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Eric's VW Page |
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Links and Reviews
This page contains some links to company sites that I do business with along with a mix of other sites I visit regularly.
Volkswebbin' Technical Forum is an excellent source for advice on keeping your VW running and to track down an elusive problem you're having. Although much smaller in scope, it's much better than the RAMVA (rec.autos.makers.VW.aircooled) newsgroup because it's easier to track threads and reply right to the author in a thread. The site offers a general forum, and a classified section as well as other stuff that I think is interesting to browse through. An excellent site overall for any VW enthusiast.
Another web site that I've found very useful is John Henry's Bug Shop. John has obviously spent an incredible amount of time compiling information and taking pictures of his restoration project, a 1957 Oval. There's an excellent technical help section and a section he did to chronicle his headliner installation which I found very helpful. Tons of other stuff too in a well thought out personal site.
* Here's a list of my favorite VW parts sources and a brief description of each. This isn't an all encompassing list of suppliers, just the ones I have some experience with.
BFY Obsolete Parts is located in California. I have ordered almost all my restoration parts from them. They specialize in carrying the best quality parts available, many of them German. They are pretty informal, taking your order with a pen and paper which is refreshing. Everyone you talk to knows the part you describe and can offer technical advice that no other supplier I've dealt with can.
Rocky Mountain Motorworks is in Colorado. I order a fair amount of stuff from them also. The return policy that they brag about is for real. They offer a lifetime warranty but you pay for it also. They are usually more expensive than nearly every other supplier. I ordered VDO gauges from them, figuring the lifetime warranty might be nice for that. It was and they didn't ask a single question except whether I wanted a refund, exchange, or credit. I took an exchange and the new gauge works fine. Price shop and then decide if the lifetime warranty is something you need for a particular part. Of course, they are competitive in price, just tend to lean to the high side.
Wolfsburg West. Their web site has old paint charts that show colors and combinations for almost every year so you can see what color your interior is supposed to be and what color your car could have been painted for its year of manufacture. Their parts quality is excellent.
aircooled.net I ordered a Pertronix electronic ignition from John at aircooled.net. John is always quick to respond to email questions and is very knowledgeable.
Koch's is another reputable company. I ordered some turn signal lenses from them that I was unable to find anywhere else. Again, no experience with returns but I got the idea that they were a little like BFY, the guy didn't have to type anything into a computer to help me and give me advice.
Gene Berg has an excellent reputation. I've never bought from them but I've seen some of their parts and would not hesitate to buy from them.
West Coast Metric supplies a lot of the rubber gaskets and grommets, even to other suppliers. I've ordered from them but have no experience with returns (didn't need to, it was the correct part).
Jeg's is mainly a drag racing parts supplier. They drag race bikes and cars themselves and are fairly well known in those circles. They aren't VW people necessarily, but the guy was very helpful when I told him what I was doing and asked for suggestions on which lights might work best. Don (my body man) drag races motorcycles and has used Jeg's before, which is how I found out about them. They have a good reputation for very high quality parts. They're expensive but drag racers want quality and reliablility above all else. So far I'm happy with the quality of the lights I ordered.
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