Finding Car & Auto Parts in Andalusia
By Dee McMath
In Andalusia, as with anywhere in the world, the search for the
right auto part for your vehicle, boat or machinery is a potentially
time-consuming exercise. For those living in Andalusia the task
can be made more difficult if you speak little or no Spanish. Even
for fluent Spanish speakers, discussing engine parts can present
an extra challenge.
When the component in question is for a car manufactured or commonly
sold in Spain, the best solution is often to go straight to the
local car dealer, who will normally have a 'taller' (workshop)
for servicing and selling parts. Andalusia has no shortage of dealers
of most car makes. In the Marbella area, for example, there are
plenty of dealers of new and second hand cars at the top of the
range, including Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Rolls Royce, Lotus,
Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini, etc. Makes with more accessible models
such as Ford, Seat, Fiat, Opel, VW, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Renault,
etc. are all well represented in Andalusia.
While some of the more prestigious and well known car dealers
have their showrooms in and around the main towns, as is the case
in Marbella, Malaga and Seville, many garages and car brokers are
likely to run their business from a 'poligono industrial'
(industrial estate). These estates are usually well sign posted
from the main road or motorway and often have names, such as (in
Fuengirola) Polígono La Vega and (in Malaga) Poligono
Santa Barbara and Polígono Guadalhorce. Finding the specific
Polígono that you are looking for is sometimes less of a
challenge than actually locating the 'Nave' (lot) occupied
by the garage or dealer in question. Once you know your way around,
it is fine. But the larger of these estates can be a little overwhelming
and often have an almost labyrinth-like quality. Driving round a
hot dusty industrial estate can be disorientating and disheartening
sometimes, but it is often worth it when you find what you need
at a good price.
The 'desguace' (car scrap yard) is another source for finding
parts from cars which may have been written off in an accident,
but still have useful working parts. This is also somewhere to take
an accident-damaged car and sell it, if it has been written off.
Around the area of Malaga airport, in the Polígono Industrial
Guadalorce, there are a couple of deguaces, one of which
is called 'Scrap Yard - Auto Desguace El Inglés' (Ctra Azucarera-Intelhorce,
Nave 7 : Tel 952 241551). The major towns in each province of Andalusia
inevitably have a few 'desguaces' within the municipality.
These are very usually clearly visible from the main road by an
often brightly painted car hoisted high up on a pole, which can
be seen for all directions at a good distance. Another name sometimes
given to the desguaces is cementerio de coches (car graveyard).
'Piezas de recambio' (spare parts) often gives rise to
the name of a spare parts or auto accessories business including
the word 'recambios' in its company name. For example if you live
in the Estepona area, Recambios Simon is in the Polígono Industrial,
Calle Franklin, 9, Tel: 952 749 840. Many companies produce unbranded
parts at lower prices, so it is best to ask your dealer what's available,
checking the quality and guarantees before you buy.
Most of the main garages and auto parts suppliers will be able
to check on sophisticated computer systems to see if they have the
part you require, but there are still some smaller, family run garages
that use the old microfiche system. Although the latter is less
efficient, sometimes the more personal attention given can prove
just as successful. This will depend on the individual business
as well as your command of the Spanish language. When dealing with
a small Spanish run garage or auto accessories shop, you can hardly
expect every mechanic and shop worker to speak fluent English. The
larger businesses, especially along the Costa del Sol, are accustomed
to dealing with clients of many different nationalities, most of
which are English-speaking and you will normally be understood.
With the vast numbers of foreigners now living in Andalusia and
particularly in the coastal areas, there are companies which specifically
cater for this market. Some have compiled an impressive data base
of information for buying parts and accessories. One such company
is The Parts Finders. Whether you need parts for classic or modern
cars, motorcycles, marine craft, caravans, motor homes, commercial
vehicles or even plant and garden machinery - you are likely to
locate it through The Parts Finders. You can contact them by fax,
e-mail or phone and will always be able to communicate in English.
Contacting a company such as this, with many years of experience
and dedication to collecting a massive bank of information, can
save you hours of frustrating searching. The quick delivery and
easy payment systems is also set up to reduce time and worry to
a minimum.
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Parts Finders
International parts sourcing and supply for cars, motorbikes
and light commercial vehicles.
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