Availability of Dell parts (out of interest)

I love Dell's policies of publishing good documentation online for notebook repair.
I know under warranty they will either fix the machine or (in some cases) send you the parts to do so.

What happens out of warranty if you need a new part? Can you buy parts individually? Can third party repair shops buy parts? Or do you have to renew the warranty?

(I know someone who had a problem getting a Sony repaired out of warranty. Sony quoting very high prices to do the work and no-one able to source new parts to offer an alternative repair)

 

You can buy the parts from dells part store.

 

If you bear in mind that Dell does not stock parts new or old - the components from the suppliers only become Dell's property when they enter the manufacturing process or are ordered for warranty/sale, once a model or technology is discontinued suppliers seem to sell parts (depending how proprietary to Dell they are) to third party companies. Dell UK has a few companies that they will refer you to for discontinued components so they obviously have deals with them, their suppiers and third party's to sell on older components no longer used.