Availability of New Parts

[suddy]

I'm noticing that more and more parts that were readily available from Volvo as recently as a few months ago, are now not available.

It seems that over the past few months Volvo have deleted many 480 parts from their system, and I'm wondering how we will be able to maintain our cars in the coming years?

What have they done to the stocks of these new parts? Have they simply sold out?

Is there anything that we can do, as a club, to make the deleted parts available again? If there is sufficient demand, then there is a market.

Stephen

[themaster]

I think I'm right in thinking that Volvo hasn't made new Volvo 400 series parts for a good couple of years, and what they have is just existing stock that won't be renewed.

[Ulrika480]

I've given up going to Volvo dealers now when things like the Info system bulb were no longer available.
My logic is if they don't have a simple bulb unless its generic to other models they won't have it.

So much for the store of old Volvo parts in the middle of nowhere in Sweden that they collect from once in a while.

Mind you, if I was running a parts busines, I wouldn't stok anything over 15 years old...

[Ulrika480]

... Actually are we now at the point where its worth everyone buying an MOT failure as a parts donor

[glasgowjim]

on the other hand sometimes it works the other way for about 18 months it was commonly believed that the headlamp plastic hinges were unobtainable from volvo but that turned out to be untrue.
The same thing happened regarding clear front clusters.
You couldnt get orange front clusters in Portugal but I got them from my (very good) volvo dealer just down the road from me where they were just lying in stock in the warehouse in Govan.

If your dealer is persistent enough some parts can be obtained.

I break up EOL 480's from time to time and keep a pretty big store of parts even have to resort to tossing them away as I have no storage left. I set up a thread for listing parts that are no longer obtainable must get it made a sticky .

As far as I know accelerator cable and the seal around the rear hatch are discontinued.

I really should make up a parts list , but there is such a variety and I keep all the screws nuts , plastic and rubber connectors etc. it would take forever to list it all. Spares I have extra of I sell off to forum members it doesnt make a profit but it does allow me to buy another EOL 480 and take it back up to Glasgow.

In fact almost every time an owner comes over to 480 central they never leave empty handed , they come away with freebees , and even the annual cull of parts for the secret santa competition cant clear enough space.
The only parts I dont like moving on are brake calipers especially if they have been lying about for obvious reasons.

[glasgowjim]

However there is no rhyme or reason to people looking for spares you put up a whole car as breaking and no one shows an interest while some lists 1 spare and its sold .

The problem with doing your own breaking is you need an off road driveway a big car cover to appease the neighbours and space to store the stuff. Then you should make up a stripping schedule taking off the most valuable and easily stored parts in a specific and logical order. It also helps if you know the going rate for parts as some enthusiasts ask some rather high prices.
I am surprised that the dutch owners dont raid our site as their prices are a lot higher than over here. Oh and you could sit with some parts for years then toss then away a day before you are asked for them.

rant over

[Daniel480]

Most parts of the 480 are dead now. For example, Indicators, rear lights ( the must have´s for a nice look of the 480 ) are sold out since 1 month now. The big European part magazines in Gothenburg and Maastricht are empty, and the regional part magazines for quick delivery of the dealers are also empty with that parts. And no new production is planned.

17 years after the last build 480 this is something the 480 lover had to expect.

The only way to find those parts new is to ask dealers. Maybee they have some parts still in stock.

Daniel

[JohnB]

On the rear lights availability question main dealers in the UK are a no go
So searched the net and found a shop called Scandcar.Nl classic Volvo specialist
sad they could get some so ordered the pair on 18th cost no more than when they were available from the uk dealers
That's including posting just have to wait and see if they come up with the good fingers crossed

Also just searched the net with the part numbers 3468207 and 3468208 and Skandix say they have them if you want to part with 650 Eur for the pair don't think so

[adi2727]

Just received the bad news: 3411805 rear support arm, rear bush is not deliverable. I received my money back.
Unfortunately, aftermarket equivalents for this part have a different design and i don't believe are strong as the genuine one (made by Boge), as long as they are not full, having larger holes...

