Gateway Model Numbers

Actually, this is a multiple part question. I have just been given a Gateway laptop to work on. I have been working with, and repairing IBM Thinkpads, and MAC Powrebooks for about a decade now, and desktops for even longer.

Up until now, every Laptop that I have ever worked on only had one model number to contend with. This Gateway has three. The client has supplied me with the original invoice from when she purchased the machine. which Model number do I use to search for parts?

The three model numbers are as follows:
Stickers on the bottom of the Laptop are
W340UI, and MT3708.
The invoice indicates M-3000

I am running into the same issue for parts. Why are there multiple part numbers for the same item? It seems to me that would hinder repair efforts, and would be counterproductve.

I am looking for a plamrest with touchpad. I contacted Gateway Tech support, and they gave me the supposed part number for what I need which is 8016002R, but when I search for the item, it comes up with this part being for an MT3418. I'm also seeing part number B1835110G00013. which comes up when I enter Model W340UI. When I enter MT3708, I get nothing. The only thing that comes up when I enter M3000 are DC Jacks.

Which part number is correct? In the pictures, they appear to be identical, but the 8016002R says metal in the description where as the other does not.

In all the years that I have been repairing computers have I been so confused, and lost.

Any help would be so greatly appreciated. I think this will be my first, and last Gateway that I work on.

Jim.

 

MT3708 is the model number.

8016002R is the part you would want and is used in several Gateway models.

Description: C-Surface w/Touchpad Module / C-SURFACE W/TOUCHPAD MODULE FOR BRUSHED METAL APACHE

Metal refers to the finish of the piece.

 

Isn't that intersting. Once I took apart my MT3708, I removed the palmrest, and quess what. It's part number B1835110G00013, it's stamped right into the plastic. No where on the part did it indiate part number 8016002R. So exactly how are people supposd to know that the part number is actually another part number that is not found on the part? Why would Gateway list one part number, and the actual part would be stamped wiith an entirely different number? Don't you find that rather asinine?

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I purchased a B1835110G00013 for $10.00 instead of an 8016002R for $225.00, and it fit perfectly.

This really looks like a bait and switch sort of setup on the part of Gateway.

Thanks
Jim.

 

8016002R would be Gateway's part number where as B1835110G00013 is probably the part number of the company who actually manufactured the part.

 

Also, where did you find it for $10? Cheapest I see is in the $80 range

 

eBay. They range from $10.00 to $250.00. There are lots of them for 20-40 bucks. That is also where I just found an 11G mini PCI Wi-Fi card for $1.99 with free shipping cause I just broke the orginal one trying to reconnect the antenna wires, Whoops!! :rolleyes2: The thing is though, if you put in the actual part number, or the actual model number of the Laptop, you will only see the very expensive ones. if you put the secondary model number in i.e. W340UI, you will come up with the lesser expensive parts.