What I learned from Japanese Used Parts Stores

[mrmephistopheles]

Went to Up Garage the other night with Lisa and Emma in tow, and whilst searching for fun parts, I came across some BNR34 and Z33 front calipers.
As internet legend would have it, they are the same in every way.
Looks like internet legend is wrong AGAIN.
The BNR34 calipers were larger and designed quite a bit differently from the Z33. It's pretty clear that the Z33 are a bit 'cheaped out' versions of the nice BNR34s.

Yesterday, we went hunting for Showa99, and finally found it. I arranged to purchase some S15 front spindles/hubs for 5 lug on my S13, and when they figured out I had an S13, they made every effort to show me what I'd need to get it to work. Really classy guys (whom I'll be bringing beer to next time I go).
Anyway, to get around the balljoint issue, they showed me that an R32 LCA can be used in place of S13 or S14 (all you need is a little washer for the swaybar mounting point). How cool is that? The R32 LCA is the same length as S13, and the balljoint fits perfectly in the spindle!

Another thing I learned about Japan (in general) is that no matter how friendly people are, and how much they try to help you, there's still a good chance they don't know where they're going, and you'll end up lost!
Funny side story - we were looking for Showa99 with a map in hand and time to spare. We ended up driving within 300 meters of it about 10 minutes into our search, but then went a different way and got lost for an hour. Oh well, that's life in Japan.

[SimpleS14]

Interesting....but I always thought the BNR34 calipers were bigger than the Z32 calipers and required larger rims (17 or 18 I believe).

[mrmephistopheles]

that's what I"m saying, Simple. They ARE bigger than Z32, because Z33 is bigger than Z32.

[Flybert]

It's all about GPS systems in Japan.

[mrmephistopheles]

that's the truth... if only I could find one in English!

[toraji]

so.. how are the prices on used goods at up garage, compared to the US?

im planning to visit my girlfriend, and go in august lookin for cheap coilovers, and parts in general.

[mrmephistopheles]

depends on what you're looking for and the condition of the item. Prices very to an extreme. Having a rapport with the people who work there, or having a discount/points card helps too. Example of the best deal I've gotten since I've been here (which was JUST YESTERDAY) - 180sx zenki/chuki sideskirts for ¥2000. Such a crazy great deal and they're in SUCH great shape. They're being shipped home today for my car!
It's all dependent on the shop you go to, where it's located in Japan, and all sorts of things.
I'll suffice it to say that I've been able to make a few bucks when selling items on here.

[SimpleS14]

My previous post was to mention what my assumption was all the time....but is my last part about the rims true? Think you can hook us up with some small bits (i.e. headlights)? or ship to a Naval base?

[95zilvia]

2000 Yen = like, 2 dollars or somethin
damn, what a find.

[SilviaNinja240]

more like $18 or so about, but still 20 bucks for sideskirts!! whata steal

[rupertaker1]

what kind of prices were you seeing on the brakes?

at the up garage in yokohama,I found 2 sets of R34 calipers for 100,000 a set :rl:

I was a little dissapointed =(

[S14DB]

I still want to find a S15 HLSD when I go out there.

[Andrew Bohan]

so kevin, how do you talk to the guys? do they speak english? or do you point to picures and stuff?

[mrmephistopheles]

the 34s were in a set for 1600ish, the z33s were front only for 750.
34s are typically around 900-1000 for fronts only.
last time they had a full set, they wanted 2000, but i think they're a but cheaper now because of their stronger economy. *dunno*
Andrew, I usually speak english slowly, and use japanese pronunciation of english words ('taabo', 'injecutah') ,and use the limited vocabulary of japanese words i have.
When all else fails, I find a part similar to what i'm talking about and just motion about.
English is taught in all japanese schools to all students, but it's taught at an early age, and typically unused. Communication by writing is MUCH easier, since it's easy to remember words of a foreign language as they're written than it is remembering how they sound and how they're pronounced when you don't use them everyday.
That and I have a friend at Up Garage who speaks english pretty well. :D

[mrmephistopheles]

My previous post was to mention what my assumption was all the time....but is my last part about the rims true? Think you can hook us up with some small bits (i.e. headlights)? or ship to a Naval base?
Yes, the 33/34 brembos need 17"s at a minimum.
I list stuff FS somewhat often... and shipping to a Naval base wouldn't be a problem. Finding stuff is what tends to be the problem. I've been looking for parts for some good friends since I've been out here, and I've still had no luck.

[roo]

just a tip:

you can get things much cheaper if you go a little ways away from major cities and hit up the junk yards. there are many that have networks and won't sell to you but if you find one that does, it's paradise. the stores like up garage, asm, and hasegawa are more expensive because of location and the fact they've pulled the parts already and cleaned them.

[wootwoot]

I wanna go to Japan =(
I would need a big ass suitcase or 5 to be able to bring home all types of goodies though.

[roo]

I wanna go to Japan =(
I would need a big ass suitcase or 5 to be able to bring home all types of goodies though.

I just came back on sunday....my luggage was x-rayed 5 times at narita....it was a damn gear set for an evo!! no oil, nothing hazardous!! do i look like a friggin' terrorist?!!

