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which is weird, because $1k - $2k retail prices per some electronic modules, like ECU, are not unusual (couple friends had issues with their car where the only

which is weird, because $1k - $2k retail prices per some electronic modules, like ECU, are not unusual (couple friends had issues with their car where the only solution is the replacement of the ECU). That is the price range of pretty decent laptops, which includes not only chips and such, but also display and batteries.

maxerickson 6y ago
Huge markup on the ECU. They are sold into a market where $1000 for an ECU restores thousands of dollars of other stuff to working condition. There's also a whole lot of other chips in cars these days.
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  That's exactly it. Nobody else can duplicate the part, and it turns a brick into something valuable. People will pay up to $WhatTheNonBrickIsWorth to make that happen.
HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
Don't assume that the retail price of a replacement part is the BOM cost used by the manufacturer. It's likely integer multiples (if not an entire order of magnitude) higher. e.g., the replacement cost of a control board in my furnace is around $800, IIRC. I could probably build it for about $30 in parts (ignoring the software in the microcontroller). However, to someone who's evaluating buying a new furnace vs. repair, that $800 is a hell of a lot cheaper than a new furnace.
- extrapickles 6y ago
  The control board for my furnace is ~$150 (gas/condensing). $800 sounds like that includes labor of installation since they are somewhat annoying to replace as you practically need to take half the furnace apart to do so.
- bluGill 6y ago
  When you buy a replacement you are paying for their entire replacement parts chain. Try buying a replacement part for a 10year old computer, if you can it will be more than a new computer.
- hippich 6y ago
  That makes sense, but then why the same market dynamic does not work between retail sales and car parts makers? If the end customer is ready to pay 10x for the part, yet the maker of that part struggles to keep costs down - something weird is going on.

maxerickson 6y ago

Huge markup on the ECU. They are sold into a market where $1000 for an ECU restores thousands of dollars of other stuff to working condition. There's also a whole lot of other chips in cars these days.

Scoundreller 6y ago
That's exactly it. Nobody else can duplicate the part, and it turns a brick into something valuable. People will pay up to $WhatTheNonBrickIsWorth to make that happen.

HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago

Don't assume that the retail price of a replacement part is the BOM cost used by the manufacturer. It's likely integer multiples (if not an entire order of magnitude) higher. e.g., the replacement cost of a control board in my furnace is around $800, IIRC. I could probably build it for about $30 in parts (ignoring the software in the microcontroller). However, to someone who's evaluating buying a new furnace vs. repair, that $800 is a hell of a lot cheaper than a new furnace.

extrapickles 6y ago
The control board for my furnace is ~$150 (gas/condensing). $800 sounds like that includes labor of installation since they are somewhat annoying to replace as you practically need to take half the furnace apart to do so.
bluGill 6y ago
When you buy a replacement you are paying for their entire replacement parts chain. Try buying a replacement part for a 10year old computer, if you can it will be more than a new computer.
hippich 6y ago
That makes sense, but then why the same market dynamic does not work between retail sales and car parts makers? If the end customer is ready to pay 10x for the part, yet the maker of that part struggles to keep costs down - something weird is going on.