Technical Keeping your Fiat, 100% Fiat

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Technical Keeping your Fiat, 100% Fiat

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My Panda is still “100% Fiat” in terms of filters and parts. But when the time comes, what is the benefit of seeking only OEM Fiat original spares? I don’t mind doing this ... but am I adding unnecessary cost and time in doing this versus say... buying ‘reputable’ brand name parts like Valeo, Bosch and similar? I did this on my old Panda and it was fine, but now I have this chance to keep the Fiat ‘100%’ original parts...

Same with oil, is Castrol worth the extra money or is the Asda / Tesco seasonal special with the right grade in the owners manual just as good?

I know there’s a lot of opinion... but in terms of fact, will it make a difference to the driving experience, longevity and safety of the car if I want to keep it until .. say it’s 10 years old?
 
There isn't much difference in price between genuine service items like filters and pattern ones, so why bother, you know the genuine ones fit.
Ebay is full of sellers flogging genuine filters for peanuts and I just can't be arsed cross referencing their part numbers with Fiats to save 30p.

Other parts, say suspension parts and things likes of brakes, I might just buy a brand I think has the quality or I've used before and was happy with.
Some might be OEM like NGK plugs rather than NGK in a Fiat box, others I'll plump for a brand I've used before, like Pagid brakes.

Oil is a tricky one.
Sure you need the right grade and spec and if they are met it shouldn't matter, but it often comes down to trust in the brand.

I've used Castrol in the 1.2 Fire, though I've only bought it when I found it on offer.

I've used Tesco/Asda stuff as well. A quick check of the label will often show it's either Comma or someone like Exxon that's packed it for them.

Someone once told me cheap oil changed regularly is better than expensive oil that's never changed!

Will is all make a difference?
Perhaps.
I know I'm not the only one that's dropped the oil and wrenched the oil filter off a car to then find the pattern one isn't quite right or fitted a cheap ARB droplink for it to start rattling again in a fortnights time.
And we've all heard someone moan their brakes didn't last that long only to find out they bought cheap unbranded discs off of Ebay for pennies.

Some pattern parts are as good if not better, I'm thinking of brake parts in particular, I've always found Fiat's factory brakes to bit low quality anyway.

So it's all down to how you feel about things.
Is there a point to pattern if the genuine or OEM isn't much more.
Is there a better quality part out there that will/might last longer, particularly if the genuine one gave up too soon.
Do you trust the brand you're thinking of using.

But you tend to build up this sort of knowledge as you go, we're all different and had different experiences, so you'll get different answers.
 
Vehicle manufacturers make very little themselves, mostly only body panels, engines and gearboxes. Although many do not make their engines, and automatic gearboxes tend mostly to be specialist sourced.
Many of the OE suppliers also supply other manufacturers, and will often use the range as the basis for an aftermarket presence, selling the same stuff in thier branded boxes.
Then, to make the range wide and complete, they buy-in from other similar OE suppliers. These OE quality suppliers generally only source and sell similar quality components, not wishing to dilute their brand with inadequate parts. The major brands have agreements and share to ensure they all have a competitive offering.
The highest demand parts will often have several manufacturers, such as oil filters for the FIRE engine. Lower demand parts may well only have one manufacturing source, despite being available from every supplier.
The risk of sub-standard parts mostly only exists with the highest demand parts, as they are the only ones with enough volume to justify the cost of tooling.
With many components a vehicle manufacturer will source from two or more suppliers, so an OE clutch for your Panda may have come from Valeo or LUK. Most good aftermarket brands will be one of those in their box.
While a vehicle is in production, volumes are great, so replacement parts will be the same as that fitted on production. The component supplier makes a few more than necessary for the production line, for the replacement part stock.
Once out of production, component volumes shrink. Many component manufacturers cannot make small volumes economically, so replacement part manufacture is passed to another company. Often this includes the original specifications and drawings being transferred. Once a car ends production, OE branded parts may be exactly OE, to OE spec manufactured on OE tooling but by a different manufacturer, to OE spec on new tooling from a different supplier, or a good branded aftermarket copy, sanctioned by the manufacturer. Sometimes an aftermarket manufacurer will already have tooled up for a component, then may modify its tooling when they get the OE repalcement contract.
Now teh hornets' nest is really buzzing, and anyone reading this far is hoping it won't go on much longer - sorry.

For any replacement parts, any of the good brand names should be fine. If in doubt, ask on here. Reputable sources claiming reputable brands are trustworthy, but be wary of other sources. Ebay can be a nightmare. Some of the traders are sub-divisions of the major aftermarket suppliers, some are dealers, some are honest people finding a way to make a living without needing retail premises. Some are rogues. Cheap, poorly made, unsafe, etc., find a route to market via the easiest path, so more likely via Ebay than Euro/GSF etc. Although some of the cheaper offerings from factors can be at the low end of adequate.

