Date:         Thu, 7 Oct 1999 21:15:10 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Subject:      EUROPEAN PARTS SHIPMENT is in!!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Well, my long-awaited overseas shipment has arrived, and there are
definately some killer items here. This is by far my largest European order
ever, and probably for some time. So it's a long list. Nevertheless I feel
that it contains enough general interest to be worth posting; hope you
agree. So if you're interested, read on, and if not, delete.

It's late Thursday as I write this. By mid-morning Friday all of the items
will be on the website, or of course you can call or e-mail. If you want to
order them via the website, they are all on the BARGAINS page.  If you go to
the main search page, which is http://www.busdepot.com/ASP/search_new.asp ,
you will find a link to the BARGAINS page on the left side of that page.
Please note that the below pricing reflects LIST MEMBER DISCOUNTS THAT WILL
EXPIRE THE END OF THIS MONTH, OR SOONER IF THEY SELL OUT (which many will).
You MUST specify that you are a list member, in the comments section of the
website order form (or over the phone), in order to get these prices.  The
website will list most of the prices as a bit higher, but as long as you
specify your membership, we will adjust the price manually prior to
shipping.


BRAKE SHOES/PADS
As many of you know, new German brake shoes have been nearly impossible to
find in the U.S, and when you could find them the price was ridiculous. What
you get here is generally resurfaced shoes, not new.  I now have a quantity
of NEW original-equipment Pagid brake shoes, directly from Germany, at just
slightly more than the price of resurfaced (especially since there is no
core deposit).  These are comparable to what came on your VW, as Pagid is
one of the original suppliers to Volkswagen in Germany. Supply is limited.
REAR SHOES are $29.95 a pair
FRONT PADS are $19.95 a pair (86-91 are Volkswagen branded, 80-85 Pagid)


FRONT GRILLS & SPOILERS
I have upper grills for '80-85, including emblem and clips, for $179.95.
(The European grills use the larger 86-on emblem, so replacing the emblem is
required).
I got front emblems ('86-up) for $12.95, originally $30.
I got lower grills (stock) for $59.95.

I also have custom lower wraparound front grills for $149.95, but only five
of them.  These grills wrap right around your turn signals and look really
sharp.  You can see one at http://www.busdepot.com/t25side.gif
I also got more of the genuine VW front spoiler kits (visable on the same
picture), which were stock on '87-up Wolfsburg editions and all '89-91.
These will fit all Vanagons. All of the pieces are included but not the nuts
& bolts (which are generic anyway).


SPEEDO/TACH INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS (COMPLETE)
This is the whole cluster, with speedo, tachometer, and clock attached (but
not the switches, which pop out).  A great opportunity for anyone who wants
to upgrate their pre-85 Vanagon to a tach. (Conversion is easy. I think
Chris Turner alias jordanvw once posted basic instructions, but it's pretty
much one wire.)  The speedo is in km, so unless you're from out of the U.S.
you'll have to swap it out with your old one (four screws).  Also the
digital clock is likely to be a 24-hour clock since that is what is common
in Europe (although I believe that a Golf/Jetta clock is a drop-in
replacement; anyone try one from a junkyard?)  Price $99.95.


BUMPERS AND IMPACT STRIPS
I got black (primer) metal bumpers for front and rear, for $129.95 for the
PAIR.  These are the stock bumpers in Europe, and look just like the chrome
ones except that they're primered black. They do not have holes for the
impact strips (not commonly used in Europe) but do use the stock endcaps.

I also got a great deal on the impact strips for our U.S. Vanagons with
chrome bumpers.  Fronts are $24.95 each, rears are $49.95.  (Replacement
clips are also on the website if you need them.)


BODY RUBBER 1/2 PRICE
I got new Genuine VW vanagon windshield gaskets, available with or without
the groove for the trim molding.  Also side window seals (center side or
rear side, no groove for molding trim.)  All are $39.95 each, which is less
than half price. This price will not be repeated when they are gone.


HUBCAPS
I have the plastic wheel covers for both earlier and later Vanagons for
$45.95 each.  The earlier ones are the "fake mag" looking ones, with the VW
emblem and fake lug nuts.  They look the same as the ones sold here, except
that the fake lug nuts & VW emblem are black, which looks much sharper than
all-silver as sold here.  The later style is the "flat disk" type with
Volkswagen written on them and little veins or spokes around the outside.
Both sell for about $90 each (!!!) at the dealer.  Of course, either can be
used on any Vanagon.


SIDE WINDOW SCREENS
These are the original Westfalia screens for the sliding windows on all
Vanagon Westfalias.  (Will not work on non-Westies; different window.)
These crack all the time, but at the dealer they are uneconomical to
replace.  I have them for $39.95 each (left or right); this price will not
be repeated once they're gone.


FOG LIGHTS
These are actually intended for Busses, but I thought I'd mention them here
since they can be used on anything.  Still in the original Volkswagen boxes;
lenses bear the Hella logo. Were optional on '68-79 busses in Europe. Mount
above or below the front bumper. About 6"x 3".  Dash switch not included
(any toggle switch would do).  Only 6 pair.  $99.95/pr.


