Before you buy a D3

martynwhiteley

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It's nice to see Merc have some competition at last for the D120, but having read all about the megabucks Volvo charge for spares, I can only feel very smug.

Having just obtained some service and running spares for my D120, only the fuel filter at £40 seemed a rip off. Being that the engine is an Isuzu, basically the same as fitted to an Astra TD, I wondered whether many parts would be common.

When the parts arrived, despite being in Merc/Quicksilver bags, they were all branded 'Isuzu', so I went to the local Vauxhall dealer and bought an oil filter for an Astra TD. It was £5, half the price (of the still reasonable £10) charged by Mercruiser.

What about warranty you ask. Well the filters were absolutely identicle, same stamping, logos, no doubt the same product and impossible to tell apart.

I'm not sure how much of the marinised lump is identical to the car version, but if only the filters and belts are, the servicing and running costs could be insignificant compared to many marine engines.



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c_j

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I found the numbers for the Volvo Fuel filters on my Volvo 74p's and ordered equivilant from our Truck part Supplies (still Volvo) Looked at them and they seemed identical. Fitted them and felt very smug. Searched out old Volvo Penta invoice to see how much I had saved cause I bought two as spares when I first got the boat. The cost on the invoice from Salturns Boatyard for a genuine Volvo Penta fuel filter was:

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Five pounds and 49 pence.

Doh!

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cjs@stone.uk.com


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martynwhiteley

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Pride comes before a fall, as they say!

So why are Volvo and Merc oil and lubs so expensive?

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G

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I don't find Merc lube expensive, I even used some in my car last time. It is about £13 a (US) gallon I seem to remember.

The thing about Merc is that you can always get the parts from the States and the people there just won't stand for silly prices.

Geoff


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