Looking to import a body kit

[Bullitt_180sx]

I'm want to get ahold of a body kit that isn't available on our side of the world. Are there any zilvia members that specialize in getting body parts here at decent prices?

[tricky_ab]

I'm want to get ahold of a body kit that isn't available on our side of the world. Are there any zilvia members that specialize in getting body parts here at decent prices?

Define a decent price?

I'm going to be honest... This falls into the "You've got to pay to play" There's plenty of vendors I can name off of the top of my head that cant get you whatever Japanese kits you're after, but the shipping is killer. Even if they do a container it's still rather pricey.

To me, I don't mind because that's exactly what I'm after. It's worth it to me...

What's it worth to you?

[Bullitt_180sx]

I'll give you an example. The 3 piece lip kit I want for my Lexus GS430 is right around $1000 USD, but the only company I can find that has it listed on a US website has the shipping listed at about $2200, bringing the total to over $3000 for a lip kit. That seems ridiculous to me. There has to be someone on this forum who has a connection and can get larger items here cheaper than that.

[dluevanos01]

GTR Garage would probably be your best bet.

I know they get containers pretty often so you might want to get in contact with them.

[wuthbeo]

There has to be someone on this forum who has a connection and can get larger items here cheaper than that.http://bit.ly/1XE6jnX

[mhubeny180sx]

you can always cut the kit into pieces if you know what you are doing with fiberglass and then get it shipped.
I have 0 experience with fiberglass work (unless paper mache counts?) so ill be shipping mine in full pieces, its really not that expensive. There are only a handful of real kits you can get state side (origin, rocket bunny), so you don't want some crappy replica like 90% of the people here run.

[s13silvia123]

Shipping isn't cheap. I shipped small boxes to large boxes to other countries before and they cost just as much as what you would be paying. Some places suck because you can't get certain couriers to ship for cheaper. I had my kit cut in half but I cleaned it up by laying carbon fiber for reinforcement and using quality body filler to fill up the cuts. You have to put up with shipping and cost. Most of the nicer kits are made to order. As mine was. So you'll have to put up with wait time and cost. It took nearly 6 months for my to receive my kit. I paid $2500 plus extras to clean up my kit. Maybe totaling it up to almost $3k.

[crzsteveo]

Does vertex make a lip kit for your cat? Maybe that's the IS in thinking of

[frizzle]

What kit are you looking for?

[Reece]

>import
>body kit
>decent price

ok glws

[STEEZxIT]

jesse streeter dot com

or, if you're as cool as i am, then you'll have some military contacts in japan that can ship through their base. i had some wheels shipped from okinawa to my front door in california for the princely sum of $80. thats four wheels, with tires. i highly suggest being as cool as me as soon as possible, it's been working out great so far 5/5 A+

[Bullitt_180sx]

Does vertex make a lip kit for your cat? Maybe that's the IS in thinking of

Vertex does make a kit for the 2nd gen GS, but that's not what I am looking for. The manufacturer is Artisan Spirits.

http://artisanspirits.co.jp/car-lineup/toyota/aristo/ari_16-ab-hsl/index.html

[Juucso]

Rocket Bunny V2 kit to Finland was over 1000usd so be ready to pay large amounts for shipping. :)

[Kuma]

you can always cut the kit into pieces if you know what you are doing with fiberglass and then get it shipped.
I have 0 experience with fiberglass work (unless paper mache counts?) so ill be shipping mine in full pieces, its really not that expensive. There are only a handful of real kits you can get state side (origin, rocket bunny), so you don't want some crappy replica like 90% of the people here run.

If you're going to cut the kit into pieces, you might as well get a knock off. Unless you just got it so you can tell people how expensive it was.

[mhubeny180sx]

If you're going to cut the kit into pieces, you might as well get a knock off. Unless you just got it so you can tell people how expensive it was.

don't understand how that justifies purchasing knock off parts but, ok.

[Bullitt_180sx]

If you're going to cut the kit into pieces, you might as well get a knock off. Unless you just got it so you can tell people how expensive it was.

And that doesn't help me since there aren't any knock offs of the artisan spirits kits.

[Kuma]

don't understand how that justifies purchasing knock off parts but, ok.

Is everything you buy new? Unless you're buying new, you're not supporting the manufacturer. I drive my cars, so this is from a driver's perspective, not a show car's perspective. I'd rather have to do a bit of fiberglass work to make a $200 bumper fit perfect, than buy a $1000 bumper, and have to do a lot of fiberglass work to put it back together and make it fit perfect. If the end result looks the same, why not go the easier and cheaper route? If you'd rather spend $800 more than me, good for you... I'll look at you like a dumb ass sucker and you can look at me like a cheap ass. At the end of the day, I'll save $800 and increase my fiberglass experience, and you'll get 100 likes on IG from some people that you'll never meet. Whatever makes you feel good on the insides.


