I took my 2017 Proton Persona in for a routine service on Tuesday, RM 25 for changing engine oil. I bring my own engine oil.
But things took a turn when the mechanic spotted a humming sound coming from the rear. Then Yesterday I wen again to do a spin test, they confirmed it was a bad wheel bearing and replaced it with an original part on the spot.
Total damage? RM 350.
Honestly, I’m feeling pretty sian.
I started doing the math afterward, and it’s frustrating. I checked online and found the exact same original bearing on Shopee for about RM 100. Even if I bought that and took it to a workshop, labor costs would probably max out at RM 150. That would have saved me an easy RM 100.
Check out ORIGINAL PROTON IRIZ / PERSONA VVT 2016-2024 / SAGA VVT 2019-2024 WHEEL HUB BEARING (REAR) at 10% off! RM76.85 only. Get it on Shopee now! https://my.shp.ee/koadV9Dq
It feels like I got cheated out of that extra hundred, and I’m definitely not happy about it. Lesson learned: next time, I’m buying my own parts!
This shop is selling RM 245.
A quick tip for the future: While DIY-ing your parts purchase definitely saves money, just be sure to verify the seller is selling genuine Proton parts. Sometimes the "cheap" ones on e-commerce platforms are high-quality replicas that might fail faster, which is probably why workshops charge a premium—they are essentially charging for the part's markup and the guarantee that it’s the real deal!
Do you usually prefer buying your own spare parts online, or do you prefer letting the workshop handle everything for the peace of mind?