Free lifetime oil change. FCP Euro.

[FlyingTexan]

Here's some "free" FCP Euro oil change math. This is just looking at oil changes in a vacuum without all the other bundlemania stuff you can order and include for your return shipping costs so someone just looking at doing oil changes. I used $12/return based on my location/what I've paid using pirateship.com. So while certainly cheaper, this isn't breaking the bank to just use Wallyworld for effectively the same oil change. Basically like using a rebate with more hassle. This is over ~6 years for 4 vehicles. Simply adding wipers and a cabin filter each year improves the economy of doing this but I wanted to isolate the oil itself as this seems to be the one folks lose their minds over "OMG IT CAN'T BE REAL FREE OIL CHANGES REALLY?". If you lived near FCP clearly it makes this a better deal to not have to ship back. FCP isn't losing money on this.

View attachment 272473

If doing cheap oil it’s nothing crazy but still saves. If running their premium tier oils that cost an arm and a leg, plus an oil/air/cabin air filters it’s an absolute no brainer.

 

[TiGeo]

FCP's legendary Lifetime Replacement Gaurantee. A lot of folks struggle with it. Here's how it works. Please read their info on this including exclusions, how-to, etc. on their website.

Buy part 1 for $X (please read their rules...it's all spelled out w/r to what is included...which is almost everything they sell including consumables). You have now spent $X. Use part 1. When part 1 needs to be replaced, you have to buy part 2. You have now spent $X times 2. Receive part 2. Replace part 1 with part 2. Fill out their online return form (which will have the original order# for part 1 and the new order# for part 2 that is replacing part 1,box up part 1, and return to FCP following their rules on your dollar. I suggest using pirateship and UPS for the lowest-cost return shipping. FCP recieves part 1 and credits your account with $X. You have now spent $X times 2 but recieved a credit for part 1 of $X so your next part 1 (or whatever you want to use the credit to buy) is free (or close enough - the prices fluctuate and generally go up over time but remember....you get $X as store credit, not whatever part 1 sells for today). Do this infinity until you sell your car. You will always be out $X times 2 b/c you don't return whatever you have in your car when you get rid of it/stop using part 1.

I've been doing this for 6 years and at this point have bought around $6K worth of maintenance/repair parts for all of our VW/Audis in the house and it's cost me less than half of that. It's a great deal if you keep track of it, follow the procedures, and bundle your returns.

How do they make money you might ask? B/c most folks 1) don't use it/think it's a hassle/don't buy enough to bother 2) if they do it's for just a few things so not a huge loss (more of a discount) and 3) oh look, while I'm here I'll buy (insert whatever you drop in your cart and don't ever return). Also, FCP is not cheap, they are full-price vs. many other places for parts so you are paying for it in the cost of every item basically.

Thanks for reading/attending my Ted talk.

 

[Zee09]

FCP's legendary Lifetime Replacement Gaurantee. A lot of folks struggle with it. Here's how it works. Please read their info on this including exclusions, how-to, etc. on their website.

Buy part 1 for $X (please read their rules...it's all spelled out w/r to what is included...which is almost everything they sell including consumables). You have now spent $X. Use part 1. When part 1 needs to be replaced, you have to buy part 2. You have now spent $X times 2. Receive part 2. Replace part 1 with part 2. Fill out their online return form (which will have the original order# for part 1 and the new order# for part 2 that is replacing part 1,box up part 1, and return to FCP following their rules on your dollar. I suggest using pirateship and UPS for the lowest-cost return shipping. FCP recieves part 1 and credits your account with $X. You have now spent $X times 2 but recieved a credit for part 1 of $X so your next part 1 (or whatever you want to use the credit to buy) is free (or close enough - the prices fluctuate and generally go up over time but remember....you get $X as store credit, not whatever part 1 sells for today). Do this infinity until you sell your car. You will always be out $X times 2 b/c you don't return whatever you have in your car when you get rid of it/stop using part 1.

I've been doing this for 6 years and at this point have bought around $6K worth of maintenance/repair parts for all of our VW/Audis in the house and it's cost me less than half of that. It's a great deal if you keep track of it, follow the procedures, and bundle your returns.

How do they make money you might ask? B/c most folks 1) don't use it/think it's a hassle/don't buy enough to bother 2) if they do it's for just a few things so not a huge loss (more of a discount) and 3) oh look, while I'm here I'll buy (insert whatever you drop in your cart and don't ever return). Also, FCP is not cheap, they are full-price vs. many other places for parts so you are paying for it in the cost of every item basically.

Thanks for reading/attending my Ted talk.

Do they sell new cars

 

[Indyxc]

Got $55 bucks back just recently for my gt3 filter. I even cut it open to inspect it and no issue!

 

[FlyingTexan]

I've had two credits for a total of about $300. Not bad. Not everything needs to be in the same order. I do oil, cabin, and engine air filters all at once. I'm not going to look a gifted horse in the mouth and just accept it. Wish they had more options for their oils so a bit limited to what they have but since I change it every few months it's already paid for itself.

 

[mitsuman47]

FCP's legendary Lifetime Replacement Gaurantee. A lot of folks struggle with it. Here's how it works. Please read their info on this including exclusions, how-to, etc. on their website.

