UK parts - where next ?

[Viridescence]

Retrospectively enjoyed seeing the images of Peter et al stripping down a reclaimed Insight but it does beg the question of where we go from here.

A few months ago I was unfortunate to have my rear windshield smashed by a stone. The insurers were quick enough to put Autoglass on the case who insisted on their payment and required delivery of the vehicle due to the job needing to be done under cover as rain was forecast. However they hadn't sourced the part and then informed me - once I'd got the train back home - that their only option was to order from Japan with at least a 6 week wait.

Undeterred I rang around - searched the web and eventually found someone with one in stock about 200 miles away and more importantly a fitter willing to go and fetch it.

So I got back on the train, nabbed the car back from the clutches of Autoglass and drove as carefully as possible through a rain storm the 8 miles with a large sheet of industrial cling film protecting the 144V in the rear.

Was that the last rear windshield in the UK ? Honda have already informed me they discontinued the 12V batteries 2 years ago and hence supplied me with the wrong one.

Anyone know where reliable sources of components are incase we have to inform the garages in future ?

[UK_MJN]

Good news on the 12V battery front. The parts people at my local Honda dealer spoke to somebody helpful at head office. They said that they have indeed discontinued the replacement for the OE battery (the OE part was discontinued years ago), but they supplied another part number that is a direct replacement for the I1. I bought one so can confirm that it fits perfectly under the clamp and terminals are correct.

I'll post the part number this evening, for reference.

My experience so far is that Honda UK are 100% reliable on finding parts somewhere on the globe, you just have to be patient!

[Nice SIG - I too enjoy 50mph camera-infested motorway roadworks in the Insight - great MPG opportunity]

[Viridescence]

Originally Posted by UK_MJN

Good news on the 12V battery front. The parts people at my local Honda dealer spoke to somebody helpful at head office. They said that they have indeed discontinued the replacement for the OE battery (the OE part was discontinued years ago), but they supplied another part number that is a direct replacement for the I1. I bought one so can confirm that it fits perfectly under the clamp and terminals are correct.

I'll post the part number this evening, for reference.

My experience so far is that Honda UK are 100% reliable on finding parts somewhere on the globe, you just have to be patient!

[Nice SIG - I too enjoy 50mph camera-infested motorway roadworks in the Insight - great MPG opportunity]

That's encouraging - I've always found the Honda dealers to be excellent and lately there seem to be more of them appreciating how good the Gen 1 Insight is and keen to help us ensure they stay on the roads.

[retepsnikrep]

It's basically Honda OEM for 95% of the Insight specific stuff, the other 5% like oil filters/brake pads etc can be sourced via equivalents or pattern parts. Personally I use all Honda parts.

Stuff like windscreens/glass etc can be a royal pita as that's Honda only, sometimes out of stock and comes from Japan or the European warehouse. I'm tempted to buy a windscreen and keep it in stock like I do some of the other bits.

IMHO as a group of UK enthusiasts we need to keep an eye out for every car in the UK, stop and talk to the owners, put notes on them, find out who owns them all, keep a database and group buy every crashed car to strip them down and store parts away for future use. Perhaps we should design a note/business card giving details of this group/forum, keep them in our cars and put one on every one we see in the wild.

I've got enough parts now for my own cars for most of the exotic bits but it is a worry in the future. Things like Cats and the rear suspension member are very expensive.

I predict several serviceable UK cars will go to the scrapyards in next few years as the requirement for a new IMA battery at £2000 will make them uneconomic in their current owners eyes to repair

[Viridescence]

I guess it all comes down to economics and obsolescence in the end. Given the choice of buying something other than a Gen 1 Insight or spending £2000 on a new IMA battery the £2000 is a bargain if it runs for another 12 years - but which other ( otherwise small but not insignificant ) parts have a limited life and are likely to trip us up ?

How many Insights are still on the UK roads ?

Here's mine - Citrus Yellow VIN 000052

[UK_MJN]

As promised, the 12V Battery replacement part# is

31500 SB2 2100M

Price was £55.24 + VAT

I support everything that Peter says here, and would like to see a register (at least) of UK owners. I think the current spares situation (and the proven reliability of the cars) does provide us with a little time to get organized, though it may take something major, like a spares shortage, to provide the spur to action! Right now, I'm only aware of driver's side over mats and side repeaters (UK spec) being reported as unavailable.

[retepsnikrep]

We do have a spreadsheet running for UK/Irish Owners.

I need a working e-mail address sent to me to grant you access.

Check your PM for the link and send me you e-mail address.

[hondansxr]

hi uk insighters
just brought 51 yr in citrus imloving it at mo...
re honda parts i have my nsx in at dealer for abs fault they said parts were avail in belgium but when 1 arrived it was boxed up wrong now got to wait till march 9th for other part
as for i1 i there an override for the engine cut out , as mine does not seem to cut out like it says in handbook ....

[retepsnikrep]

If you mean Autostop that requires a whole host of parameters to be met before it happens. Do some searching on here for details there is loads of info.