Would you buy an Opel Astra grille from Alibaba?

[PaulR]

Right now I am undergoing a budget rebadge on my XR 5 door. I have found four 64mm O.D. aftermarket Opel flash wheel center caps for the 16' alloys and an Opel emblem (56mm O.D.) that should go right over the steering wheel airbag Saturn logo.

After checking brand new prices for a 207 1/2 + face lift grille I am now looking at used or aftermarkets. There are aftermarket ones coming from Taiwan, I believe, and also Chinese knock-offs. I tried buying a grille from Lithuania but they would not ship to the States. Another guy in Lithuania said his grille quality was "not bad" when I asked.

Which comes to my original question. Would you buy a grille from the website Alibaba or for that part, anything from Alibaba? I know they are cut-rate on most items but I do not want to be burned.
What have been your experiences with Opelizing a Saturn, anyone?

Thank you in advance.

[AstraFasta]

You might have better luck on the UK ebay site directly. www.ebay.co.uk

Alibaba is a huge marketplace. I suppose the risk is generally a bit higher than the risk with eBay.

Your payment service (e.g. credit card or paypal) may provide some additional protections.

I wouldn't call any of these marketplaces or payment services "bulletproof". But you are not risking a lot of money either.

[JFS]

I agree with AstraFasta.

No track of part pedigree with Alibaba.

No to Jack Ma. My second least favorite guy named Jack. IM me and I'll Twitter you back who.....Dang, just gave it away.

Yes to some banger & mash eater in the UK. There seem to be Opel and Vauxhall both available

You may find many parts available on the German and other European EBays, but stick to the Brits. You will encounter some insane shipping and fees from the continent, but not the UK. I've gotten an alternator, springs/struts in 7-12 days, smaller parts from 4-8 days usually.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by JFS

I agree with AstraFasta.

No track of part pedigree with Alibaba.

No to Jack Ma. My second least favorite guy named Jack. IM me and I'll Twitter you back who.....Dang, just gave it away.

Yes to some banger & mash eater in the UK. There seem to be Opel and Vauxhall both available

You may find many parts available on the German and other European EBays, but stick to the Brits. You will encounter some insane shipping and fees from the continent, but not the UK. I've gotten an alternator, springs/struts in 7-12 days, smaller parts from 4-8 days usually.

Thanks. I went with the Lithuanian dude. Same grille he sells on the English site but it is going to cost me 10 USD less and will be here well before Palm Sunday. I will see what I get for under a hundred bucks.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by JFS

I agree with AstraFasta.

No track of part pedigree with Alibaba.

No to Jack Ma. My second least favorite guy named Jack. IM me and I'll Twitter you back who.....Dang, just gave it away.

Yes to some banger & mash eater in the UK. There seem to be Opel and Vauxhall both available

You may find many parts available on the German and other European EBays, but stick to the Brits. You will encounter some insane shipping and fees from the continent, but not the UK. I've gotten an alternator, springs/struts in 7-12 days, smaller parts from 4-8 days usually.

Got the grille from the Lithuanian dudes. First grille came in four days with the bottom lower tab busted off. You can blame TNT Worldwide Express for that. I emailed the seller and they sent me out another one F.O.C., when I offered, they didn't even want the first grille back. The second grille was delivered four days later unscathed.

The quality and fit of this aftermarket grille is good. It is not up to the level of OEM and will probably not last as long, but I am satisfied. A good ending to a story buying from a man that I will never meet and from a land that I will never visit.

[AstraFasta]

How has the 5-door Opel grille held up? Did it come with the Opel badge? Do you still have the broken grille?

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by AstraFasta

How has the 5-door Opel grille held up? Did it come with the Opel badge? Do you still have the broken grille?

I tried to contact you through private messages but here this message goes through the regular forum. I do have the broken grille and just super glued the broken tab back on. The grille on my car has held up well for the last couple years, no pitting or tarnishing but I try to the car clean and not follow gravel trucks anyway. Both came with the Opel flash logo badge. I did add the English and German information label on the inside top of the grille. It shows the fan and hot coolant warnings. I think I bought the last three labels that were still available in North America.