Difference of various parts

[sneakyalien]

Hi,
I have taken my C reg 1900 high top to a local body shop/welding place with the intention of getting some new panels/parts replaced on my T25.
The guy who runs the place has said I should buy the parts and he will fit them/weld etc; the problem is I'm not sure which parts to buy.

My camper needs the two front wheel arches replacing and I have looked on line and found the parts on a vw parts site and the price is something like £38 each, which is fine. I then found the same parts on ebay, but they have a price of £186 each and are labelled as genuine VW parts.
Is there any difference in reproduction parts and genuine vw parts?

Thanks.

[Dazco]

If it is genuine vw part it should be a much better replacement. Most panels need an amount of trimming and modding to get them to fit correctly.
I believe Brickwerks are selling a very good wheel arch . Might be worth checking it out .
Daz

[clift_d]

The person on the forum who can probably give you the best steer in terms of what to buy and from where would be metalmick8y, as some panels might be worth buying genuine VW parts as it saves so much time trimming and fitting.

[lloydy]

I genuine is available, and you can afford it, get it. The difference is massive.

[lefty67]

Is the cheap one just a repair panel whereas the £186 one is the complete section?
Probably be best to put some pictures on .

[sneakyalien]

Thanks for the replies.

The parts I have found are here:

https://www.vwheritage.com/shop/2518092 ... t25-80-92/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/Item/Shop_by ... _Skin.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I noticed the genuine vw part also has the foot step - The repair guy said he might have to make his own foot step because he is not sure if they can be bought as a separate part.

The guy has basically said he does not have the time to source all the bits needed, but if I get the parts, he will do the work. He showed me some of his work he did on a mini and the welding , I must say, was amazing.
I just don't want for him to go to the trouble of putting a part in that may rot quicker or something.

[boatbuilder]

It's not going to rot any quicker or slower.....that depends on how well it has been protected with paint and seam sealer etc.
It would be easier to fit the genuine parts as it should line up perfectly.
Bear in mind that the genuine step has a seam along the middle so he may well have to fabricate the inner part of the step anyway even if you get the genuine arch.
Failing that you could just buy the repro arch and a repro full step and it would just take him a bit longer to line it all up and weld it in. Plus the metal on the repro panels is probably a bit thinner.

[lefty67]

Sorry sneaky alien, I meant pictures of the work that needs doing on your van so the resto guys on here can tell you exactly what you will need.

[sneakyalien]

I will take some good pictures of the van and upload them. Thanks