Apple Expands Do-It-Yourself Repair Program to M3 Macs

[MacRumors]

Apple will soon expand its self-service repair program to the M3 iMac, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, and M3 16-inch MacBook Pro, according to a trio of support documents published today. (Update: Parts and manuals for M3 Macs are now available — see below).

First introduced in the U.S. in 2022, Apple's repair program lets customers purchase genuine Apple parts and tools. Apple also provides manuals so that customers can repair their devices without having to visit an Apple retail location or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Repairs have been available for Apple's notebooks and desktops since 2022, but repair components and instructions for the M3 models were just made available.

The support document covering the M3 MacBook Pro models details replacing the bottom casing of a MacBook, the parts needed to make a repair, and what tools are necessary to complete the repair. For the iMac, Apple provides a detailed list of part numbers required for various repairs on the display, logic board, fans, housing, and more.

At the time of writing, some of the part numbers listed in the support documents are not available on Apple's Self Service Repair Store, but we will likely see them added soon. It is not clear when Apple plans to announce the expansion of the repair program to M3 Macs.

(Thanks Nicolás Álvarez!)

Update: Now Live

Following our report, Apple has added parts for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and iMac with M3, M3 Pro, and/or M3 Max chips to its self-service repair store in the U.S. and select European countries. Apple has also published repair manuals for these MacBook Pro and iMac models on its website.

In a press release, Apple announced a few related changes.

First, it is making Apple Diagnostics available for M3 Macs in the U.S. early next month:

Launched late last year for iPhone and Mac, Apple Diagnostics troubleshooting sessions give customers the same ability as Apple Authorized Service Providers and Independent Repair Providers to test devices for optimal part functionality and performance, as well as identify which parts may need repair.

Second, Apple is making the System Configuration process easier for all Mac models in all countries where the self-service repair program is available:

Mac users will no longer need to contact the Self Service Repair support team to run the final step of a repair, but the team will still be available to assist as needed. The updated process will become available early next month in all countries where Self Service Repair is supported.

Article Link: Apple Expands Do-It-Yourself Repair Program to M3 Macs

 

[joelypolly]

Quietly waiting for the complainers to come out saying how this is not enough.

Edit: I feel like I need to clarify this statement since iFixit has done a wonderful job of making it seem like the repair program is crazy (because of money obviously since iFixit estimate revenue has been between 20 to 40 million a year). Lets list out how they have done this

• Apple provides extremely detail repair manual that outlines ever step and what you need to be careful of when disassembling has turned in to complains of woe is me because how can I possibly read a 170 page manual when I want to repair something. (see the jokes about it being like a quantum machanics book but in practices its just a lot of images showing you where and how)
• Apple provides parts at relatively reasonable costs compared to the second hand market and other non OEM parts. The M1 Air screen replacement is 307 from Apple, and 399.99 from iFixit (not OEM in a used housing). Like WFT why isn't people complaining about that?
• Apple rents me hardware that they use to repair the same hardware has become its not environmentally friendly to ship this, why can't I just wing it and use what I have? The cost to the environment from a CO2 perspective to ship the tools too you and back is about the same as you going on a typicaly grocery trip or less than if you were more than 4 miles away from an Apple Store. And we all know that having the right tools means you can do a better job.
• Apple makes hardware with one of the lowerest failure rates in the industry but has some how turned in to a simple repairability score by iFixit. While I agree easier to repair hardware is better the otherside is also true that hardware that doesn't fail in the first place is better no? If you reduce iPhone failure by 50 basis points (0.5%) that is 1.2 million less repairs a year but the cost might be you need to use stronger glue to ensure better water sealing leading to more difficult repairs but consumers and the environment still comes out ahead.

/endrant

 

[D-a-a-n]

Quietly waiting for the complainers to come out saying how this is not enough

It's not enough.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I feel this is well intentioned but mostly unpractical and actually counterproductive for the environment. Delivering and posting back all those support materials has a carbon footprint too.

And its all because the products are not made with repair in mind in the first instance.

 

[majus]

Some people though, will try to make a repair and still end up taking it in for repair.

 

[jarman92]

So I guess Apple is never going to make MacBook batteries available separately from the top case as they promised like 2 years ago?

 

[jarman92]

I feel this is well intentioned but mostly unpractical and actually counterproductive for the environment. Delivering and posting back all those support materials has a carbon footprint too.

And its all because the products are not made with repair in mind in the first instance.

They actually are made with repair in mind, and increasingly so, but Apple doesn't want customers doing repairs themselves. They clearly only made self-service repair available so they could say it's an option.

 

[vegetassj4]

I recieved the do-it-yourself repair manual today:

 

[TokyoKiller]

So I guess Apple is never going to make MacBook batteries available separately from the top case as they promised like 2 years ago?

Where and when was this?

 

[eicca]

Quietly waiting for the complainers to come out saying how this is not enough

Allow me to enlighten you.

When a "self repair" program costs more than taking it to the "authorized repair center," that's just Apple monetizing the fact that you're smart and industrious.

