Source for OEM replacement parts?

UnderDawg · June 17, 2004

Can anyone help me with a source for OEM replacement parts? I'm looking for a driver door panel and the cruise/blinker/wiper switch. Thanks in advance!

silverado man · June 17, 2004

You could try the two vendors we have. Either Gmpartsdirect.com or Partszoneonline.com. The links are to the left.

UnderDawg · June 17, 2004

Cool, thanks!!!!!!

chris_kucia · June 17, 2004

Can anyone help me with a source for OEM replacement parts? I'm looking for a driver door panel and the cruise/blinker/wiper switch. Thanks in advance!

I use both of those vendors regularly and am very happy with them. I tend to order from P&G (Partszoneonline) because I believe they're in Pittsburgh, which is closer to me than GMPartsDirect in NC and I save a day's shipping. Otherwise, I find them to be about equal in pricing and service.

For a lot of replacement parts, I also use ACDelco parts which, while technically not OEM (they are a separate company from GM now), still have an affiliation with GM, and are sold through GM dealers.

For ACDelco parts, I use www.rockauto.com Their search system is a little cumbersome sometimes, but they do take PayPal. They also carry other vendors, but personally, if I'm going to get something other than GM or Delco, I may as well run to the local place where I can easily return it if it isn't right.

Typically, I'll go to www.acdelco.com - they have an online catalog where you can put in your VIN, or search by year/make/model. Find the part number for what I want, then use RockAuto's part number search to find it.

RockAuto's prices on ACDelco are usually about what it would cost for "generic" parts at the local parts store. ACDelco parts typically are drop-shipped from the local Delco warehouse and arrive in a day or two for me (I'm in Cleveland) unless the part is special-order. They're almost always faster than the GM vendors above, but still more than just running to the local AutoZone.

The downside I've found is that RockAuto doesn't yet carry a lot of parts for my 2000 Sierra, but I expect that will change in the future.

Another place you can always try is e-bay. You have to be careful, but I've found some deals there. Once you're armed with part numbers, things are easier to find. If its new-in-the-box GM or Delco, and the seller has good feedback, then you can make out well. Occassionally, for the right application, a used part will do (wheels, body/interior parts, etc.). That's where e-bay really excels. I especially like the take-off parts, where a custom shop replaces stock parts off nearly-new vehicles with aftermarket.

I try to pay close attention to my vehicles so I can identify problems when they're first starting to occur. That way, I can plan ahead, order all the parts and recieve them, then take the vehicle down over a weekend and fix it all at once. Sometimes things break unexpectedly, and I have to source things locally, but I find that if I fix things at the first sign of trouble, I get to fix it on my schedule and at better prices. If I ignore it, then it breaks on its own schedule, which is never at a convenient time or a good price!