[Daniel480]

Skandix in Germany sold the rearlights 3 weeks ago for about 225 Euro a peace. Then they noticed that no more rearlights could be ordered via Volvo -> they sell them now for 325 Euro a peace, as harriet mentioned

[suddy]

Well,

Perhaps I'll need to accept the fate of the 480, they are, as mentioned, 17years old at thier newest, perhaps Volvo expected all 480s to have died by now. It would have been nice to have some brand new rear lights and indicattors though.

I contacted Volvo Global Customer Services yesterday to see if these parts were available through a "back door", directly from them. So far I've had no response, but it might be an idea for other people to contact them so that they can see there is a demand. (They re-started production of the clear indicators a few years ago, probably responding to demand).

Will keep my eye on Skandix, €325 is pushing it, maybe if nobody buys them at €325, they would offer a more sensible price.

The thing is, there are not many in scrap yards now, or even on the roads -- when was the last time you saw another?

Stephen

[Robou]

Scandcar.nl offers the taillights at this moment for about Euro 150,-- a piece, left as well as right. After clicking "buy now" there was no announcement like out of stock. Try your luck!

[Daniel480]

I ordered a set at Scandcar. Status is "Backorder"....so

[suddy]

I contated Scandcar today. I asked them about the rear lights and they've come back to me saying that they are working on a reproduction.

I also asked about indicators, and they said that they also have plans to reproduce those!

Very happy with that, hope that they make them...

Stephen

[yorkshire480]

This is good news indeed! I was about suggest we club together and approach some companies to see if some repros couldn't be made. I'm no expert but I would imagine with modern production techniques a small run order wouldn't be prohibitively expensive.

Could you keep us posted on these...I looked at mine again yesterday and they are starting to look really tired and too fragile to remove and restore.

Graham

[JohnB]

yes just had a refund from scandcar nl because they could not sources any stock just hope they make some reproductions

[adi2727]

Just received the bad news: 3411805 rear support arm, rear bush is not deliverable. I received my money back.
Unfortunately, aftermarket equivalents for this part have a different design and i don't believe are strong as the genuine one (made by Boge), as long as they are not full, having larger holes...

I have to retract all what i said about aftermarket 3411805 (see Scantech). I just received it today and it looks 100% as the genuine one.
Sorry. It's all about a bad picture.

P.S. Scandix it's not a trademark/producer, it's just a store. Scantech it is, and you can find their parts here: http://www.scantechproducts.com/carpart ... ?car=VOLVO

Scantech parts are cheap at their base. You can figure out if you are a trader and you request e dealer pricelist from them.
I hope that somebody with a passion for the 400 series will make a business with them in order to provide accessible prices for all other enthusiasts.

[JohnB]

clear front light now not available even from Sweden part numbers 3472636 and 3472637

[JohnB]

Just purchased some rear light seals as replaced my original seal with the butyl rubber stuff from Volvo
soon after one of my rear lights cracked it was original so only seventeen years old but it had never been removed and almost no fading
I put this down to the plastic not being allowed to expand and contract with different temperature so the moral is buy some of these rear light seals you won't be disappointed
contacted Joep Vrijling and they are looking to supply the following re manufacture the tail-lights and the rear steel bumper but all depends on the cooperation from Volvo-Cars and Hella
but he informed me this may take some time
part available are prices in the same order of sequence:
1) Spoiler € 125.002) speed cog wheel € 16.003)
Trim Washer(set) € 24.004)
Glasses side-markers € 65.005) Glasses
direction indicator € 51.006)
Seals side-markers €23.007) " taillights € 20.008) " direction
indicator € 7.009)
Repair block window € 24.00
So we have to support people like Joep Vrijling if we want to keep are cars on the road

[glasgowjim]

A 125 euros for a spoiler + postage too pricey for me . Still Dutch prices are always higher than ours.