The whole point of acquiring and developing skills is to solve problems for yourself, save money, make economic gain, etc. This is Apple's most ingeniously-malicious compliance yet. Not to mention filthy hypocrisy. They try to make it as enticing as possible to just buy a whole new computer, loading our landfills with otherwise-salvageable machines.

I got lucky with my mom's M1 Macbook Air and was able to replace it with an eBay salvage screen for $200, and only lost True Tone. Otherwise she would have had to replace the entire thing.

Oh, and in case you somehow believe the lies that "authorized technicians" are the only way to get quality work done, let me tell you the number of times I've had an "authorized technician" do the job correctly, whether on my Apple products, car, bike, or anything else I own: ZERO.

Let me tell you the number of times everyone I know has had something come back from an "authorized technician" properly fixed: ZERO.

 

[Scipster]

Nice! One step closer to adding the Vision Pro

 

[jarman92]

Where and when was this?

From The Verge in August 2022: "Apple spokesperson Patrick Leahy confirmed to The Verge that a battery replacement part will eventually be available, but wouldn’t say when."

 

[Harry Haller]

Quietly waiting for the complainers to come out saying how this is not enough

Thanks for getting the ball rolling.
Gotta love these preemptive doozies.

 

[JosephAW]

What? Replacing the foot or power cord? Everything else is glued.

 

[btrach144]

I feel this is well intentioned but mostly unpractical and actually counterproductive for the environment. Delivering and posting back all those support materials has a carbon footprint too.

And its all because the products are not made with repair in mind in the first instance.

This is not well intentioned. Apple is knowingly doing the bare minimum to avoid legal troubles with right to repair laws. This allows them to say, “we allow customers the ability to repair their own products, even if it takes mailing 100 pounds of equipment to their home.”

It’s an insane program that thumbs the nose at governmental consumer protection agencies.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I feel this is well intentioned but mostly unpractical and actually counterproductive for the environment. Delivering and posting back all those support materials has a carbon footprint too.

It’s either one footprint or another. A company making parts for installation into computers aren’t making just 1 for the person that wants them. They make many many millions all with their own out of the ground costs and packaging costs. Lots that get shipped all over the world, then get shipped again to customers. Many may go from warehouse to warehouse to be stored (climate controlled) and never sell.

And, the person that buys them, well then one must wonder whether or not they’re going to responsibly deal with the packaging the new part came in or the they removed. Or, if that’s all going to the landfill anyway.

 

[allenvanhellen]

They actually are made with repair in mind, and increasingly so, but Apple doesn't want customers doing repairs themselves. They clearly only made self-service repair available so they could say it's an option.

Can you explain to me how an M3 MacBook is MORE reparable than my 2012 MacBook Pro, whose battery, HD/SSD, RAM, and screen I've easily replaced without desoldering or melting glues?

 

[svish]

Good to see more models included in the self repair program.

 

[jarman92]

Can you explain to me how an M3 MacBook is MORE reparable than my 2012 MacBook Pro, whose battery, HD/SSD, RAM, and screen I've easily replaced without desoldering or melting glues?

Well SSD and RAM are upgrades, not repairs. You can absolutely change the battery of a modern MacBook without “desoldering or melting glues,” it’s almost as easy as on that 12-year-old MacBook, and the battery is significantly larger and longer-lasting while the computer is substantially smaller and lighter. And you can actually replace a modern MacBook screen without removing any adhesive whatsoever.

But that’s not really what I was referring to. Apple devices have certainly gotten less upgradable over the years, but they’ve clearly worked to increase repairability in the last few years. For example, battery replacements are much easier on M-series MacBooks than they were at the end of the Intel era, and the iPhone 15s are probably the most repairable iPhones ever.

 

[eicca]

Well SSD and RAM are upgrades, not repairs. You can absolutely change the battery of a modern MacBook without “desoldering or melting glues,” it’s almost as easy as on that 12-year-old MacBook, and the battery is significantly larger and longer-lasting while the computer is substantially smaller and lighter. And you can actually replace a modern MacBook screen without removing any adhesive whatsoever.

But that’s not really what I was referring to. Apple devices have certainly gotten less upgradable over the years, but they’ve clearly worked to increase repairability in the last few years. For example, battery replacements are much easier on M-series MacBooks than they were at the end of the Intel era, and the iPhone 15s are probably the most repairable iPhones ever.

iPhone 4 and 5 were still far easier to fix. 2011 MBP batteries just bolt in

 

[boss.king]

Still waiting for this to be more widely available.

 

[macfacts]

Some people though, will try to make a repair and still end up taking it in for repair.

Apple doesn't provide free repair services though.

 

[BryanElliott]

Batteries need to be easily replaceable. It shouldn't be that a perfectly working device such as my watch should be obsolete in a year or two just because the battery goes dead.

 

[AlmightyKang]

Quietly waiting for the complainers to come out saying how this is not enough

iFixit will be complaining by the end of the day.

Their entire business is about complaining about this. Then selling you crap parts and tools. Obviously if Apple do right then it compromises their business, so they will find increasingly bizarre things to whine about.

 

[AlmightyKang]

Apple doesn't provide free repair services though.

Looks around room. Um, neither does anyone.