New Stuff on Vehicles likes/dislikes

[alldodge]

When I turn a turn signal on the center 14 inch display shows everything on that side of the truck. No need to twist your neck way around to look

 

[jlh3rd]

never needed a blind spot device since 1969. Never crossed a lane and hit anyone.
All these wonder devices that cost me money and still people are running into each other at a steady rate.

A autopilot in a airplane does NOT make a good pilot.

 

[flashback]

When I turn a turn signal on the center 14 inch display shows everything on that side of the truck. No need to twist your neck way around to look

I think I'd like that.

 

[Pmt133]

When I turn a turn signal on the center 14 inch display shows everything on that side of the truck. No need to twist your neck way around to look

The denali uses a second camera for that that shows the side profile of the trailer when turning. I honestly like that better than the factory tow mirrors because you see everything.

 

[bruceb58]

When I turn a turn signal on the center 14 inch display shows everything on that side of the truck. No need to twist your neck way around to look

Yep. When I am towing my trailer, it puts a huge red area on the screen to show anything that is in my trailer’s side area.

 

[dingbat]

OK guys, have you looked at your car insurance premiums over the past few years? Notice anything different?
Whether it's politics or the auto companies, car insurance premiums have skyrocketed in the past 4-5 years and high tech expensive to fix vehicles, are an obvious cause.

Must be a NY thing
The beauty of digital record keeping. Have car insurance records back to 2009.

In 2009 I paid $1,225 a year for a 2002 Tahoe and a 1990 Honda Civic.

Fast forward to 2026, $2,645 for 2008 Civic, 2016 F150 and 2023 CX9 Signature.

If I remove the CX9 or the F150 to make a valid comparison, I’m still looking at $1,225 in 2009 verse ~$1,645 in 2025.

Roughly a 30% increase over 15 years~ 2% annually

 

[dingbat]

Average GM tail or head light that is LED is $1,500 and modules hover around that cost.

How do you justify $1,500 to your customers for a $53-$120 module?

https://g.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/gm-blind-spot-detection-system-warning-sensor-85537900

https://parts.chevypartspros.com/parts/gm-blind-spot-detection-system-warning-sensor-85537901?srsltid=AfmBOoovEde3p4eleK5KsI0Gao_simGZ8_E97JzzfL4Q_b6ta1qkvrnr

 

[Scott Danforth]

You can't just take a GM module and plug it in. You must use the tech 2 or equivalent and initialize it to the system

So if you have the Tech 2 or equivalent and can initialize the module. Then yes, it's a $200 part

GM dealers will not take parts you buy from on-line GM parts warehouses. At least the one in Florida and Wisconsin won't. BTDT with BCMs, ABS, window and key fob remote modules.

The GM dealer charges full MSRP price unless your standing there with the dealer GM, the service advisor and the parts counter guy. Best price I negotiated has been 15% over dealer cost

Still had to pay a service charge and hour of labor for the tech to plug in, initialize the module and full out the work order.

I do have an independent mechanic that will initialize modules. His last fee was $100. You must bring the vehicle to him, and he only does it on his schedule. So with a BCM, that is usually a 5-8 day wait.

VW and Audi are similar, not accepting parts you bring in, so it appears to not be a GM only thing

 

[Pmt133]

My dealer will do parts for me that I bring in... but the head of service is a friend so that helps.... that being said, my dealer likes to order by vin. A lot of people (not anyone here per say) don't do that and end up with the wrong parts for their vehicle despite being similar. My escalade was a nightmare even with the vin though as the vin said one module but it was wrong so that isn't always a sure bet either.

I totally understand not installing customer supplied parts. I refuse to do it because more often than not its crap and then they try to warranty issues through us. My dealer and manufacturer will not honor the 3 year warranty on parts purchased through non authorized vendors either. 30 days, that's it. It even has a different part number to distinguish it. I'll work on it but you're
1. Not a priority
2. Paying for my time since I didn't get the sale.
You buy through me I'll get someone out there at 2 am if you need it back now. And if I can't get it fixed my master service guy from the manufacturer for the northeast will be out there same day with the fix.

 

[Lou C]

I’ll go back to what I said without assigning causes:
What has all these improvements wrought:
More safety yes but:
Many young people just cannot afford a new vehicle and neither can many retired folks. For many it’s either chronic leasing (the payment that’s never done), bare bones econo cars or used. Example
We bought a new Jeep Wrangler in 2017, the same vehicle now with all these improvements fully 30% more expensive. That puts many of those former customers out of the market for new ones. If you can afford it well great but there’s a downside to it being forced on EVERYONE!

 

[flashback]

I’ll go back to what I said without assigning causes:
What has all these improvements wrought:
More safety yes but:
Many young people just cannot afford a new vehicle and neither can many retired folks. For many it’s either chronic leasing (the payment that’s never done), bare bones econo cars or used. Example
We bought a new Jeep Wrangler in 2017, the same vehicle now with all these improvements fully 30% more expensive. That puts many of those former customers out of the market for new ones. If you can afford it well great but there’s a downside to it being forced on EVERYONE!

