Warranty/spare parts for older models

Hi folks,

I was wondering - what does availability of spare parts look like for older models?

I bought my m17x r4 at the beginning of February (I will have had it for 5 months when the new r5 comes out) and my warranty ends in November but I will surely extend it.
As I understand r4 is being phased out. What if e.g. my MB dies next year? Does Dell keep stocks of spares for older models?

I am especially curious because a Dell tech damaged my media control panel a bit when he was replacing my screen right at the beginning.
I am not complaining because Dell exchanged my screen with a dead pixel although they did not have to, so I am grateful. The dead pixel was much more of a pain for me.
But my chassis got a bit chipped (the rubber coating where he used a screwdriver to pry the control panel) and the bezel around the keyboard is not flush with the rest of the chassis – at the front it stands out for like two millimeters. Also where the media buttons are it is also slightly warped and it looks like one of the plastic latches isn’t holding the panel down and I think it touches the screen a bit…
I can live with it and just put some cloth on the keyboard but thought that maybe one day if anything inside (touch wood) breaks down I could also ask to have the media panel replaced. For now I do not want anyone disassembling it just because of a few gaps.

Guys with r1s/2s/3rs – have you ever had any problems with availability of spares?

Thanks a lot for your input!

 

Dell does tend to keep a backstock and it would only be very old models that struggle usually.

 

from my experience its hard to find model specific stuff like motherboards, and i/o boards.

i lost $200 looking for a motherboard for m17x r2.

Pro tip: dont buy parts that require's it to go to the customs.

 

Or just be aware of said costs and factor them in

 

Dell will keep stock till even super extended warranties are there. My m1730 had gpu changed under warranty in 2012, almost 6yrs since I got the laptop and dell still tried to sell me more extended warranty, lol.

Once laptops reach 6yr mark, I just part them out and they fetch me more than selling them as whole

 

OK, great - wow - six years is a long time. Maybe, I'll ask for the panel one day.
Thanks for your replies, guys.

 

We normally keep stock for replacements as long as there are still PC's under warranty.

 

Thank you very much for the confirmation, Luis - it's good to know the stock's going to be there. If I ever have to use the warranty again (hope not) for my r4, I might ask to have the control panel replaced too.
Best regards and thanks again,

 

No problem, we are here to help.