Carparts.com : good or bad?

[B5 Gang]

So I was wondering if these guys are a go or no go from my fellow Audizine members. Recently purchased an expansion tank that seems to have some crust and tiny wet marks coming from the part where the two pieces are molded together. Coolant all over the ground that comes out of nowhere. Only had it for like 4 months. So my point it, are these guys just crappy or what?

[MacFady]

In my experience, the "quality" of any of these sites has more to do with the part manufacturer you choose from the part offerings available on said site versus whether you buy a part from this site or that. Offerings being the same, the website I use for the part has more to do with the shipping costs and return policy. Using the site you mention for example may leave you with only one option for the part, URO, versus other sites (ECS for example) that offer up to 7 other options ranging in price from $17 (for URO) to $70 (OEM).

Personally, once I've decided on a which "make" I'm planning to get, I just price comparison shop for that one specifically. If a site only has one option, you may find you can get the same part made by a more reputable manufacturer on another site for the same, or close to the same, price. You bought arguably the cheapest expansion tank out there, so I would blame it more on that than carparts.com, they didn't make the part, they package it and ship it.

[B5 Gang]

Yeah but good websites package good products

[ActiveMonkey]

I've purchased a transmission through them in the past, worked well and was delivered on time.

Not sure where in the Bay Area you are, but I recently purchased a new OEM Coolant Tank from Monument Auto Parts in Pacheco for $28 iirc and it works great.

[redline380]

Some aftermarket parts are okay to use, expansion tanks are not. I learned the hard way. I'd get some coolant smells occasionally but the level would stay about the same. However, I could see dried coolant all over the oil filter. I tried a different cap, but it turns out the aftermarket tank would shoot out a little coolant sometimes through one of the casting areas. Swapped back to stock tank, no problems.