part buying suggestion: dealer or not??? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

shanzhu1 · 02-14-2005, 02:31 PM

Hi,

I plan to buy the following part for my 96 Camry V6:

1. Rear valve cover gasket (to fix a valve cover loil eaking problem).
2. Spark plugs after getting into the rear valve cover.
3. The gasket for air intake plenum (Hayes recommends use new one
once the plenum is removed).

Where you guys normally buy parts? Is really necessary to buy from
Toyota dealer? Or should the parts from autozone be good enough?

Thanks,

-shan

ChuckD · 02-14-2005, 03:00 PM

buy from the dealer!!

the v/c and plen. gaskets will match exact. and you wont have to worry about leaks.

the plugs should only be denso only. any other the car will run like blahhh.

only cuz I work at the dealer.......

CraigW · 02-14-2005, 04:22 PM

www.1stToyotaParts.com

shanzhu1 · 02-14-2005, 05:03 PM

They mentioned "100% gunuine factory (OEM)". Does this mean the parts
sold there are the same as those from Toyota dealers?

Thanks,

-shan

rusty9 · 02-14-2005, 06:52 PM

dont ever buy parts from the dealer unless:

a- you want to spend 3x the money for the same quality part

or

b- said parts happens to be a dealer only item, things like a window regulator or a piece of the dash

for the parts you listed you can get then at any local auto parts store for less than dealer parts and they will work just as well (if not better)

CraigW · 02-14-2005, 06:57 PM

Yes, OEM Toyota parts. The name is Bob Bridge Auto Center www.bobbridge.com they filled the order I made no problems.

mobes · 02-14-2005, 07:06 PM

I have the Bosch dual-electrode platinum plugs from Wal-Mart in my V6... no complaints there.

I've bought from Bob Bridge as well, AKA www.1sttoyotaparts.com, and their prices and service have been most excellent. But... if you can get aftermarket parts, by all means do, especially if they're lifetime warranted.

The plenum gasket is metal and can be re-used if you're careful not to damage it. I've had mine off twice and it still has the factory gasket. Shoot, I even remember Tony The Tiger posting that he still has his factory plenum gasket.

Toysrme · 02-14-2005, 07:17 PM

Don't buy that stuff from the dealer, they overcharge like a bastard.

Non OEM gasket sets will fit 100% fine... My ebay set wlooke dto be 100% the EXACT same as the OEM Toyota stuff (as in exactly the same parts) and it was made by a korean company.

More than likely where TMC got the OEM gasket from anyways hahahaha

***Edmond*** · 02-14-2005, 07:18 PM

For those, I would go to the dealer. I know that dealers rape people on parts but how much would they charge for a plug?

toyrolla · 02-14-2005, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toysrme

Don't buy that stuff from the dealer, they overcharge like a bastard.

Non OEM gasket sets will fit 100% fine... My ebay set wlooke dto be 100% the EXACT same as the OEM Toyota stuff (as in exactly the same parts) and it was made by a korean company.

More than likely where TMC got the OEM gasket from anyways hahahaha

It's true that there are no better parts that Toyota parts....

...However.....

I bought silicone 3SFE valve cover from a Ebay Seller named "mingsung".

The gasket fit perfectly with no leaks.

The gasket also came with the 4 spark plug grommets as a set.

At the same time, there are some things that I will buy only from Toyota.
Just have to use your best judgement.

atobe · 02-14-2005, 07:30 PM

you should call and ask how much it is.. because i needed a valve cover gasket for my car and the dealer had it for 12$ while kragens or autozone had it for 27$ so the dealer didn't rape me

toyrolla · 02-14-2005, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atobe

you should call and ask how much it is.. because i needed a valve cover gasket for my car and the dealer had it for 12$ while kragens or autozone had it for 27$ so the dealer didn't rape me

Advance Auto Parts (Parts America) has the Borg Warner set for $19.99 with the 4 spark plug grommets...

shanzhu1 · 02-15-2005, 10:27 AM

Thanks a lot, guys!!!.

I just checked with a local Toyota dealer and they quote me:
$15 for the valve cover gasket and $9.64 for the spark plug (each).

The seal packing is a bit more expensive ($14) (vs. $2-3 at autozone).

As someone suggested, the gasket for the air plenum might be resued.
So, I will hold that and see what is the condition of the old one.

So, I will buy from Toyota dealers (either locally or mailorder) except for
the RTV silicone sealent, which I probably just get form Autozone.

Thanks again.

-shan

shanzhu1 · 02-15-2005, 10:32 AM

Rusty9,

I compared the spark plugs from dealers and from Autozone. It seems the
difference is not that much. The one called Denso Platinum at Autozone
costs $7 and the one in Toyota costs $9.64. If that is the case, I might
just get all the parts from dealer for convenience and piece of mind.

Thanks,

-shan