Replacement Parts

[ddalder]

This is just an informal survey to give me ideas on things I may want to buy while there may still be a chance of finding them...

What is the silliest/craziest/least purposeful replacement part you've ever bought to improve the appearance or functionality of your car? I'll start...

A new lifting/jacking decal for my spare tire cover because the original has wrinkled a little over time.

[nos4blood70]

I went through the effort of finding a green LED light for the key ring. Lol Went through many different bulbs before I found one that wasn't tooooo bright.

There is probably a good list of other useless stuff I've done to the car, but I have a feeling you are asking about OEM stuff.

[CMNTMXR57]

Putting the black plastic thing on a set of GM keys for a vehicle that was made long before GM did that normally.

[ddalder]

I went through the effort of finding a green LED light for the key ring. Lol Went through many different bulbs before I found one that wasn't tooooo bright.

There is probably a good list of other useless stuff I've done to the car, but I have a feeling you are asking about OEM stuff.

It's a neat mod, for sure. I helped Andrew do this to his. I don't recall what colour LED we used (blue, I think). It was about ten years ago now so my memory is a little foggy. I'd considered doing it to mine as we, but like you said, I'm kind of staying OEM.

Putting the black plastic thing on a set of GM keys for a vehicle that was made long before GM did that normally.

That's kind of cool. I would never have thought about that.

[skregal]

I think I told this before, but I bought a set of OEM embroidered "SSEi" floormats
from the dealer and then hid them away in my basement so I would have
a brand new set after they stopped making them.

Oh, I continued to buy replacement mats as needed (until no longer available) and
forgot all about the stashed away ones.

I found them a few years ago and the rubber nubs on the back of them were so
dry rotted that they all broke off the first few weeks I had them in the vehicle.
Now they slide everywhere and are basically worthless.

[ddalder]

Wow, that sucks and would be very frustrating! What's unfortunate is that I have a shelf full of various floor mats for my cars. I'm going to be pretty upset if mine suffer the same end. Many are brand new, a few are lightly used.

[95naSTA]

Buying a perfect condition NOS headliner board for my 95 only to strip it and redo it in suede.

[ddalder]

Buying a perfect condition NOS headliner board for my 95 only to strip it and redo it in suede.

I'm probably one of few people that really don't think you're too far off base buying a new one to do this! I would LOVE to find a NOS headliner for my car. I tried to buy one many years ago from the dealer, but they had already been discontinued.

[CMNTMXR57]

Putting the black plastic thing on a set of GM keys for a vehicle that was made long before GM did that normally.

That's kind of cool. I would never have thought about that.

Yup, this is how they use to come;


Then sometime in the late 80's early 90's they added this little black piece of plastic that slips over. I think it gave things a more finished and more "soft" feel in the hands when using the keys.

[J Wikoff]

A number of things, but the least purposeful? A new set of door and trunk badges.

[CMNTMXR57]

Speaking of "replacement parts", years back when I had the GXP, my CD Changer in back jacked up so I got another. In the process of getting my discs out, I "disassembled" the old one and after I got my discs, I realized "this thing ain't going back together..." , and I put it in a box. Anyway, I found it two weekends ago cleaning out the garage. Just curious if anyone here wants it for parts? Otherwise, it's going in the recycling bin.

[luke_dubs]

Least purposeful for me lol......I got 2 different emblems that said "V6" (with the 6 inside of the V) and one that had "3.8L" in black lettering inserted into a small chrome rectangle. (I placed one on either side of the "Bonneville" script lettering on the trunk.) Not even a year after, the V6 emblem was corroded past the point of repair and half of the black lettering fell out of the chrome block. I then proceeded to take them off, and the script "Bonneville" is all that remains.

[ddalder]

A number of things, but the least purposeful? A new set of door and trunk badges.

I really like the look of a new, crisp badge. That's something I can really appreciate!

Speaking of "replacement parts", years back when I had the GXP, my CD Changer in back jacked up so I got another. In the process of getting my discs out, I "disassembled" the old one and after I got my discs, I realized "this thing ain't going back together..." , and I put it in a box. Anyway, I found it two weekends ago cleaning out the garage. Just curious if anyone here wants it for parts? Otherwise, it's going in the recycling bin.

Normally I'd want to take you up on this, but I have two spare changers on the shelf (one is brand new). I had a problem with my original jamming up as well. I wanted to get it replaced while under warranty, but the dealer suggested I replace the magazine first. It looked perfectly fine to me, but... After I did, I never had another problem. I was actually shocked this solved the problem.

Least purposeful for me lol......I got 2 different emblems that said "V6" (with the 6 inside of the V) and one that had "3.8L" in black lettering inserted into a small chrome rectangle. (I placed one on either side of the "Bonneville" script lettering on the trunk.) Not even a year after, the V6 emblem was corroded past the point of repair and half of the black lettering fell out of the chrome block. I then proceeded to take them off, and the script "Bonneville" is all that remains.

I'm guessing these weren't OEM badges from other GM vehicles? As expensive as they are, OEM badges are definitely more robust than cheap knock-offs. There are a few aftermarket badges I almost considered (but didn't given I'm pretty hardcore OEM). The quality was definitely a concern.

[MattStrike]

On the 3800, oem vacuum lines from the T in the LIM to the MAP sensors and the FPR and BBV. Could have spent $5 and 30 seconds at autozone to piecemeal the broke *shoot* back together, but that rubber T fitting looks so much better.

[CMNTMXR57]

Speaking of "replacement parts", years back when I had the GXP, my CD Changer in back jacked up so I got another. In the process of getting my discs out, I "disassembled" the old one and after I got my discs, I realized "this thing ain't going back together..." , and I put it in a box. Anyway, I found it two weekends ago cleaning out the garage. Just curious if anyone here wants it for parts? Otherwise, it's going in the recycling bin.

Normally I'd want to take you up on this, but I have two spare changers on the shelf (one is brand new). I had a problem with my original jamming up as well. I wanted to get it replaced while under warranty, but the dealer suggested I replace the magazine first. It looked perfectly fine to me, but... After I did, I never had another problem. I was actually shocked this solved the problem.

Ok, in the trash is goes.