What's a decent reproduced item

[Warren G.]

I was an active VW guy from 1977 to 1997 when I took apart my 64 Convertible for painting. The 3 time by the way. I was a wholesale distributor I did so many with West Coast metric.
Maybe it's memory is better than reality of the old days. But I've gotten parts from JbugsJB , WCM and WW . Names abbreviated as a little niceness is left on the ol bones. Now it's buy a part first, unwrap it and then pay a 15 to 20 ,% restocking fee IF they take it back. From gaskes that have the holes in the wrong places to poorly cast rear view mirror bases is there any parts that are accurate?

[Glenn]

Depends what you're looking for.

Most stuff is made in China and sold by all the large catalog/online vendors.

There are many small specialty companies, but they are usually making drivetrain parts. Things like rubber seals, interior parts and that stuff is hit and miss.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[obnoxiousblue]

There is no real one stop shop, and the hardest lesson to learn is that a good used or restored part will always be better than new.
Most of my rubbers came from Wolfsburg West, but anything that I could restore/rechrome, I did.
Like many, I’ve found most vendors say “German made” almost as if it is a brand but those parts almost always lack quality and fit like crap.
I was never really thrilled with JBugs, and it seems like WCM’s catalog has gotten smaller over the years. I pretty much use Wolfsburg West as my go to, but always check the classifieds here for mechanical or hardware type items before buying new.
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Mike
1964 Beetle
2001 Eurovan Camper

[rcooled]

[challomoner]

Flat four generator/altenator pulleys are probably even better than og vw. It's the only repro part I've used I can say that about.

[wdfifteen]

[Warren G.]

Thanks for the replies. The WW bumper comment is helpful. In 1997 the body shop despite my request to not remove the windows did so. After loosing the window guides the re fit stopped. I went to Pomona swap meet for a couple of years looking for the parts. Then a few years later...Al Gore invented the Internet* and the Samba came to the rescue, but by then it was garage art and shelving.

A stamped VW rear bumper blade could use a re chrome but that's another problem. My big concern is the 2020 death of customer service and the BS of pay first shipping back and forth and a lousy restocking fee.

Possibly when they say German made it was by those boys from Brazil


* Attempt at humor

[Cusser]

[obnoxiousblue]

[wayne1230cars]

X2 on the WW bumpers. Excellent!
The concern about the quality of reproduction parts is not unique to VW restorers. My experience with Model T/Model A restoration parts is very similar to the concerns expressed here. A restored original part is usually if not almost always superior to a reproduction part. Obviously some parts are not restorable.
New parts often seem to need modifying/massaging to be useful. Better than not having anything I suppose.
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1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible