I'd like to issue a warning to those who buy parts on the internet. I don't know if this will be censored but hopefully if I go about it in a round about manner, it will survive so some of you won't go through the the same grief I'm going through. I wanted a radiator for my 350 SDL without paying an arm and a leg. Got on the internet and typed in 350 SDL radiator. Up pops and add from a parts company who's name rhymes with freak. Direct fit for your 350 SDL it said. It was not even close. Inlets and outlets wrong (gas 126 rad) and thinner core, about 15% less cooling capacity. I got it. Then got the return ticket for it Hand carried it to the distribution warehouse (not their company) in Charlotte (an hour away). The guy at the counter took it and said he would take care of it immediately. It's been a few weeks. No refund. Sent an email to their customer service. Got two paragraphs of legal mumbo jumbo. May get my refund in a month. If not email back. They charge a 15% restock fee if it is not their fault, which it was--we will see if I ever get a refund. The charge was put on my cc immediately. Why will it take a month after the part is returned to get a refund? Answer: they get to use your money interest free. Don't do business with these schlocks.

It's a shame, but because most everyone chases price now, retailers (E-Tailers mostly) feel they can drop the ball on customer service.

Shoddy.

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Nothing is free...

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

that company is not good with handling returns. they have good prices so long as you get what you ordered. sorry it happened to you :/

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

The best and proper way to look for a part, is to not type in what you are looking for but rather the part number of what you are looking for...

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Sorry to hear about the run around they gave you!

I have more and more experienced that internet purchased items are on a so called fit list. You type your vehicle, model and year and they compare to that list.
However, it is bull**** because I found parts that are supposed to fit, but they don't. Now, in many cases, you are left to rectify the problem and pay the cost attached to it.
Then I find parts that are flagged not to fit your model, but they for some reason fit perfectly.
So, I am saying, never rely on statements made by anyone.
Some member said, best way is to find the part number and order by that.
There is a catch, this works only with OEM part numbers, after market manufactures often don't reference to the OEM number and they use their own number system.
They say it is a direct fit until you have it in your hands and want to install it. Ooops, direct fit, if I modify the car or at least the surroundings of the direct fit part.
Ex: I bought a center drag link for my vehicle, list says direct fit!
I took the old one out, new one in, half a mile of play on the mounts?
I was lucky and could return it without any extra charge and it was exchanged to the correct one. What is overlooked by them is the aggravation you are going through because your vehicle is torn apart and there is no telling when it gets back together.

I have started to consult several parts distributor, to find the OEM number. Then I go on a hunt for low priced Items, I'll probably be dead before the car goes, and cross reference to the part number on hand and lowest cost.

Sometimes, it works. Other times I just have to do the Las Vegas purchase!

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Mostly, I don't know notin, I just know where to look.
I am looking back, to over 30 years in Electronics Design.
Electrons don't care if they move in a car, computer or relay!

95 W124 E320 M104.992 - Because, I love to repair, naaaah!
Over 221,000 Miles
Cheers,
Norbert

I have actually bought a plethora of parts (for 3 different cars) on the very site you mention, and I have always been wary; because I know of the risk with their policy. Only once have I gotten the incorrect part; and it was solely my own fault, they actually sent what I ordered. I believe I had grabbed the parts number from Google and it ended up being for an 88 honda vs an 86...

I know others have had bad luck with this, and the policy is very poor to say the least. I just wanted to weigh in with my own experiences, I seem to have gotten lucky.

( The ridiculously cheap pricing is what gets me to buy a box of stuff for a vehicle at a time from only one (low/no shipping) of their warehouses; of course there seems to be a gigantic risk... I have also ordered a part the night before at 8pm and have had it in my hand by noon the next day when selecting ground shipping from the Seattle warehouse.)

90% of the time I shop elsewhere; I vastly prefer our fine hosts or the local family merc. shop for any parts that are similar in cost/available. (Read: Most of them)

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72% 1992 FJ80 + 17% 1983 OM617 + 10% 85/87/92 4Runner + *Eclipse/GMC = 100% Truck
(*<1%)
Build Thread: http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/a-humble-fj80-om617-r151f-swap.759554/

I don't like that site at all.