DUAL BATTERY KIT
This is a genuine Hella relay kit designed for adding a second (auxilliary
or camping) battery to a VW bus or camper.  It's nothing fancy, but a simple
and inexpensive way to wire a second battery.  Basically, it separates the
two batteries when the ignition is off (to prevent your starting battery
from draining if you run your aux battery down) and automatically connects
them when you start the bus so both can charge when you drive. Includes the
relay with integrated replaceable blade fuse and socket, wiring, and
instructions.  $18.95.


DOOR HANDLES
I got a small quantity of '80-84 sliding door handles for $49.95. These are
the ones that are so expensive at the dealer. Also a few complete '85-91
handle/lock sets, including all exterior handles and locks on the van
(except gas cap), all keyed alike, $89.95 complete.


TRAILER HITCHES
I got my last shot of the genuine VW/South Africa trailer hitches for quite
a while.  These have received coverage on the list. They replace your stock
bumper mounts and mount inside the frame under the van, extremely heavy duty
and bullet-proof, with 2" ball.  $179.95.


CV JOINT/BOOT KITS
I got a very good deal on genuine Lobro (original-equipment VW) kits. These
include everything: joint, boot, grease, and hardware.  You need 4 kits per
bus if you're replacing all of them. Fit '68-79.  Price is $49.95 per kit,
which is about what the joint alone normally goes for.  I also have the boot
kit only (boot, grease, hardware) for $9.95 each, also genuine Lobro.


LENSES & SOCKETS
I have replacement German tail lenses for $45.95 each.  This is half the
going rate for the lense alone.  As a bonus (sort-of), these include the
complete bulb housing and bulbs as well, but since they are for overseas use
the bulb configuration is slightly different. (The lenses are pretty much
the same.)  The difference in the housing is that instead of the tail light
socket being toward the inside, it is directly below reverse light. The bulb
socket that a US spec housing would use is present on the housing, but it
lacks an electrical connection to it, so you'd have to run a jumper wire to
it if you wanted to keep the lighting "US spec". Otherwise just use it as-is
if you dare, or toss out the housing and you got a great deal on the lenses
anyway. (Sorry, these do not have the reverse fog lights once mentioned on
the list.)

I also got front turn signal assembles; the complete assembly, bulb socket
and all.  Price is $24.95.  Normally about twice as much.  The bulb socket
alone is also available, for $7.95.

Finally, side marker lenses for $8.95 each. Bulb housings for these are
$22.95, which is about $10 off.


REAR BRAKE/WHEEL ASSEMBLIES
If I had both sides, these would be worth a fortune. This is the whole rear
brake backing plate, with wheel cylinder, hardware, handbrake cable, and
shoes all installed.  Bad news is, I have left sides only. (Right side shoes
would be mirror-image of left.) But for $34.95, they're less than a genuine
VW wheel cylinder and handbrake cable are worth, so all of the other parts
are freebies.


MUD FLAPS
I got just 6 more sets of the South African genuine VW mudflaps that were so
popular on the list before.  Look similar to the ones sold in the U.S. but
more of a plastic rather than rubber material.  Meant to clamp on (one bolt
required on fronts), although when I put them on my van I opted to bolt them
on anyway for a more secure fit.  $89.95 for the set of four.
I also have one pair of genuine VW US-spec rubber rear mudflaps. Not going
to bother to put them on the website since I only have one pair, but they're
$99.95 for the pair to the first list member who responds. This is half
price.


WINDOW REGULATORS
I got some drivers side window regulators (the part that raises and lowers
the drivers door window), genuine VW, for $44.95. These are not for power
windows.


MUFFLER STRAPS
I got a small quantity of '83-85 muffler straps for $33.95 (still too much,
but better than the $50 dealer price), and '86-91 for $16.95.


IGNITION COILS
Original VW/Germany (Bosch) black ignition coils, stock on all 1984 Vanagons
and '79-83 California
only. Orig dealer cost $60. $24.95.


PETER RUSSEK POCKET MECHANIC MANUALS
I now have a version for Eurovans, for $24.95 (as opposed to the Bentley,
which is of course encylopedia sized but $100 more!) (Anyone want to pass
this info on to the Eurovan list for me?)  Also have more of the watercooled
Vanagon and Vanagon Diesel ones for $16.95. These manuals from the UK are
user-friendly and designed for the backyard mechanic rather than the
professional shop.


ETC.
Shift boots (the boot around your shift lever), black, $11.95.
Idle Stabilizer, 83-85 vanagon, $19.95
Syncro rotors, 4 pair still left at $39.95 ea
Water pumps, 2.1L, European made, $39.95
Wheel Cylinders, European made, $9.95


FREE JUST KAMPERS CATALOGS
As some of you know, I have been combining buying power with Just Kampers in
the U.K. in order to bring you better pricing on certain bus parts. They
print a nice glossy catalog in England, which I now have some copies of.
Some of the items I sell much cheaper anyway, but others are not currently
available in the U.S.  I can get you anything in the catalog, although some
of them may take a few months depending on availability.  Pricing will vary,
as catalog pricing is in Pounds Sterling (multiply by 1.66 to get a rough
idea, although as I said I do already sell many items cheaper anyway). While
they last, a copy if free for the asking with a $50 order (you must ask in
the comments section of the order form if ordering via the website). Sorry,
but I can't send one without an order, since I just don't have the extra
manpower to afford to take them away from filling orders and ask them to
address and mail dozens of catalogs.


Well, that's it.  Whew!!  Sorry it was such a long post, but hopefully it
was worth the reading.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com