Rock Auto for e30 parts

[roguetoaster]

Thanks for the info. I don't know what RA is but I'll figure it out. I'm new around here so I'm not sure bugging a forum member would be a good idea or not.

RA=Rock Auto, search for sale threads/make a WTB instead of bothering people. It's not hard, just be sensible and you'll get the same from others here.

[325e '87]

Well, get one from a forum member for ~$70, order one from RA for ~$90 or get one from BavRest for ~$250.

Just keep in mind that you get exactly what you pay for.

Thanks for the info. I don't know what RA is but I'll figure it out. I'm new around here so I'm not sure bugging a forum member would be a good idea or not.

[roguetoaster]

Well, get one from a forum member for ~$70, order one from RA for ~$90 or get one from BavRest for ~$250.

Just keep in mind that you get exactly what you pay for.

[325e '87]

Yikes

I need an afm and rock is one of the few that have them and for a good price. Now I'm scared to order it....

[joonsup]

Have you ever seen their commercials? I have no reason to believe a place that would present themselves in such a poorly made way could be of any real merit.

WARNING: You should probably close your blinds, open up a private browsing window, and turn down your speakers for this video. Would hate to have anyone you know see you watching this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZABRrctkPcg

Jokes aside you may have to just bite the bullet on this one. If rockauto wont work with you, just sell it like you said. Someone out there is looking for that particular radiator. Recoup a portion of your money and never deal with those douches again.

Several people in this thread have suggested reputable online retailers and I would add rmeuropean.com to that list. I have also had good experiences with using ECS tuning, Turner Motorsports, Pelican, and of course, Bavauto. Finally, if youre ever in need of a part number for your car you need to use realoem.com to guide you in the right direction

Good info. Thanks man

[joonsup]

RockAuto's database will never be 100% accurate. The amount of parts they carry is insane. I use em occasionally, especially for my domestic GM vehicles and didn't have any problems. But I never rely on their part numbers and always cross reference with other stores.

The ONE problem I had was with an AC evaporator for my old Jeep that didn't fit. Turns out the manufacturer listed it for my vehicle even though it was for a different generation Jeep, and RockAuto listed it according to the manufacturer. Amazon, Summit and other places also listed the part incorrectly.

Ive never used summit or amazon for car parts but thanks for the heads-up. Ive always used autohaus, rmeuropean, pelican, and a couple other places and never had any issues with them semding me parts that dont fit.

[joonsup]

Rockauto is fine if you treat it like what it is - a place to get cheap parts cheaply. I've had zero problems with them, but you have to pay attention. If you expect bespoke service go to blunt.

Why would you ever not open a package and look at it right when you got it? What if it was damaged?

I opened it amd saw no damange. However i did not notice the placement of the inlet and outlet orientation as i didn't get around to working on thr car till a couple months later. I just trusted that what i ordered via their online catalog was accurate for a 1989 bmw 325i manual with ac

[Q8y_drifter]

RockAuto's database will never be 100% accurate. The amount of parts they carry is insane. I use em occasionally, especially for my domestic GM vehicles and didn't have any problems. But I never rely on their part numbers and always cross reference with other stores.

The ONE problem I had was with an AC evaporator for my old Jeep that didn't fit. Turns out the manufacturer listed it for my vehicle even though it was for a different generation Jeep, and RockAuto listed it according to the manufacturer. Amazon, Summit and other places also listed the part incorrectly.

[chadthestampede]

Rockauto is fine if you treat it like what it is - a place to get cheap parts cheaply. I've had zero problems with them, but you have to pay attention. If you expect bespoke service go to blunt.

Why would you ever not open a package and look at it right when you got it? What if it was damaged?

[VitalkaE30]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with them. Hit up Blunt for any part needs, they're great to deal with

[Mfever]

Thanks for the link. Im actually looking for a behr branded radiator. If its that hard to find one for my car ill just pick up the nissen brand

Bought my behr from turnermotorsport a few years ago. Best deal I found for the behr, other the dealer.

[Alpinweiss II]

Have you ever seen their commercials? I have no reason to believe a place that would present themselves in such a poorly made way could be of any real merit.

WARNING: You should probably close your blinds, open up a private browsing window, and turn down your speakers for this video. Would hate to have anyone you know see you watching this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZABRrctkPcg

Jokes aside you may have to just bite the bullet on this one. If rockauto wont work with you, just sell it like you said. Someone out there is looking for that particular radiator. Recoup a portion of your money and never deal with those douches again.

Several people in this thread have suggested reputable online retailers and I would add rmeuropean.com to that list. I have also had good experiences with using ECS tuning, Turner Motorsports, Pelican, and of course, Bavauto. Finally, if youre ever in need of a part number for your car you need to use realoem.com to guide you in the right direction

[AndrewBird]

It's also a good idea to open things right away to check for damage due to shipping.

[joonsup]

I've done stuff like that before- "Hey, look the brake pads are here, I'll just leave that box unopened for, like, 6 months and then take it to the track on the weekend I really need them."

Yeah, that didn't work out so well for me, either. I DID get to exchange them, but
that didn't help on the weekend I needed them... Turned out it was my own damned fault, too.

Now I open and check stuff when it comes in... usually...

t

Yeah ill be doing that as well for sure. At least you got to exchange it yours. That's what I was hoping for as well. And even when they said no I asked if there was ANYTHING they could do to alleviate this situation and they said sorry they cannot. In my mind i was thinking maybe a discount on the correct radiator if i bought from them or free shipping, etc...

I mean I've ordered an incorrect part before in the past but that was due to my dumbass not reading something correctly whether it was the brand, etc..

[joonsup]

So if I understand correctly you relied on their automated parts system and it failed you? The massive part number databases that larger online parts websites use for fitment are riddled with errors. You found one such error. Places like RockAuto are banking on the fact that most will buy from the cheapest option, to them it's worth the trade off of not having to staff marque-experts (and increase costs).

Bummed for you though, it's got to be a frustrating headache.

Yeah that's correct. Out of the 7 radiators that popped up for my car the one i bought wa the most expensive albeit the one that didnt match up to my current radiator.

Maybe I got too spoiled ordering stuff from autohaus, pelican, bma, fcpeuro, and rmeuropean because with them I also relied on their database and trusted that the results that popped up would work unless there were footnotes that specifically said that it was for certain models/years.

I normally would have gone with the other vendors mentioned above but rock auto was the only place where the BEHR brand was an option.

Lesson learned. Their prices are really good but customer service has to be neck and neck tied for first place with comcast