1) They make searching for parts by part number difficult to impossible. They list wold-pac or manufacturer specific part numbers and do not cross-reference it with the Dealer part number. You have to trust their fitment guide, no thanks...I much prefer sites that allow you to search by part number and see both the Genuine parts and any aftermarket alternatives they offer.

2) Their prices aren't cheap. I just price-compared a number of items (windows seals, oil filter, power steering filter, fuel filter, air filter) and that place in AZ beat every one of them, usually by a lot. Pelican also beat most of them.

Because of these reasons I've never ordered from them, and after hearing this, I have one more reason not to!

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1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

The Baja Arizona Oil Burners Send a message if you'd like to join the fun
Left to Right - UberWasser, Iridium, Stuttgart-->Seattle,, mannys9130

Visit the W123 page on iFixit for over 70 helpful DIY guides!

x2. I found one thing at a rock-bottom price, but everything else wasn't remarkable. I also instinctively hate over-hyped sites (design, slogans, etc.).

Parts listings are huge and complex, and honest mistakes can occur even using a specialist supplier like PeachParts. I have seen many, many mistakes on generic websites (confusing 300d and 300sd chassis is a perennial favourite).

I don't trust any of the "all-makes" parts sites, except for the Rock, which I know from experience has superior customer service -- and unfortunately few quality parts overall for the older cars.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I order from Pelican and *the place in AZ* about 90% of the time, sometimes random things from Kent in Washington....rarely though. Lately I've been getting a lot more from the dealer so the stuff is good quality....and I price match them against the MB dealer in south Atlanta. (dealer with online store)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

AND if it was their action that caused the dispute, and they are not responsive, file a dispute with your credit card company. You only have a specific and short time.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I've ordered from Freaks 'n Geeks once. I was going to visit my mom and ordered the motor and transmission mounts for her Camry so I could change them during my visit.

The transmission mount was fine. The dogbone mount was the cheapest thing I've ever seen, it was visibly smaller in every respect (except axis to axis) from the factory part, but at least it fit. The front mount was absolutely wrong, it had a stud where it was supposed to have a threaded hole and only one of three fasteners could be lined up at a time. The rear mount was used, I'm assuming someone sent it back to them and they sent it out without ever looking in the box. Of course that was the one I started with (it's the most difficult, so I figured I'd bang it out first) so it was lots of wasted labor.

They gave me a horrible time about returns, in part because it had been more than thirty days since I ordered the parts (since I wanted to be sure they'd be there before I was). I can't recall how much money I lost on that transaction, but it was money well spent, in one sense, because I learned never to do business with them again.

I know this forum doesn't allow you to make recommendations, but I think it is okay to warn people off of certain sites. The parts geek people are one to avoid in my book. Another is the autopartswarehouse group of sites (they own about fifteen or twenty related sites, including racepages). Wrong parts shipped, sometimes you receive something without even placing an order(!), crappy parts catalog, painful return process, etc.

The note about looking up your own part number (so easy with the EPC, that way you know exactly what to order) is spot-on. No vendor catalog is perfect, so that's the way to be sure you're ordering what you want, and if they send a different part number, then you're covered.

Good luck to all.

I have really fallen in love with fcp euro......the beat az in my mind....and tons better then the geek guys....I have only every ordered one or two parts off those types of sites, I have never liked them and their advertised low low price isn't and add in the crazy shipping cost....I can get them cheaper at my local autozoo...

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Especially if you have a returned reciept. Even without it I would contact your credit card company. Just on general principle.

An earlier poster more or less mentioned the same thing. It is only a few keystrokes to return your money by them. A little prodding by the credit card company can work wonders.

got burned by them too. their return policy and customer service is an embarassment.

they sent me the wrong axle. i had to pay to ship it back and i actually talked to them only one time ,rest it was voice mail runaround. nonsense with them was so bad i kept the wrong axle and sold it on the forum.

i usually do business with pelican, and those other guys in az. will never buy from freak ever again

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