I suppose it may cause a glut of used cars on the market that no one wants due to the cost of these electronic parts.

 

[Jeff J]

They are turning cars into “white elephants”. Great to get initially. Impossible for many to keep.

 

[Lou C]

To me to be told that you can’t pass inspection because your back up camera is dead & it’s $2 grand to replace and your headlight unit which must be initialized for another grand is just insane, and elitist I might add. No respect for people who work hard & don’t make that kind of cash. It just isn’t right for this to be forced on everyone either via regulation or marketing. Just saw an article in the WSJ that buyer resistance to prices had really hit. They have had it!

Just how did we all survive then with our old simple cars? Answer we developed better skills like backing trailers parallel parking big full size cars & driving in snow with those same rear drive cars. When I worked in and around NYC I could easily parallel park a full size mid 70s GM (226” long; a current Ford Expedition is about the same size) in a normal space. And now I watch people struggle with by comparison pint sized RAV4s etc with a back up camera!


we had one of these

and one of these
These full size GM's were tough, rugged, cheap to maintain and like battleships. About the best thing to have cruising the mean streets of NYC.

 

[Lou C]

https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/american-consumers-have-had-it-with-high-car-prices-0eb23424

 

[Jeff J]

What needs to happen is everyone needs to write their Congressmen and ask them why they voted to implement some expensive safety features and/or haven’t limited what the automakers are forcing onto us. Remind them not everyone makes as much money as they do then ask them what the plan is for when America’s low income workers can’t get to work anymore. A lot of us don’t have access to buses, trains or even taxis.

 

[jlh3rd]

I could whip my '77 monte into a parallel spot between 2 cars faster than you could say, " you want what for a new 2025 tail light?"

 

[Scott Danforth]

I suppose it may cause a glut of used cars on the market that no one wants due to the cost of these electronic parts.

Like the new cyber truck. $0 trade in because no one wants them. So if you own one, you better like it, because it has no value

 

[matt167]

How do you justify $1,500 to your customers for a $53-$120 module?

https://g.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/gm-blind-spot-detection-system-warning-sensor-85537900

https://parts.chevypartspros.com/parts/gm-blind-spot-detection-system-warning-sensor-85537901?srsltid=AfmBOoovEde3p4eleK5KsI0Gao_simGZ8_E97JzzfL4Q_b6ta1qkvrnr

Those are the

How do you justify $1,500 to your customers for a $53-$120 module?

https://g.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/gm-blind-spot-detection-system-warning-sensor-85537900

https://parts.chevypartspros.com/parts/gm-blind-spot-detection-system-warning-sensor-85537901?srsltid=AfmBOoovEde3p4eleK5KsI0Gao_simGZ8_E97JzzfL4Q_b6ta1qkvrnr

that is for current model year vehicles, which are cheap because of being under warranty. GM keeps them cheap for themselves basically. Once you get a little older, and even into discontinued years. 2017 or so, hang on, especially the side detection modules. The lights themselves always are $700-1,500 depending on model. Cadillac Escalade lights are closer to $2000 if not more. GM will only warranty lights if they are absolutely perfect condition. A crack voids warranty

 

[matt167]

You can't just take a GM module and plug it in. You must use the tech 2 or equivalent and initialize it to the system

So if you have the Tech 2 or equivalent and can initialize the module. Then yes, it's a $200 part

GM dealers will not take parts you buy from on-line GM parts warehouses. At least the one in Florida and Wisconsin won't. BTDT with BCMs, ABS, window and key fob remote modules.

The GM dealer charges full MSRP price unless your standing there with the dealer GM, the service advisor and the parts counter guy. Best price I negotiated has been 15% over dealer cost

Still had to pay a service charge and hour of labor for the tech to plug in, initialize the module and full out the work order.

I do have an independent mechanic that will initialize modules. His last fee was $100. You must bring the vehicle to him, and he only does it on his schedule. So with a BCM, that is usually a 5-8 day wait.

VW and Audi are similar, not accepting parts you bring in, so it appears to not be a GM only thing

A lot of modules in a GM don’t actually need to be programmed.. the main ones obviously do, but things like side detection, fuel pump driver modules and a couple others usually don’t need programmed. Sometimes they need a calibration which a bi directional scanner will do. Many modules that do need programmed cannot be programmed to a new VIN once used. Transmission control modules can be re programmed I know

 

[Lou C]

that's why I called it a conspiracy
the auto makers do it because they can, even if not required by fed regulations
I'd rather keep my old vehicles and patronize aftermarket companies like Crown, Omix/Ada etc, and salvage yards, than these robber barons. Yes aftermarket can be sketchy but I got a perferctly good pair of OEM style headlamps for my 2007 Grand (Crown aftermarket) for $125 each, not $300 each OEM. Also got a pair of ECE H-4 lamps for my 98 Grand for $45 each. Far better than the terrible DOT lights that came standard on those.
As long as I can get modules, etc for the oldsters, that's fine by me.