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cheeseisgood Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2004 Posts: 566
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:30 pm Post subject: Where do you buy your parts? |
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I know the stuff from gowesty is good, but it is also pricey. Where else can I get quality parts, but pay less? I'm looking for brakes(rotors, drums pads, shoes etc.) and A/C compressor. |
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walrus Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: ashland ky
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:23 am Post subject: |
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Just gotta look around. Some places price different parts differently from the others. Some guy is always selling drums and rotors on ebay for a decent price. I try to patronize vw businesses close by as opposed to the opposite coast. Check out the classifieds for a compressor. People are always parting out a van. _________________ 1987 Syncro west. conversion
1991 Jetta gli |
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buspor63 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005 Posts: 1179 Location: Knoxville,TN Where America stops for gas
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: |
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It's also good to locate a local parts house that sells OE stuff. I'm lucky to have Beaman Imports in Knoxville. They primarily just do repair on european cars, but are happy to sell parts as well. They buy out of some of the Cali parts wharehouses and get next day shipping.
I have bought from Bus Depot and GoWesty with good results. |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:33 am Post subject: |
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They all have their strengths. I like to deal with Van-Café, as they even ship before I pay (god, have I bought that much stuff!). I have an engine on order from GoWesty, and they have a fine selection of interior and westy goodies. Bus Depot seems to have stuff no one else has, they once sent me the wrong gas cap, refunded the money and said keep it (anyone need a standard gas cap, doesn't work on a Syncro). CIP has some esoteric VW stuff at low prices. OEM has a lot of rubber not found elsewhere. The list goes on.
A lot of the stuff on eBay is more expensive than getting it from one of the regular vendors, after you factor in ridicules shipping charges. Besides there is always the risk of bad or mis-represented parts with no recourse. The price of used parts of late seems to be climbing steeply. I think investing in a junk vanagon GL Wolfburg is better than the stock market, if you part it out on eBay.
I agree with Randy, I spread it around the vendors. I need them to be in business a couple of years from now.
Cheers,
James _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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Captain Pike Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003 Posts: 3327 Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Halsey imports in portland Or. _________________ If You Build It______It Will Run
1959 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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Christopher Schimke Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5375 Location: PNW
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:02 am Post subject: |
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I have ordered parts from many of the vendors listed and received good service from all............. except one.
I'm not usually one to bash companies because I understand that things like can happen to anyone, but after the multiple nasty attitudes that I was met with after receiving damaged parts and having to wait three months for a refund, I will not be ordering from CIP again. _________________ "Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:51 am Post subject: |
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FInd the local wholesale house the shops in your area use. I get stuff from a place here in San Diego called Inter Auto Parts. They buy from the big Cali wholesale warehouses and pass the discount on. I pay what any shop in town would pay from the big Cali warehouse because Inter Auto buys so much they get a super discount from the biggies.
I am quite happy with their pricing.
Sensor II (Bosch) $13.60
Voltage regulator / Brush set for the altternator (Hella) $17
Vanagon hoses tend to be about a 1/3 to 1/2 less than what other places get
Tune up parts like belts, spark plugs, rotors and so on are extra cheap
They only sell name brand stuff, too. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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M_atthewanderson Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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If I am in a pickle I go to BOW WOW in Lynwood Washington. If I have time I always order from LIGHTHOUSE IMPORT AUTO PARTS in Spokane Washington. All very great people and the guys really know there stuff. I like to support the local guys.
Lighthouse Import Auto Parts
(509) 484-7886
5217 N Market St
Spokane, WA 99217 _________________ 1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon
Last edited by M_atthewanderson on Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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rngr633 Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2005 Posts: 38 Location: The Big Ditch (Northern AZ)
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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eBay IF the seller has GREAT feedback.
http://www.autohausaz.com/ has decent prices on common items(like brake rotors, pads, tune up stuff)
http://www.bus-boys.com/ has a good selection of hard to find stuff. I just got their item # ZVT-90601 FI Harness Pin Tool $2.95. Looked all over for a tool to do fuel injection wiring repairs. _________________ " Knowledge is good ". Emil Faber 1904
1984 Vanagon GL
2000 Golf TDI |
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P+Ds81Westy Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2004 Posts: 74 Location: Maine
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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I have had good luck with both the busdepot and germanautoparts. |
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Tomasz Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005 Posts: 1096 Location: in a van down by the river
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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P+Ds81Westy wrote: |
I have had good luck with both the busdepot and germanautoparts. |
Speaking of buying and parts, does anyone know where I would be able to purchase City Water Connection Plate with Hinged Cap, Black, 1980 to 1991 (#230-10215)? The only place that seems to have it is GoWesty however they sell it as a kit with two other plates. I only need city hook-up. |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 1839 Location: Englewood, FL
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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Tomasz wrote: |
P+Ds81Westy wrote: |
I have had good luck with both the busdepot and germanautoparts. |
Speaking of buying and parts, does anyone know where I would be able to purchase City Water Connection Plate with Hinged Cap, Black, 1980 to 1991 (#230-10215)? The only place that seems to have it is GoWesty however they sell it as a kit with two other plates. I only need city hook-up. |
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=253070808B
tom, You guys going to either the "farm" campout or down to Ft. Myers at the end of the month??? I wasn't going to go up to the farm but I'm really leaning toward it now, allthough I might run my splitwindow bus up and just use my side tent, much more "hippie" _________________ Markus |
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Tomasz Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005 Posts: 1096 Location: in a van down by the river
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for the link I was able to order it from GoWesty.
Yes we are planning on going unless something comes up at work, you never know.
I already got me a Telescoping Fork for some sausages. I'll see you there then. Forget the hippie mobile, bring the Vanagon. We should be arriving there on Friday around 11pm. |
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sbclayton Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2003 Posts: 483 Location: A place where owning a VW and enjoying life are synonymous
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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There are many great vendors out there, but thanks for this topic - I would like to say a special "Thank You" to Ken Wilford of VanAgain. Thanks to him, my '91 is running reliably despite my (usually) thumb-fingered efforts at repair and maintenance.
Kudos to all the rest. And thanks for great parts and customer service, Ken! _________________ Steve - Tampa Bay Area
Original Owner (12/1990) of
NavDog, a 91 Carat
Enlightenment came when I realized that any time in my life I was having fun, it was somehow connected with owning a Volkswagen. |
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panic Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2005 Posts: 59 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Bill W wrote: |
Halsey imports in portland Or. |
Me too |
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