Duly noting that the only thing that seems to stimulate the listee masses are
vendor bashing messages, I thought I'd join the fray with a typically obscure
set of comments.

The local temperature dropped below 70 F here yesterday, signifying the
probable onset of the long-awaited next ice age, and SWMBO demanded that I
exercise the heater control lever. Egad, first there was a 3 psi drop in
coolant pressure then the onset of that sweet ethylene glycol aroma. This
stimulated a search of the Bus Depot website for a heater core for a 1982
Diesel Vanagon. Imagine my chagrin (bordering on panic) after calling to
confirm that they had no such article. Their friendly suggestion that this is
now a dealer only par, triggered a search for alternative sources.

Over the years, I have used two sources for non BD purchases of automotive
parts: Camelback and "site X". Indeed as I have been preparing the Audi 2.0
Turbo swap with SAAB turbo and engine management, and tinkered with our 944
Turbo, I have come to rely on "site X". Always prompt shipping, never a
mistaken part whether it be described with a SAAB, VW, Audi, Porsche or
Mercedes genesis.

Well, "site X" is www.thepartsbin.com. I just checked their site and found
the '82 Vanagon Diesel Heater Core for $62.10. The heater blower was $97.48
(BD lists 99.95), the WBX heater core was $175 (BD is 199.95 I think). Plus,
they had a number of transmission and clutch related parts not listed on the
BD site. Well, I then ordered the core and a variety of other pieces and then
discovered that there is free shipping (via UPS) on orders over $50. All in
all a good experience I thought worthwhile to pass on.

Now I'm not suggesting that Ron's prices are high. On the contrary, I buy
from BD whenever I can. ThePartsBin.com clearly is a member of a larger
internet searchable data base with centralized warehousing and shipping
(you'll find the same parts search engine on other parts sites) and this
larger size probably a cost advantage over the smaller BD operation. I
suspect that Ron's margin is also less than theirs as well. That said, the
range of parts they offer (for I-4's, Subaru's, etc.) is rather impressive
and helpful. Further they do not neglect the Vanagon.

Frank Grunthaner

PS. To assuage my guilt for penning this blatently possible general interest
missive, I only ordered those parts not offered by BD! (er, ... at this time).