ConnectWGB Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 Hello All, New here. I come from the Volvo world and order parts on FCP Euro.com (Free Shipping over $50 and Lifetime Replacement on every part no matter the reason (recommend if your have a euro car)). I own a Volvo c30 (which is actually a ford). I am soon to be an owner of the Connect potentially, although contemplating a MB Metris. I plan on doing the majority of maintenance and service myself. Can anyone recommend any online webstores that have discounted parts? A Free Shipping would be great too. And would it be to much to ask about a lifetime replacement... haha. What about any aftermarket sites as well? Or is it generally best to just buy from Ford.com/ Dealer? Appreciate your advice. I searched the form briefly, and did not see what I was looking for. I apologize if this topic has been covered before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnectWGB Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 Also! Any links to DIY videos/ write ups would be cool! And a recommended scan tool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 I have no idea about the European market. In the US, Ford has a website. More than likely, there is an EU version of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnectWGB Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am in the US, but buy from that company (a US company that sells euro car parts). So basically, for repairs, you just buy from the dealership Thanks for the reply! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I buy from anyplace with the best pricing and availability. I start with Ford Parts to find the right part and part number. I can usually find an auto parts distributor selling the parts for less than dealer price. Online sellers often have better pricing. A local distributor usually has parts in stock. Online sellers ship within days. Ford dealer only if I need the parts immediately, and nobody else has it. A lot of times, I will buy aftermarket parts. I don't care if it's a Motorcraft part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 On 10/1/2022 at 9:11 PM, ConnectWGB said: recommended scan tool I get by with FORScan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Ridley Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 (edited) The TC is more of a commodity than a Volvo (wife drives a 2020 V60). It shares parts with other common Fords (Focus, Escape etc). Online dealerships are useful for Ford-only parts (like the shifter holding bracket and bushing from the recall) but aftermarket parts work for most repairs. I use Rockauto.com. Shipping can take a while but the prices and selection are very good. Edited October 3, 2022 by Don Ridley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnectWGB Posted October 3, 2022 Author Share Posted October 3, 2022 Fifty150 and Don Ridley. Appreciate your answers! I will look into FORScan and I use RockAuto often for my other non euro cars. Sounds like just go with the cheapest! Works for me haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 My car is a 2016. I've spent some money on aftermarket modifications. Backup camera. Radio. USB power ports. LED lights. LED light bar. I bought most of the stuff from Amazon. I added what I wanted because my barebones commercial model came with nothing. Only an AM radio. I bought a set of tires. That's normal wear. I'll buy a new battery sooner or later. Normal wear. Wiper blades. Normal wear. I bought tires from a tire shop. Not the dealership. Didn't feel the need to buy OEM tires. I'll probably buy the battery from Costco. I'm not spending double at the dealership for a battery. Costco sells Interstate batteries, and they are priced about half of what a dealership charges for Motorcraft. You can buy whatever wipers you like, from any store. 29" wiper blades are expensive, no matter what you buy. It's 2022. I've had it for 6 years. The only maintenance for me has been oil changes, and transmission fluid change. When I changed the air filter the 1st time, I installed an oiled filter. That's it's own controversy and debatable. I got a case of oil filters from Amazon. 12 Motorcraft oil filters were $15. I buy oil where there is a sale, and/or rebate. No preference. Wal-Mart and Costco both sell motor oil for a good price. I expect to change the spark plugs sooner or later. Amazon had Autolite Iridium spark plugs, in a 4 pack, for $9.64. Autolite had a $3 rebate per spark plug. Autolite sent me a $12 rebate, for spark plugs that I paid $9. I expect to replace the brakes sooner or later. I haven't bought those parts yet. I do not foresee anything in the way of major mechanical repair that I will do myself. I am hoping that I don't have an engine or transmission failure. These vans aren't plagued with cooling system failures, even though it's a somewhat sophisticated cooling system. Radiator, thermostat, fan, sensors, and valves all seem to be working without reported failures. I haven't read on the forum where people are reporting failures in the air conditioning. Although for decades, Fords have been known to have failures with the blend door actuators in different models. My biggest issue has been the leaking windshield. That's been fixed under recall. You may not be ordering a lot of parts. What parts did you think you were going to have a hard time ordering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 10 hours ago, Don Ridley said: (like the shifter holding bracket and bushing from the recall) I almost bought those parts to install myself. Then the recall notice came out. The dealership fixed it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnectWGB Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 I am new to fords, I spent my life so far buying 90's and 00's Volvos and basically ended up replacing much of the car haha (hitting at least 250k+ on all of them). Your post is really reassuring to hear. I just ordered the FORscan. I do most of the work myself (just replaced a head gasket bc the exhaust studs sheered off bc rusty exhaust which I am really proud of actually. I am just a youtube mechanic haha.) This will be my first newish car, so your right, in the beginning I should not be ordering a lot. Appreciate your comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 2 hours ago, ConnectWGB said: in the beginning I should not be ordering a lot You won't be stocking up on water pumps, alternators, exhaust manifolds, timing belts, fuel pumps, EGR valves....... or anything like that. Your new Ford comes with a 5 year powertrain warranty. Most of these Ford trucks will last a little past that 5 year warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnectWGB Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 FORScan is awesome! Thanks for the recommendation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friscobandito Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 (edited) Wow, it's like I started this topic myself. @ConnectWGB are you me? I also drive a Volvo C30 that I have done all of the work on myself. I am conditioned to exclusively shop at FCP Euro for repair, IPD/VIVA/Elevate for aftermarket parts, and use VIDA/DICE unit for ECM and OBD2 type things. Most of of this is because the C30 is a rare car, but also support from Volvo either doesn't exist or is offensively priced. So, I buy a FTC and my first question is where do I buy stuff for it? It's good to hear that the answer is anywhere. I do wonder about aftermarket support from online sellers. Is there anyone who specializes in modding the FTC? Edited November 30, 2022 by Friscobandito Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Ridley Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 Only a couple of UK companies mod TCs. Here are some small changes I made to my 2016 TC. Some may still apply to newer models. These vehicles are easy to work on and Forscan will do all that VIDA/DICE does. There are no known performance upgrades to the non-turbo engines on the TC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnectWGB Posted December 6, 2022 Author Share Posted December 6, 2022 (edited) Friscobandito, that is funny haha. Love my c30! I bought a 2015 TC in dark blue and it drives awesome! I got FORSCAN from the recommendation above and it is able to diagnose just like VIDA, but I do not see the intensive repair manual like VIDA comes with, but it only cost $30 bucks for a cable... Unlike VIDA. haha I really recommend. So far this TC has been super easy to work on (converting into a weekend camper) and the engine seems reliable. It also seems to share not identical components, but similar components as the the engine is set up the same with parts being in the same location as the T5. Here is a pic of my c30: Edited December 7, 2022 by ConnectWGB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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