Vw heritage radiator

[Cecil]

Vw heritage radiator. - how does the quality of these compare to the cheaper brickwerks offering(brickwerks currently out of stock)

[CovKid]

You're a few days too late but Euro Car Parts were offering the top quality Hella/BEHR rad (this one: https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/radiator-t ... etrol.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) for just £46.99 with their heavy discount. They are now out of stock too - lots of us bought them up very quickly - same day I think.

Theres often an assumption that because a price is so low, it can't possibly be a quality item. I've often heard said cliches like "buy cheap, buy twice" or similar on here but these kinds of anonymous sayings and rules are always there to be broken. Stick with the cliches and you'll definately pay more than you should ("The man who hesitates is lost" and "look before you leap" - are a proof in point). ECP tend to buy them up by the pallet loads and can negotiate a far better price simply because of the sheer volumes involved. That said, its partly about timing and partly vigilance. Anything I buy from ECP or GSF, I check carefully before I even leave their shop. The downside is that any re-order by ECP can take as long as THREE years - I know, I watch their parts lists regularly.

Likewise with CV joints - never found anyone to beat ECP on price for those, and again, they're nearly always good quality GKN/Lobro ones. If they're not - they stay in their shop, simple as that. Always worth reserving a part via ECP and if when you get there the brand is unknown, you can always say no. I've picked up some unbelievable bargains this way. Some parts can be such a good deal, they're worth keeping in the garage for future use. It'll be sods law that when you need that part, it'll be five times the price then, or worse, out of stock.

Same with tyres. Buy them when they're worn out and you'll pay what the tyre place want to charge you. I start looking for tyres one year ahead which gives me months to find just the right deal. Last set were top-notch Michelins for £120 for four. Most places charge that for two. I work alongside financial capability experts and picked up all these tips from them. Buy things before you need them, and at a good price. Best tip ever, unless you like racking up huge bills.

[Sir Brixalot]

Missed that one. Would have stashed it just in case at that price

[CovKid]

I posted it on Facebook as it was more immediate. Did the same myself - one in hand, the other ready to fit. Mind you, they may restock quicker this time as they sold bloomin quick! I should have checked the CV joints - they were probably £20 each or something.

Overall though, when they've got big reductions, the T3 parts are virtually non-existent 70% off wash & wax doesn't enthuse me much.

[Moonrakers]

"I start looking for tyres one year ahead which gives me months to find just the right deal. Last set were top-notch Michelins for £120 for four. Most places charge that for two. I work alongside financial capability experts and picked up all these tips from them. Buy things before you need them, and at a good price. Best tip ever, unless you like racking up huge bills."

Very true that money can be saved in all kinds of ways, but it's not a zero-sum game... putting in the effort to search for tyres months and months ahead for instance might end up saving money but costs time, and that's just as valuable a resource. More so, to me. I don't mind paying a premium for the opportunity to get what I need the minute I first think of it and then get on with either earning more money or having some fun. I think it's because my Dad was an obsessive money-saver and to be honest it tended to dominate his thinking and sucked the joy out of things a bit - he couldn't buy anything without weeks of research and saving money ended up being his main hobby.

[multisi]

Long time ago when Just Kampers were popular they had nos lhd full height rear side panels for window vans, £180 for the pair delivered. It would now cost about £800 to get them.

[CovKid]

I can remember when plugs were 79p each - and to be honest, about all they're worth.

Moonrakers, you're right about time although if I already have tyres, its no stress hunting for the next set. At work, I often get failed monitors on my workbench that in terms of parts probably cost £3 to fix, but as the boss pointed out, in a corporate environment they just don't bother, they write them off and buy new ones. Still annoying to see so much waste though.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not obsessive about getting the best deal but I certainly buy ahead when its such a great deal. If I want bearings, I go to a bearing guy. Price is good and the quality is there. Same with bolts - Coventry has one of the best bolt warehouses in the country. I can buy a whole boxful of CV bolts for a fiver - and they supply all the other vendors. If you wanted some obscure whitworth domed nut, they'd have it. Not much left of Coventry's engineering past, but there are still specialists about that really know their stuff.

[Cecil]

According to the brickwerks blurb alongside their "alternative" radiator, hella do a radiator half the price of the South African hella highest quality radiator but it is "to much of a compromise in terms of quality and fit."
Seems strange to me that hella would make a duff version when they are capable of making a quality one or are they sticking their name on one made by another manufacturer?
Just kampers appear to sell radiators without bleed valves ,don't like the idea of that!
Some radiators are assembled with rubber seals to join the tubes to tank plates , no idea if this is a good thing !

[Moonrakers]

I can remember when plugs were 79p each - and to be honest, about all they're worth.

Moonrakers, you're right about time although if I already have tyres, its no stress hunting for the next set. At work, I often get failed monitors on my workbench that in terms of parts probably cost £3 to fix, but as the boss pointed out, in a corporate environment they just don't bother, they write them off and buy new ones. Still annoying to see so much waste though.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not obsessive about getting the best deal but I certainly buy ahead when its such a great deal. If I want bearings, I go to a bearing guy. Price is good and the quality is there. Same with bolts - Coventry has one of the best bolt warehouses in the country. I can buy a whole boxful of CV bolts for a fiver - and they supply all the other vendors. If you wanted some obscure whitworth domed nut, they'd have it. Not much left of Coventry's engineering past, but there are still specialists about that really know their stuff.

I think I should probably consider your approach and try to get a better balance between convenience and value. Perhaps I am just a lazy shopper - I know I pay over-the-odds sometimes when a better deal might be available. Food for thought...

[CovKid]

Click-happy. I'm just as guilty sometimes. I think the thing to focus on is consumables like pads, clutches, brake wheel cylinders, leads, plugs. You eventually have to buy them anyway so best get them before they fail and at a price thats fair and not pushing the boundaries of pee-taking. Unfortunately many car parts are WAY overpriced already - like starter motors for one. I once haggled with GSF and got a £150 starter down to £70 but you need determination and patience. Last year ECP were selling giant containers of red antifreeze for just £19 - back to £69 now

To be fair (and most of my projects on here bear that out) I have a different way of looking at things. Lots of owners just keep throwing money at their campers and either lack the techical know-how or just can't be bothered to look elsewhere, but once the money is gone, its gone. Tomorrow (Sunday) I'll be up my local charity recycling centre at 8.30am. I have a knack of repurposing unwanted items and at the same time paying very little for materials. I spend at least an hour in there every week, picking things up and seeing whether I can use them or not. Hobby? Possibly but the money I save pays for all my holidays. Motoring can be a very expensive hobby too - if you're not careful.

Got this from there for £7 two weeks ago!



My new interior is all repurposed stuff, and unlike most propriety units, they actually work in practice. Theres actually a place for everything at last:

[Cecil]

Looking at the picture of the hella radiator that Euro car parts show on their site it looks like the type with fewer,larger tubes than original!
Assembled with lots of tiny rubber seals?.
Any reason I should avoid this type .
will it have as good cooling capacity as the original.
My van has JX engine.

[CovKid]

I'm not sure ECP's pic is much use. They use a generic photo. Best to go take a look at one yourself.