To top it all off, they scratched up my new PSP the third time they opened the luggage....

and then when i get to my layover in San Jose....once more, homeland security rapes my luggage...this time, everything comes flying out of my bag...I almost got arrested....the lady that popped open my suitcase upside down started lecturing me on how to pack and not to pack so much...WTF?!! Needless to say i told that biotch to shove her packing lecture where the sun don't shine and that after 5 bag rapings in Japan she should think about her ignorance of the situation a little more before getting an attitude...what a biatch!

hahhhhhh i feel better now...

[mrmephistopheles]

^^
Damn glad we mailed everything home instead of packing it! Sorry you had such a crappy experience.

[roo]

^^
Damn glad we mailed everything home instead of packing it! Sorry you had such a crappy experience.

I've brought stuff back about 7 times before and never had any issues....this time was just bad luck, and lots of it, :duh:

[mrmephistopheles]

Sounds that way. I think the only things we'll be hand-carrying are some injectors and maybe a steering wheel or two. Everything else has been shipped and insured.

[mk20116]

how hard are watanabe's to locate (or have you seen any) mrmephistopheles? i've been trying for a while now but the overally sizing is either 4-114.3 or offset is too high.

[WILDACEX187]

i wouldnt mind some sideskirts :)

[pruto]

kevin, how long are you guys going to stay in Japan?

[wootwoot]

Yeah, how long? Let me come visit you damnit; I want to go but feel I would be sooo lost. Also it costs 1000 bucks just to get there, Stupid college funds

[ThatGuy]

kevin, how long are you guys going to stay in Japan?

Only until they leave. :D


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[TheSnail]

Im, using r32 lca on mine as well. I had a guy a year ago ask to buy the lca from my left over r32 clips for 70$. I Dont know how long people knew about this in the states. I dont know how many people know about this right now. It is something people seem to be keeping to themselves. I posted the information about the r32 lca on zilvia last year. For me I cam across it, by mistake, and was just looking for a ball joint that would work, then would have it pressed in to my s13 lca. Shortly found out that the 32 balljoint was the same one I needed. Then saw the lca was Identical to the s13. So basically, r32 lca is a s13 lca with a s14 balljoint. Tried it and it worked great. I think that is what pdm must be doing. Just ordering r32 lca's from japan.

[Cthulhu]

how are you shipping the sideskirts back? are you going through any particular company? I've got a set all boxed up but they're allegedly too long for sea mail.

[WILDACEX187]

can u rock z33 brembos on s13's? i may have read it wrong but it looks like thats wat u're going for.

[KwKouki]

Meph, still lookin for my r34 seats??? :fawk2:

[mrmephistopheles]

how hard are watanabe's to locate (or have you seen any) mrmephistopheles? i've been trying for a while now but the overally sizing is either 4-114.3 or offset is too high.
not hard, but again - it's locating the sizing you want that's hard.
personally, I'd consider ordering them new. I don't think many people realize that the classic watanabe 8 spoke is stil in production, and the sizes they make them in are pretty much endless.

[mrmephistopheles]

how are you shipping the sideskirts back? are you going through any particular company? I've got a set all boxed up but they're allegedly too long for sea mail.

Since I'm mailing my own personal property to myself, I'm using the USPS, Priority Mail. Maximum dimensions are 108 linear inches (length + girth). The s13 skirts i mailed, in the boxes I made for them, were JUST under that.

[mrmephistopheles]

can u rock z33 brembos on s13's? i may have read it wrong but it looks like thats wat u're going for.

Yes you can, with modification. My ideal braking setup is BCNR33 Brembos front & rear. I'd like to get myself a set of those before I return to the states. The BCNR33 Brembos are the same as BNR34, just black.

[mrmephistopheles]

Meph, still lookin for my r34 seats??? :fawk2:
Oh, was I supposed to be? :fawkd:

[KwKouki]

Oh, was I supposed to be? :fawkd:

I have set a rule, not to pay more than what I paid for my car on a single purchase : )

[mbmbmb23]

It's all about GPS systems in Japan.

That's funny because I just saw some show about Japan on cable and they mentioned that all/most taxis have GPS.


-m

[noodl35]

showa as in showa auto service? If so, their engines are a rip off..

[roo]

That's funny because I just saw some show about Japan on cable and they mentioned that all/most taxis have GPS.-m

The only taxi I've ever been in with a GPS was a private owned taxi...the rest...they're just pretty damn good at navigating. I will say that nearly every friend of mne in Japan has a Navi in their car...it's a must...so many streets in Japan have no name and are insane to navigate without at least a good map with landmarks...

[mrmephistopheles]

showa as in showa auto service? If so, their engines are a rip off..
I'm pretty sure it's the same.
I didn't ask about their engines (although they DO have a freshly wrecked S15 Spec-R).

Sidenote: Those packages I mailed myself on the 2nd of April (1st of April US-time) arrived yesterday the 6th.
5 days!!
Not bad for priority mail (which is supposed to take 7-10 days from Japan).
All my parts came through safely. (this time around, unlike one of my triple proj headlamps which got pulverized). Oh well, that's what insurance is for.

-Kevin

[justinhustle]

damn kev

i shouldve had you pick up my shit at cusco to save the 200 dollar shipping from ems :(

[mrmephistopheles]

Sorry Justin, I had way too much crap to bring back as it was.

[Steeles]

find me a 330mm nardi and two quick releases cheap! :p

[justinhustle]

kevin, are you able to look for small parts that could be mailed very easily?

and easy to find?

=]

[mrmephistopheles]

find me a 330mm nardi and two quick releases cheap! :p

Hahahahah Send me money first, bish!

Justin: depends on the parts. :o