Best practices finding OEM parts and placesto purchase them

[m@x]

Best practices finding OEM parts and places to purchase them

Hello everyone,

Please share the steps you take when you want to purchase a specific OEM part for your car.

1) What sources do you use to find proper diagrams and OEM part numbers? Do you need PN at all for further reference?
2) What stores do you usually visit to compare the prices, shipping costs?
3) Do you search through the inventory by PN or by other keywords?

I may have missed intermediate steps that could help finding the part, please include them. In other words, what do you do step by step when you need to order an OEM part for your car?

 

[Stuck CAPS]

Hello everyone,

Please share the steps you take when you want to purchase a specific OEM part for your car.

1) What sources do you use to find proper diagrams and OEM part numbers? Do you need PN at all for further reference?
2) What stores do you usually visit to compare the prices, shipping costs?
3) Do you search through the inventory by PN or by other keywords?

I may have missed intermediate steps that could help finding the part, please include them. In other words, what do you do step by step when you need to order an OEM part for your car?

Villagetoyotaparts.com is very useful for finding diagrams w/ part numbers, it's also pretty cheap compared to dealers. However, it's still pretty expensive, so you might as well find the part number and part name, and then google search it to find a good price.

 

[S p a r k y]

Conicelli Parts Center

Is the only place I use, either follow the parts log or just type in the search what I am looking for. I never really compare anywhere, used to but nobody beat them, and parts are quick to the door!

 

[zopperman]

Conicelli Parts Center

Is the only place I use, either follow the parts log or just type in the search what I am looking for. I never really compare anywhere, used to but nobody beat them, and parts are quick to the door!

+1 - and they're great to deal with.
They're 20 mins away from me. I have a buddy there that is a toyota tech who balanced my tires for me.

 

[strathcona]

For us Canadians, I have very good service from trdparts.com.

I have made 2 orders from them and the parts were half the price or lower than a dealer up here would charge. I receiver a liftgate lock mechanism from them for $120.00 Cdn shipped. Mayfield Toyota quoted me $350 for the part.

Their site says they ship UPS, but they will ship it with USPS so you don"t have to pay the ridiculous UPS broker charges.

 

[m@x]

Thanks everyone for your feedback!
Toyota part find and purchase is not that straightforward as for bmw cars so I am still learning how to approach this process more effectively.

For example realoem.com is a complete database of part numbers and diagrams that covers all bmw models. Then I have 3 reliable online stores that I am shopping at. I punch in the PN and voila, the picture, the description and the price.

I've been trying to find OEM all-weather mats and so far I failed.
There are some other parts that I can't find on the diagrams or in stores like the small square plastic cover near the gear selector (you remove it when your gears are stuck and you need to push something there to unlock something). I am missing this cover..

 

[m@x]

For us Canadians, I have very good service from trdparts.com.

I have made 2 orders from them and the parts were half the price or lower than a dealer up here would charge. I receiver a liftgate lock mechanism from them for $120.00 Cdn shipped. Mayfield Toyota quoted me $350 for the part.

Their site says they ship UPS, but they will ship it with USPS so you don"t have to pay the ridiculous UPS broker charges.

I am checking the store right now. Thanks!

 

[m@x]

I just found that Wholesale OEM Toyota Parts - TRD Toyota Parts and Conicelli Parts Center are using exactly the same search/browse module on their web sites. The web sites are different but the plug-in inside the frame is 100%identical, except for the price.
I bet they are using the same suppliers, taht actually provide the plug-in.
Not bad at all.

 

[chmura]

I really like Toyota Parts at ToyoMotorParts | Genuine OEM Toyota Parts

They have all the parts diagrams. You just look at the diagrams and purchase what you need. I just purchased a few items from them and they call came quickly.

 

[Bossman]

I really like Toyota Parts at ToyoMotorParts | Genuine OEM Toyota Parts

They have all the parts diagrams. You just look at the diagrams and purchase what you need. I just purchased a few items from them and they call came quickly.

Unfortunately, their shipping policy states they do not ship outside of the U.S.

 

[m@x]

Unfortunately, their shipping policy states they do not ship outside of the U.S.

I really like Toyota Parts at ToyoMotorParts | Genuine OEM Toyota Parts

They have all the parts diagrams. You just look at the diagrams and purchase what you need. I just purchased a few items from them and they call came quickly.

These guys have a lot of things, but yes, no shipping to Canada =( ouch..
Same thing with Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Toyota Auto Parts and Accessories
And their search interface is similar. Probably they have the same supplier...

 

[m@x]

For us Canadians, I have very good service from trdparts.com.

I have made 2 orders from them and the parts were half the price or lower than a dealer up here would charge. I receiver a liftgate lock mechanism from them for $120.00 Cdn shipped. Mayfield Toyota quoted me $350 for the part.

Their site says they ship UPS, but they will ship it with USPS so you don"t have to pay the ridiculous UPS broker charges.

The topic of UPS brokerage fees is very well known to me. I've done a lot of research regarding this issue. Lots of calls to UPS and CBSA, arguments with UPS reps, official letters, complaints and inquiries. After a year of fighting with UPS on one side and getting support from CBSA on the other side, I have developed for myself a step-by-step procedure on how to perform self-clearance. And it works like a charm. I also had to educate UPS reps from pickup facilities regarding the procedure, but that was the last mile.
In the case of Edmonton you need to drive to the airport to self clear. Other than that no complications.

 

[strathcona]

I knew about the ability to self clear items, but trdparts automatically sent them USPS saving me the hassle of a 40 min drive.