So about two years ago now I bought a PS3. It was a 20GB refurbished unit which I bought on eBay for $325 at the time (I wanted full backwards compatability and the 80GB didn't offer that). It has, up till today, functioned without an issue.

Today I noticed the drive was spinning haltingly. This was causing some discs to not read properly, because the drive wasn't spinning up to normal speed. I am, for example, unable to use my netflix disc on it (well, it's my exgirlfriend's netflix disc but that's a story for another day). So I'm reasonably hardware savvy after upgrading my computer numerous times, cleaning out my PS2 god knows how many times, and rebuilding my PSP, so I figured I'd give it a look myself.

I disassembled my PS3 down to the Blu-ray drive, which I then removed and disassembled as well. Within this drive, what did my eyes behold but a red felt leaf from a fake plant. I have never seen this leaf in my life. There is no way, by any chance, that it got in there while I owned the PS3. So my supposedly refurbished unit was sold to me with said leaf inside. I removed the leaf, but the drive is still clearly damaged, and not spinning up to speed, and still not reading some discs because of it. It's quite likely that said leaf caused the drive motor's early demise, and I'm now quite pissed that I need to replace the drive.

I'm left with the options of paying Sony $150 to even look at the PS3, plus the cost of the new drive, or replacing it myself. I choose to replace it myself. It will cost $40 for a new drive on eBay, which won't come with a lens or motherboard for the drive, but since it seems to  be clearly the motor that's the issue my current lens and motherboard should be completely in tact. If someone disagrees with this assessment feel free to let me know, but I'd say I'm fairly safe in buying a replacement drive.

So why did I type all this out to you? Because I was pissed and needed to rant about it.

That really sucks, but it's also really funny.

At least you can take solace in the fact that the seller sent you both a ps3 and a leaf, despite only charging you for the ps3.  Free goods!

Why would he put a leaf inside anyways. I mean it might be alright to do it in books, but hardware....

Your pretty lucky dude that it didnt do more damage

actually changing the blu ray drive is pretty easy Ive litterally just took apart my old 40gb to see what im doing (the blu ray lense died) you can find many guide/tutorials on youtube that are very detailed, its more about being carefull and patiant, if you want to fix the lense then it starts to get complicated, but just replacing the drive is fine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qztw_aUBQhI

heres one that helped me most , hope it helps!

Oh and edit: WFT how the hell did a leaf manage to get in there ha ha?

Sounds like a good plan, but where can you get a replacement drive, surely its really rare to get one with the same hardward specifications of your PS3?? seeing as the 40gb arnt manufactured anymore anyway...

He sells specific models on ebay, I know it's pretty dodgy trusting someone on ebay but he seem geniun and even makes a video on how to do it after, I doubt he would sell you a dud, I'm hoping to get one when i get paid this friday,and ill let you know if ive had a success and if he is trusted.

Ahh, cool, well let us know how it goes. its not that dodgy when you think about it, because there were probabily a lot of unused parts when Sony stopped production of their fat PS3s, someone has probabily managed to get a hold of them. or even possibily taken them out of 2nd hand consoles.

i had the same thing happen to my PS1 once and i just switched the laser with that of a different PS1 console, still works too !!

When you buy a replacement drive you don't get a replacement motherboard or lens with it (unless you wanna pay twice as much), so I'll have to change out the lens and board too, installing them from my old one. Aslo, I'm not really lucky at all lol. It was in the drive, it couldn't really damage anything but the drive, and it did damage the drive.

I ordered a new one but it won't come till next week during which time I'll be at E3, so it'll be a couple weeks till I've got my PS3 working again.