Ask Lemmy

Maybe you don't realize but one of the major issues with modern cars is firmware compatibility. Porsche is super egregious about it, others do it. But basically let's say you take a gearbox out of a specific car because it's wrecked. You need a laptop from a dealer to pair the replacement. They not only will not sell you the software or connector, they have legal protections that say they don't have to.

That's pretty cool honesty.

However, I'm personally more concerned about the move away from cheap, off the shelf, replacement parts and simple, standardised designs, and more towards costly assemblies, highly integrated mechanical designs that are very complex to disassemble and repair, and deliberately anti-repair preactices that push consumers back towards manufacturers like how phones and laptops have become recently.

I was talking to a coworker the other day about how even simple things like car headlights have become severely integrated and expensive.

When an led in his headlight blew and took out half of the series strip and rendered the entire indicator on one side of his car entirely dead, the only replacement part you could get for it was a replacement headlight cluster, all lights included, for around £500. To replace the cluster meant borderline stripping the front end of the car including the radiator to access 5 screws holding it in place.

On my old car from the mid 2000s, if an indicator light blew, I could fit a new one for £2.50 in under 10 mins. If the cluster smashed a brand new unit would set me back £25 now or around £50 back when it was new. The whole job could be completed though the open bonnet with only a screwdriver.