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Where do you buy your parts?
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cheeseisgood
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:30 pm    Post subject: Where do you buy your parts? Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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buspor63
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

from the links at the top of the vanagon column.....

Vanagon Vendors
http://www.busdepot.com
http://www.aircooled.net
http://www.gowesty.com
http://www.volkscafe.com
http://www.vanagain.com
http://www.countryhomescampers.com/
http://www.eurocampers.com/
http://www.vanagonparts.com/home.html
http://vanperformance.com/
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Dogpilot
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Captain Pike
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Halsey imports in portland Or.
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Christopher Schimke
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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r39o
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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M_atthewanderson
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Last edited by M_atthewanderson on Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
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rngr633
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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P+Ds81Westy
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have had good luck with both the busdepot and germanautoparts.
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Tomasz
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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]
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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" Very Happy
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Tomasz
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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!
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panic
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bill W wrote:
Halsey imports in portland Or.


Me too
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