Body parts: bumper, wing, bonnet, doors — how to buy well
New, aftermarket or from a breaker
Body parts are bought in three ways. An original is expensive but fits the seams and openings perfectly. An aftermarket part (for example, Tong Yang or Depo) often costs less, but the fit depends on the maker and sometimes needs adjusting on the car. A part from a breaker may already be in the right colour, without filler and costly paint, which often wins in the end if the condition is good.
Colour and painting decide a lot
A new part usually arrives primed and still has to be painted: that is a separate cost. A used part in your colour, matched by the paint code (it is on the plate in the car), may need no painting. If the colour is a metallic or pearl, the state of the paint on the donor and the exact shade are critical. So the paint code in the request is not a small thing.
What to put in your request
- Which part — bumper, bonnet, wing, door, tailgate, grille, sill.
- Model and year — for example, Skoda Octavia A7, 2015, pre-facelift.
- Side — left, right, front, rear.
- Condition — new, or used without dents and repair.
- Colour — the name or the paint code.
- Trim — holes for parking sensors, headlight washers, mouldings, fog lights.
- Original or aftermarket.
- City, delivery and budget.
Example: “I am looking for a front bumper for a Skoda Octavia A7, 2015, pre-facelift. Used, no cracks, metallic grey, with holes for parking sensors and headlight washers. Courier delivery to Pretoria. Budget up to R 2,300.”
How to compare offers
Describe the part in a request, and sellers will reply in the chat: what is in stock, photos, price, delivery. The platform puts the best-value offer first, and seller reviews help you choose between similar ones. Sellers compete for your request, seeing their place among the others. Your phone is hidden. Learn more on the “How it works” page.
For a used part ask for photos from all sides in daylight, to see dents, filler and damaged mounts. Check that the bumper lugs are whole, that the plastic has no cracks and that the part shows no signs of repair. For an aftermarket part ask about the maker and a quality certificate, because the difference between factories is noticeable. Check the size and packing: bumpers and bonnets travel as bulky freight, so delivery can cost a lot.
Common mistakes
Not stating the facelift: front ends before and after the change differ. Not matching the trim with the holes for sensors. Buying a part “in the colour” without checking the paint code. Forgetting the mounts and the bumper reinforcement, which may not be in the price. If the interior is damaged too, see interior parts, and for other units car parts in general.
