S/H parts- how fussy should you be?

[Lankytim]

Ive bought a written off Rover 214 bubble that had a scrape right down the passenger side. I ordered some S/H replacement panels for it from a specialist breakers over the phone. I was expecting to get a stripped door shell as discussed on the phone but recieved a complete door (obviously not a problem- less work to fit) but on inspection the door has several dents in it, not supermarket dents either. Ones by the door handle and is about 4 inches long, another is on the side impact bar and you can see where the SIB has dented the panel from the inside as the outer panel has been pushed into it. I'm guessing they're transport damage, It looks like the doors either fallen over or had other items put ontop of it.

How fussy should someone be when ordering second hand panels over the phone or net? Should a little damage be expected or should everything be perfect? I'm a little bit miffed as I managed to get a rear door for a tenner thats practically perfect but the front door and wing I bought from the breakers cost £111 all in and although the wing is ok, the door isnt.

I cant really send them back as I need to fit them in time for the cars MOT on Thursday. Looks like ill just have to take this one on the chin and put up with it.

This isnt a rant BTW, just wondering what other forum members standards would be in this situation.

*Ok , maybe it is a rant.

[MrT]

Personally, I'd reject it - if you've ordered, been promised, and expected a clean, undamaged panel, and what has arrived clearly isn't, you've not got what you ordered. As to whether it's been misdescribed/sold, or damaged in transit - that's another matter entirely...
Dale

[akku]

^^^^^ x2

I don't expect a new part unless I buy a new part but the part I buy must at least be better than the one I'm taking off...

[stealthstylz]

Send it back but make sure they pay the postage. Why are you ordering from a specialist breakers just get down the scrapper theres loads of bubble shape 200s and you can see the door before you take it off.

Matt

[popuptoaster]

panels should be undented and undamaged if your buying them second hand in my opinion, no point buying them otherwise, 'course the price can reflect condition but that should be discussed at purchase.

[reanimation]

There is a lot of shonky 'goods' passed about, i have noticed, woth seeing what you are buying unless its cheap IMO, doesnt stop me occasionally getting stung like

[Lankytim]

The door is miles better than the one I took off, dispite the dents. The old one was inside out! Ive only seen a few bubble rover 200s in breakers to date and they were either stripped to nothing within days or were in very poor condition to start with. It would have been a very long wait to find the panels I needed in the correct colour. Good panels seem to be in very short supply, probably due to the same shape of car being in production right until Rovers demise. I had hunted around but couldnt find the panels I needed without buying them unseen via mail order. One breaker in Birmingham had the bits I wanted, but when I rang back the next day to say I wanted them they guy had "just that second" sold them. curse word. I'm used to parts for my cars being 10 a penny and avalilable instantly from every scrap yard. Another reason why "moderns" suck.

I guess if I had the luxury of time to shop about for panels I could have got them locally and seen them before I handed over any money, but the car needs to be MOTd, VIC checked and taxed ASAP so it can be used for work. The panels are all on the car now so I guess returning the door is now out of the question as its been "used". Ive just had another look as I came home from work and its not that bad really- I'm a bit fussy when it comes to cars and dents. Its nowhere near perfect though and if Id had a choice it would have been rejected.

Another lesson learnt- buy panels after youve seen them and don't have them posted!

Now- how do I get a Volvo 940 bonnet from Lincoln???

[Harold Ramp Bumface Fandango]

Lanky, if it's any help I can recommend Cheshire Car Components, River Lane, Saltney, Chester. Most modern stuff and cheap too.
Have you tried Car Transplants near Nantwich too? Pretty big yard and not too far from you. Furbers at Roving Bridge, Whixhall, near Whitchurch is another. Absolutely huge place but difficult to find if you don't know where you're going.

[LowStandards]

There's loads in Looms in Derby! A door would be about £20 btw

[Lankytim]

Bullocks......... Sounds like I didnt hunt around well enough.

I tried car transplants but they couldnt help me out (I bought the car from their salvage dep BTW!)

Not tried the other places mentioned but I think ill definately have to try that Looms place. It seems to crop up alot on the forum so must be good. Id heard of Furbers too- but again never been there.

Next time I'm up in Chester ill try CCC- I may have to "accidentally" find it when I'm there with the Wife..... Well she drags me round shops!