And that doesn't help me since there aren't any knock offs of the artisan spirits kits.

Well then I guess the answer to your question is nut up and pay the shipping, or pick a different kit. Whether you get a good deal on a used one that has been beat up to offset the shipping cost, or buy a new one that's been cut up, it'll be worth the same after you patch it together.

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[tricky_ab]

Is everything you buy new? Unless you're buying new, you're not supporting the manufacturer. I drive my cars, so this is from a driver's perspective, not a show car's perspective. I'd rather have to do a bit of fiberglass work to make a $200 bumper fit perfect, than buy a $1000 bumper, and have to do a lot of fiberglass work to put it back together and make it fit perfect. If the end result looks the same, why not go the easier and cheaper route? If you'd rather spend $800 more than me, good for you... I'll look at you like a dumb ass sucker and you can look at me like a cheap ass. At the end of the day, I'll save $800 and increase my fiberglass experience, and you'll get 100 likes on IG from some people that you'll never meet. Whatever makes you feel good on the insides.


Um....Congrats on taking the time to make shitty fitting kits, fit less shitty? And did you really say "From a drivers perspective?"

So I guess then we should take you serious then since you're on another level of expertise. I'm glad you did mention that it goes both ways. People are looking at you like a dumb ass the same way you are, when it comes to spending that added money.

[Kuma]

Um....Congrats on taking the time to make shitty fitting kits, fit less shitty? And did you really say "From a drivers perspective?"

So I guess then we should take you serious then since you're on another level of expertise. I'm glad you did mention that it goes both ways. People are looking at you like a dumb ass the same way you are, when it comes to spending that added money.

From a driver's perspective meaning I use my cars daily. So I'd rather replace a $200 bumper and spend 8hrs making it fit better than the original does out of the box than spend $1000 every time a raccoon runs out in front of me, or someone hits my car in a parking lot.

I don't build cars for shows, I build cars to drive. If I built cars that wouldn't be driven ( Or didn't have a high chance of getting fucked up), I might have a different opinion. it's a purely cosmetic part, if I can get the same result by saving $800 in exchange for 8 extra hours of my time, I'm going to go the $200 route. Unless I was making over $100/hr, but even if I was the best upholsterer in the world, I probably wouldn't make $100/hr.

[Kingtal0n]

I don't build cars for shows, I build cars to drive. If I built cars that wouldn't be driven ( Or didn't have a high chance of getting fucked up), I might have a different opinion.

I feel the same way!

My lip is all messed up from 50k of daily driving. SO what did I do?

I went to wal-mart, got myself some $10 acrylic paints (that will wash off in water) and I now paint pretty designs on the #(*@#'d up part of the lip, after each rain storm of course ;D

[tricky_ab]

From a driver's perspective meaning I use my cars daily. So I'd rather replace a $200 bumper and spend 8hrs making it fit better than the original does out of the box than spend $1000 every time a raccoon runs out in front of me, or someone hits my car in a parking lot.

I don't build cars for shows, I build cars to drive. If I built cars that wouldn't be driven ( Or didn't have a high chance of getting fucked up), I might have a different opinion. it's a purely cosmetic part, if I can get the same result by saving $800 in exchange for 8 extra hours of my time, I'm going to go the $200 route. Unless I was making over $100/hr, but even if I was the best upholsterer in the world, I probably wouldn't make $100/hr.

http://abload.de/img/0562_jkkjp.gif

Alright, since you expanded what you had meant originally, I get where you're coming from.

[mhubeny180sx]

Is everything you buy new? Unless you're buying new, you're not supporting the manufacturer.

If it is still in production, of course, and if its not in production I'm still supporting them by not supporting wannabe/replica/cheap/disgusting products.

I drive my cars, so this is from a driver's perspective, not a show car's perspective. I'd rather have to do a bit of fiberglass work to make a $200 bumper fit perfect, than buy a $1000 bumper, and have to do a lot of fiberglass work to put it back together and make it fit perfect. If the end result looks the same, why not go the easier and cheaper route? If you'd rather spend $800 more than me, good for you... I'll look at you like a dumb ass sucker and you can look at me like a cheap ass. At the end of the day, I'll save $800 and increase my fiberglass experience.