There are not really that many oil blenders, so the aftermarket cheaper brands come from them, blended to the specs required. An oil supplier cannot risk claims if thier product fails, so any decent brand name should be trustworthy. Supermarkets have a reputation to protect, so even if oil is a small piece of their overall offerring, they cannot risk problems. They will source it from one of the blenders, but likely leave it to the supplier to recommend which specs to supply. Some may even come from the big names, but finding that out might be a challenge.
 
I agree with the above.
Fiat don't make their own filters, oil, brake pads, etc... they will be made for them by the same factories making the parts sold in motor factors. A change in the law a few years back means car 'marques' cannot insist that you use their own 'branded' products - you are free to use any part that meets the 'OEM spec'. Bit of a grey area as not really tested in law. They are also not allowed to insist you use the main dealer to maintain warranty and are free to sue anywhere the 'follows the manufacturer's methods'. Most independent workshops use the AutoData system that guides them though jobs, and the data in there comes from the manufacturer's own original manuals.

Many seem to get very 'hung up' about oil. Fiat don't make oil, and haven't had any part in the oil company that makes Selenia for years (since 1976 I think). As with parts, they are not allowed to insist that you use a particular brand - they can 'recommend' a preference, but you do not have to use it. And, a I pointed out in another post recently, where the same engines are used by other makes (eg the Multijet in several Vauxhall/Opel models) they 'recommend' a different brand of oil for the same engine.

Although not the case with the Panda, other Fiat models are not even Fiats - the Qubo for example is a Peugeot/Citroen model with pars no doubt;t supplied by the French company's preferred suppliers. (Does it still exist as a Fiat?)

Oddly, few people seem to get so hung up over tyres, and happily replace the original Continental or Goodyear tyres with all sorts of other brands without question...

Like most things, you get what you pay for, and cheapest is not always best. But by the same token, most expensive may not be any better than 'OK'. Stick to recognised makes (Valeo, Bosch, Brembo, etc) and all will be well. In principle, the likes of 'Halfords own label' should be fine too... but often you can get a recognised named brand in an independent motor factor for the pretty much the same money.

Perhaps more important is doing things when they need doing - on time or earlier. And keeping a check on things so they are replaced, cleaned or adjusted as needed. But, there is a crossover point where doing too often can be more expensive and creates unnecessary waste (oil, for example: change more often than needed results in more waste oil being created with little benefit for the engine)
 
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Not to take anyone’s thunder away here and what’s been said is obviously true about service parts and other parts, this forum like others is full of information about such matters. I’ve lost count on parts questions from many on here, the oil question being up there. I do like to look for bargains and obviously you have to know what works for you and what is crap. Over the years I have indeed come across things that have saved me a considerable amount.

This is an ideal time if you are in lock down to do some detective work regarding what’s being discussed here. I’ve been surprised at how my local car parts suppliers can be the best place most of the time. Just my thoughts.
 
There is absolutely no reason that a 2017 panda won’t last 10 years if you do everything you need to do when it needs doing. Normal service once a year, regular check on brakes and pads, maybe throw a couple of brake fluid changes in over the years a coolant change a few times and if needed and milage is getting high a gearbox oil change. Wash it dry it and don’t mistreat it and it should last for many many years.

Sticking a Mann oil filter on it and some castrol oil is not going to adversely affected the longevity of the car. But over the years it can save quite a bit. As “genuine” wipers blades or brake components can be very costly from a main dealer.
 
Thanks everybody. As always on here, stellar and thorough advice. Think I’ll go for the reputable brands and forget the need to keep everything with a Fiat stamp.

But as mentioned, I did notice an abundance of cheap Fiat filters on eBay that have always been genuine! So that’s handy enough.

I think checking the brakes is my next job. Tried to do it on the street and found that the tyre repair kit doesn’t have a jack ... damn!
 
Bear in mind that “genuine” on eBay could easily be fake. Plenty of people will rebrand cheap crap

I've had that with Apple parts before. But these come in the Ricambi Originali (or something similar) in the striped diagonal box and have the Fiat / Lancia / Alfa logo stamped on so I'm hoping they were sound! i
 
As above :)

My twinair 319 isnt so dissimilar to my old 169

It will want suspension work within 10 years.. (FIAT dampers have always been 'adequate'..)

I was wary with the 'Original Birth' kit supplied... un unknown at the time

Outlasted the factory stuff :)

Its a tough motor in a body that won't vaporise in front of you..

10 years..easy..

15 why not

In 10 years time the 'landscape' will have changed.. our 169 got sold mainly on 'practicality'
it did low 40's mpg for 15 years.. but was £140 tax..and not the ideal choice for a motorway commute.

Over 15 years.. biggest outlay was probably in batteries ;)

As somebody posted recently..
You searched for a panda for a reason
ENJOY IT.. :)
 
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