Cheap Ebay Products - Post your experiences.

[Z2TT]

Hi.

I have read over and over on Toymods and other forums that some cheap or inexpensive products from ebay are actually very good quality, such as the Turbotech boost controller for $30 and various cheap intercoolers. But offcourse quality does vary, example are some manifolds with bolt holes that dont line up to the head.

I Made this thread to allow others to post their experiences with cheap products from ebay, so people who have a tight budget can find out what products are good and avoid problems later on down the track.

So Post your product you bought, brandname, price and maybe a link to the product.
Give a few words about the build quality when it arrived and how it worked, how long it lasted.

Thanks.

[mrshin]

I get people bringing exhaust bits in all the time, and expect you to fit them for $5. Generally they're the same as the crap people pick up at the market, and I usually suggest they find someplace else to fit them. Having said that, I've bought some other products from there that have turned out OK - you just have to be a bit selective with what you buy, and be willing to accept that if something is cheap and turns out crap, throw it away and start again. Oh, and another tip - if you buy the Chinese intercoolers, give them a good wash before you use them!

[xdave]

i've bought one of these really cheap ebay steering wheels
the brand on the box was Type-R (our favourite rice parts brand!!)
it was like $25 or $30 including postage

good buy! build quality seems good and sturdy (i imagine it would be hard to fck up a steering wheel) i bought it several months ago and it still pretty much looks like the day i installed it

[Cuzzo]

Bought ebay 4agte 20v manifold. redrilled to 16v and support the turbo. Stayed good untill i just recently pulled it off and sold it.

250 dollars cheap!

[Draven]

my $250 egay manifold for the 2j is still holding up well. I bought it as a consumable item, and really only expected it to last a year... so I've more than got my moneys worth so far

[_FNQ_rolla_]

Bought ebay 4agte 20v manifold.

Is that the hi mount manifold for the 4AGE as i am about at that stage of my turbo build

thanks
Gav

[Cuzzo]

Is that the hi mount manifold for the 4AGE as i am about at that stage of my turbo build

thanks
Gav

its the lowmount one.

[Norbie]

I've bought 3x intercoolers, a 2JZ turbo manifold and a HKS-copy wastegate - all have worked out fine. Like Draven I don't expect the manifold to last a long time but at the price I paid you can consider it a consumable item.

[MR 1JZ]

a few wastegates, several manifolds, half a dozen intercoolers, 3 steering wheels, 6 turbotechs, various other stuff

never ever had a problem except with 2 turbos...but they were free...so meh

[EldarO]

i've bought one of these really cheap ebay steering wheels
the brand on the box was Type-R (our favourite rice parts brand!!)
it was like $25 or $30 including postage

good buy! build quality seems good and sturdy (i imagine it would be hard to fck up a steering wheel) i bought it several months ago and it still pretty much looks like the day i installed it

ive bought a few wheels (regretably) that have had the vinyl peel off with the heat.

thats about the only way you can bugger em up, unless theyre not study and buckle with light pressure.

[Z2TT]

Great, looks like there is some good stuff out there on ebay. I would buy anything but a turbocharger, cannot expect a well ballanced wheel for cheap prices.

[CHB]

any one try out the turbos from ebay?

[MR 1JZ]

any one try out the turbos from ebay?

yes

no good

[jono]

i got a justjap intercooler on ebay, and a GFB chinese copy BOV (i run low boost), both okay.

i got an oil feed kit, but threw it in the bin.

[rolleraction]

Not car specific, but I recently bought an ebay el cheapo high pressure blaster/washer. Looks exactly like a karcher (sp?) but obviously a chinese immitation, and I bought it knowing that.. its a total POS.. what was I thinking for $110 brand new. My last real Karcher cost me $1200............live & learn.......

[timbosaurus]

Jono, what was wrong with the oil feed kit?

[jono]

poor quality braid and also too long and couldn't be shortened.

[1JZ-Rolla]

I run a "HKS Copy" 40mm external wastegate of ebay origin, came with gaskets, bolts, weld-on flanges etc and has been fine in service so far. Had to purchase an additional spring though, the original listing said it was 8psi, but it was actually 24psi fortunately I tested it before fitting to the car

Only thing that it possibly lacks over a more expensive alternative is the amount of valve lift, which isn't huge, but in reality hasn't caused any boost control issues.

Cheers
Phil

[beatle]

from personal experience, i have the chinese ct12A's, failed within 500km's, was bedding in a clutch at the same time so was driving fairly sedately.
1 friend went ebay crazy and boiught heaps of stuff for his 180sx, turbo, manifold, hicas cancel bar and dump pipes.

the turbo failed within 1 day, the manifold is fine, the hicas canceler was terribly wrong and had to be cut and rewelded to actualy fit and the dump pipes were horribly misaligned.

another bought a hks copy wastegate, it failed, swapped it, worked for a while then failed, he rebuilt it with genuine HKS parts (~$170) and its fine

[1JZ-Rolla]

beatle: what actually failed in the HKS copy wastegate?