Yes cars are meant to be driven, I'm glad you understand that concept.
$1000 for a bumper shows you don't know what you are talking about as usual lol. I can easily get the one I want to me in one piece for much less than that. You say you build cars to be driven, why even bother with the $200 bumper (i doubt you can get a $200 bumper unless you are local to the outfit) don't need a bumper to drive a car, heck, just "increase" your fiberglass skills and make one from scratch. You are just trying to justify being cheap and creating excuses to buy poor quality replica parts. Think of it this way. You create a product, i see it, replicate it sell it for way less, how motivated will you be to produce a new product? This exact situation is and has been happening for a while now thanks to these replica producers, ultimately halting production of awesome parts from awesome manufacturers, and flooding the market with mediocre parts so they can keep up with the competitive prices. Its really not that hard of a concept to understand, I don't know why you struggle with simple logic like this.

and you'll get 100 likes on IG from some people that you'll never meet. Whatever makes you feel good on the insides.


In case you haven't noticed, most of the people who fish for ig likes are the replica part users lol you got it all ass backwards. I for one barely use instagram, I mostly just follow people that have an item I want, patiently waiting until they post it for sale.

[Matej]

I mostly just follow people that have an item I want, patiently waiting until they post it for sale.
You should support the manufacturer and buy new or at least support the industry by purchasing a currently produced alternative instead of scavenging used scraps off Instagram like some filthy peasant vulture.

[Kuma]

Alright, since you expanded what you had meant originally, I get where you're coming from.

I guess I should have said from a "daily drivers" perspective as to not sound like I'm on my high horse.


(i doubt you can get a $200 bumper unless you are local to the outfit)

$1000 is an example based on buying it in japan and the cost to ship it here, if the OP's $1000 kit (assuming is 4 pieces) that costs $2200 to ship... I don't know the exact price it would be for just the front bumper +shipping... If it makes you feel better, I overshot the cost of my knockoff example too.
$164.70 shipped to my door.
http://www.carid.com/duraflex/supercool-style-front-bumper-cover-mpn-109987.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA4qSzBRCq1-iLhZ6Vsc0BEiQA1qt-zuo91O-vstMmJdcA5CsxZC6tw28rW28G-tvPMebYalQaAtQo8P8HAQ

You create something and charge $1000 just because you can. Someone else comes along and makes and sells it for $200 while turning a profit. Either your quality will shine above and you will still be profitable, or you lower your price to be more competitive. Forged wheel manufacturers aren't going out of business because their quality level is well worth the extra $2000+

Making a body kit from scratch goes back to the same reason I wouldn't spend $3000 on one, it's just not worth it to me, because the odds of some bad shit happening, and having to replace it. I will be making my own overfenders though...

[CamryOnBronze]

Try RHD Japan. They can get just about anything that's available in Japan and they can ship it via DHL. It will cost less than the $2200 that other website is quoting you for sure and will arrive a lot faster.

For example, a complete GT-1 aero kit on their site is about $930 USD. Shipping via DHL is $960 to my location in Michigan. The lip kit you are after won't be as large as a GT-1 kit since it includes a complete front bumper, but I am sure shipping will be more or less the same. I used them for my Koguchi Power hood and had it within two days after they got it at their warehouse (which took 2-3 weeks.)

It's either that, or have Jesse cut it and ship it that way like people have mentioned. I've done that as well with a front lip and had good results.

[Dolph_KYAS13]

Had my tommykaira stuff cut and send over. shipping cut sideskirts and a rear valance was just about 100 USD. (Compare this with around $1000 to ship it uncut). I just glassed it back together one weekend and the fitment is damn near OEM. If youre willing to put in a bit of work ordering kits from japan is financially feasible

[mhubeny180sx]

I guess I should have said from a "daily drivers" perspective as to not sound like I'm on my high horse.

plenty of people run real/legit aero on their daily.

You create something and charge $1000 just because you can. Someone else comes along and makes and sells it for $200 while turning a profit. Either your quality will shine above and you will still be profitable, or you lower your price to be more competitive. Forged wheel manufacturers aren't going out of business because their quality level is well worth the extra $2000+

you charge more money because its your design, you spent your own money and time creating it

kinda weak analogy using wheels. replicators of these wheels make a poor cast version, so yes its far worse quality. im no fiberglass expert but with fiberglass the difference between quality and replica isn't as critical as a cast replica vs a forged aluminum original, and also its far more obvious that someone is running fake or real wheels. i think a better analogy would be say tshirts. real versace vs fake versace kinda deal, you dont see louis vuitton lowering their prices to keep up with replicas right? but to my point its kind of difficult to to "shine" that much more over a replica part when all you can do is get fitment 100%, craft with a lot of attention to detail and use the best materials, which usually goes unnoticed anyways. I'm actually very interested to see the difference between my real kp overfenders and a set of replicas as to weight, felxibility, thickness of material, strength, brittleness, edges etc.