Are ebay parts prices real or wishful thinking?

[Mike W.]

Just taking stock of some of my parts stash and wondering what some of the parts are worth. 059 ECUs seem to mostly start at $300 asking! And go up from there. But a lot of stuff is make offer too. I really do need to purge stuff, but wow, what stuff is going for, or being asked. I mean I could retire, oh yeah, already did. And then when I think of what I've thrown away over the years. Oh well.

So are prices really that crazy high or they can ask, but doesn't mean they're getting?

[stuartinmn]

If you're signed in to eBay you can look at the sold prices for completed auctions, that will give you a better idea of what things are going for than the asking prices in ongoing auctions.

[turbodan]

I don't believe for a second that ebay prices are representative of fair market values. People can ask whatever they want and sometimes they might get it but if you watch these items you will see very few actually sell.

I was recently on the hunt for some taillights, just a set of spares. Most were listed on ebay for $300ish, I eventually found a pair for $120 delivered. You just have to comb through these perpetually listed, overpriced parts to find people who are serious.

[kojo96]

I think it's all relative based on the part, condition and availability.

Ebay takes around 15% of the total sale including shipping. Sometimes, it can go as high as 25%. Plus, you get a really strong buyer protection, if the part arrives not as described, or doesn't work, you get ALL your money back. Try that with some of the flakes on forums, or Fuck book. And paying with PayPal is no guarantee that you'd get your money back.

Take for instance the door edge protection rubber with the fur. Still available new but at $500 ea, what would one expect to pay for a used one (or a set of 4) in excellent condition?

Manual transmissions, $500 for a no history, ran when parked or $1500++ for a known good gearbox from a known seller that would take it back if it's bad.

Differentials, same as above. Junk yard special for $600-$800 or $2.5-$3k for a known completley rebuilt unit, depending on ratios.

Sport Seats, junk yard specials at $800+, same recovered in Lseat leather at $1800.00, or fully rebuilt, tested pr using one of the best skins. Just doing a set now, GAHH skins front and back are $4500.00 alone!!!

E24 tail lights, in excellent condition are probably $1k++

Or, the 059 ECU at $300++, Programa charges over $500 to re solder yours, no other work done.

Some parts are just too damn hard to source, and you should expect to pay a premium for them.

As time goes on, it will only get worse.

[garageboy]

I have found that the site "car-part.com" (NOT carparts.com) has good prices on used parts. It's worth a search to compare to eBay, especially if you hope to negotiate with an eBay seller.

Hope this helps.