that it required a few replacing as well as a few other parts so I contacted ECP for availability but was shocked to hear that they no longer stock Citroen sphere's

whilst GSF came to the rescue is this a taste of things to come as Xantia's get older and rarer?

the_weaver · Post by **the_weaver** » 20 Nov 2010, 20:23

I've been thinking the same thing about my ZX, which is 17 years old. I ordered about ten items from the main dealers and three of them were "no further production". I've also noticed GSF having "low stock" on some ZX parts. I'm considering doing a "lifetime buy" of essential parts to keep my ZX going into the future.

Paul

Post by **CitroJim** » 20 Nov 2010, 20:40

This is all rather worrying. I recently heard Activa rams are now NFP. Good job we have a repair method for them...

the_weaver wrote:I'm considering doing a "lifetime buy" of essential parts to keep my ZX going into the future.

Might be a good idea for us Xantia owners too... For us, the most important things are strut tops - one thing that definitely cannot be repaired or substituted.

Vince, whats the official word from GSF? Especially on spheres...

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 20 Nov 2010, 20:51

I struggled getting brake discs for the 2.1 Xm a couple of month ago. No doubt things will get get harder to find as they get older and their numbers drop further.

robert_e_smart · Post by **robert_e_smart** » 20 Nov 2010, 20:59

You got my curiosity Jim,

I recently heard Activa rams are now NFP

I just checked Service Citroen and they're still available.

0000509002 VERIN ANTIDEVER 403,38 GBP 473,97 GBP 473,97 GBP

At that price they will always have some in stock!

But luckily they're repairable.

Post by **CitroJim** » 20 Nov 2010, 21:04

robert_e_smart wrote:You got my curiosity Jim,
I recently heard Activa rams are now NFP
I just checked Service Citroën and they're still available.

0000509002 VERIN ANTIDEVER 403,38 GBP 473,97 GBP 473,97 GBP

At that price they will always have some in stock! But luckily they're repairable.

And it looks like they rise in price by £75 or so each year. They were just over £400 this time last year...

Buy a load, keep 'em for a few years and you'll be a millionaire in no time. Looks like they're a good investment

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 20 Nov 2010, 21:13

Almost all XM stuff is no longer available from citroen, they have stoped doing service kits for fdv's and pressure regulators, XM strut tops are set to hit the £500 a peice mark next year as citroen adds a little to the price to cover storage?

im waiting for the day they decide to give all these mountains of activa rams (or more importantly at the moment, Activa struts!) and xm strut tops to the citroen owners club to keep these wonderfull cars on the road......................... ...............well its a nice dream.

D

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 20 Nov 2010, 23:22

Over pricing spare parts is a manufacturers way of persuading owners to scrap older cars.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 21 Nov 2010, 08:19

deanxm:

Audi/NSU did indeed give many many new parts old stock to NSU enthusiasts clubs throughout europe. This was when they presumably wanted the space I suppose. They did draw the line at the 10 or so new Ro80 engines they still had, for which they charged a few hundred pounds each and rationed them to one per club!

That would have been in 1990 plus or minus a few years.

Can't imagine that happening now with any manufacturer.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 21 Nov 2010, 10:22

Never knew ECP did spheres!

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 21 Nov 2010, 16:34

ECP don't seem to do anything much these days, they never seem to list any of the Citroen or Volvo parts I look for.

Stempy · Post by **Stempy** » 21 Nov 2010, 20:16

I see ECP vans every day with their motif 'Any Part For Any Car' but it seems whenever I phone them up for something they say, 'No, sorry mate, can't get 'em'

I tend to use GSF mostly and Camberley Auto Factors.

Post by **CitroJim** » 21 Nov 2010, 21:00

Stempy wrote:I see ECP vans every day with their motif 'Any Part For Any Car' but it seems whenever I phone them up for something they say, 'No, sorry mate, can't get 'em'

Isn't there a law against misleading advertising

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 21 Nov 2010, 21:03

I have the impression that ECP are more interested in (dare I say it) German car's, they're great for my BMW especially as their head office is on my way home from work when I drive rather than cycle.

On similar theme yesterday when I visited GSF's head office at Heathrow the chap at the counter reckoned that I had the last rear centre Hydractive sphere they had in stock, worrying times

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 22 Nov 2010, 00:13

It is the difference a year makes. Demand has fell and they may not stock what aint gonna sell. Wonder what the price of what's left will be next year?