Buy part 1 for $X (please read their rules...it's all spelled out w/r to what is included...which is almost everything they sell including consumables). You have now spent $X. Use part 1. When part 1 needs to be replaced, you have to buy part 2. You have now spent $X times 2. Receive part 2. Replace part 1 with part 2. Fill out their online return form (which will have the original order# for part 1 and the new order# for part 2 that is replacing part 1,box up part 1, and return to FCP following their rules on your dollar. I suggest using pirateship and UPS for the lowest-cost return shipping. FCP recieves part 1 and credits your account with $X. You have now spent $X times 2 but recieved a credit for part 1 of $X so your next part 1 (or whatever you want to use the credit to buy) is free (or close enough - the prices fluctuate and generally go up over time but remember....you get $X as store credit, not whatever part 1 sells for today). Do this infinity until you sell your car. You will always be out $X times 2 b/c you don't return whatever you have in your car when you get rid of it/stop using part 1.

I've been doing this for 6 years and at this point have bought around $6K worth of maintenance/repair parts for all of our VW/Audis in the house and it's cost me less than half of that. It's a great deal if you keep track of it, follow the procedures, and bundle your returns.

How do they make money you might ask? B/c most folks 1) don't use it/think it's a hassle/don't buy enough to bother 2) if they do it's for just a few things so not a huge loss (more of a discount) and 3) oh look, while I'm here I'll buy (insert whatever you drop in your cart and don't ever return). Also, FCP is not cheap, they are full-price vs. many other places for parts so you are paying for it in the cost of every item basically.

Thanks for reading/attending my Ted talk.

@TiGeo What happens if they stop selling the item I purchased the first time? Or, if the item
I bought the first time is now out of stock? Will they allow substitutions for the 2nd purchase, and still allow me to return and receive credit for the first purchase?

I’ve been buying from FCP for a few years now, but just now getting to use their replacement program.

 

[TiGeo]

@TiGeo What happens if they stop selling the item I purchased the first time? Or, if the item
I bought the first time is now out of stock? Will they allow substitutions for the 2nd purchase, and still allow me to return and receive credit for the first purchase?

I’ve been buying from FCP for a few years now, but just now getting to use their replacement program.

I'm not quite sure so easiest to just reach out to their customer service. I would suppose they allow subs but again, not sure here.

 

[f355spider]

I only started returning stuff over the past couple years, even though I am a long time FCP Euro customer.
Last year I got about $200 in credit (transmission fluid, filter and gasket service along with engine air filter and cabin filters). This year over $800, as I rebuilt the front suspension again on my E39 540 M-Sport, and also returned some oil filters, engine air filter and cabin filters.
I have a commerical rate account with Fed Ex so it only cost me $20 to send a ton of stuff all the way across the country for the return.

 

[f355spider]

@TiGeo What happens if they stop selling the item I purchased the first time? Or, if the item
I bought the first time is now out of stock? Will they allow substitutions for the 2nd purchase, and still allow me to return and receive credit for the first purchase?

I’ve been buying from FCP for a few years now, but just now getting to use their replacement program.

They allow substitutions for a similar part, even if the replacement is less, you get full credit. Even if you have to source from another vendor. It is spelled out in the terms and conditions page. Look it up. I returned a steering center link made by TRW, but they only sell Lemforder now for my BMW...it was less expensive than the TRW, but I got the full credit from the original TRW purchase.

 

[scrllock]

@TiGeo What happens if they stop selling the item I purchased the first time? Or, if the item
I bought the first time is now out of stock? Will they allow substitutions for the 2nd purchase, and still allow me to return and receive credit for the first purchase?

This spells out the current policy:

• Refunds will be for the price of the original part purchase

• Example 1: You purchased brake pads for $50.00 in 2020. Those same brake pads now cost $55.00. You will be credited $50 at the time of completion.
• Example 2: You purchased an oil change kit for $60.00 in 2020. That same oil change kit now costs $48.00. You will be credited $60 at the time of completion.

Substitutions are very straightforward, I've changed brands between brake rotors, spark plugs, etc. The same policy applies even if the brands are different prices.

The only weird exception is that if they no longer stock the part at all, then you can return it for credit (or a refund if you bought it prior to the Nov '22 store credit vs. refund change). You probably need to open a support case for this though.

 

[TiGeo]

How does FCP make money on the LRG? Here you go. "Please buy stuff." and guess what? You/I will and it will be more than store credit amount....

 

[Stimp]

Got my first credits today - $120 for ATF, wipers, and a cabin filter.

Question - if you order over $49 in parts with credit do they still ship for free?

 

[TiGeo]

Got my first credits today - $120 for ATF, wipers, and a cabin filter.

Question - if you order over $49 in parts with credit do they still ship for free?

Of course.

 

[Zee09]

Of course.

Hey you should be half dead....
Chill

 

[TiGeo]

Hey you should be half dead....
Chill

I can always respond to an FCP LRG question.

 

[shortyb]

@TiGeo What happens if they stop selling the item I purchased the first time? Or, if the item
I bought the first time is now out of stock? Will they allow substitutions for the 2nd purchase, and still allow me to return and receive credit for the first purchase?

I’ve been buying from FCP for a few years now, but just now getting to use their replacement program.

They do LRG with substitutions, and allow for substitutions as replacements if they are acceptable to you. I've had a couple instances where the original item purchased is no longer stocked. Recent example for me, Penthosin DSG fluid. When I reordered fluid for replacement, they asked me is I would accept Fuchs oil since they no longer had the Pentosin. Told them I would rather use the OE VW fluid instead and they sent me that, but at the Fuchs price. When I returned the Pentosin fluid, I got credit for the original price of it instead of the lower price of the Fuchs. Only took one call to customer service to get all straightened out and it was really simple. Had same thing happen with Bosch/OE wiper blades and Mann/OE cabin air filters. Every time they were very accommodating. FCP takes care of their customers.