Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Thanks for all this extra info.
Sean Robinson
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On Nov 21, 2024, at 1:23?PM, The Bus Depot via groups.io <bd@...> wrote:
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The number of companies supplying parts for the Vanagon is on a
different order of magnitude compared to the T4 and I’m doubtful this
supply chain will suddenly gain enthusiasm for our beloved Eurovans.
Well, I can tell you that there is one exception. While our competitors have been reducing their Eurovan parts selection, here at BusDepot.com we've been actively expanding further into Eurovan parts. In the last two years we've doubled our Eurovan parts selection, doubled our sales volume of Eurovan parts, and reduced prices on hundreds if not thousands of parts due to the resulting increase in purchasing power. This is made possible by the fact that we import container loads of parts directly from Europe, rather than relying chiefly on U.S. wholesalers (most of whom have dwindling interest in Eurovans). There is still a reasonably healthy supply of T4/Eurovan parts in Europe, a lot of which isn't available in the States (or is too expensive, or poor quality), and I've spent a lot of time sorting through and starting to import those parts. Replacement sheet metal, rubber, and various coolant hoses come to mind, just to name a few. It's somewhat of a labor of love, as I'm a long-time Eurovan owner myself (an MV, two EVC's, and two Rialtas over the years). If you can't find something on our site (or see a part on a European website that interests you), please feel free to email us at sales@.... Admittedly there are plenty of parts that are no longer available new (as with many Bus and Vanagon parts), but I spend a lot of my time sleuthing out parts other places can't find, and I love a challenge!
Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot Inc.
www.BusDepot.com
www.MyRialta.com
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Says it all................... 
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
I think if you keep up with the technology such as LifePo4 batteries, backup cameras, Carplay, solar, USB plugs, upgraded refrigerator, power inverter, transmission cooler, lift package, etc., and then change out the crappy Winnebago laminate stuff, you'll get a superior van than a T3.? Sure, it costs plenty of $$ but it's pennies on the dollar compared with getting one of those big Sprinter beasts.? I've had them all (VW vans) from a '61 on and IMHO, the EVC package is the best.? Airbags and air-conditioning that works is pretty amazing.? Driving the speed limit plus is a big deal too.? Being able to park in a garage is a big bonus!? For me, my EVC will be my last camping vehicle.? It does it all!
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
The number of companies supplying parts for the Vanagon is on a
different order of magnitude compared to the T4 and I’m doubtful this
supply chain will suddenly gain enthusiasm for our beloved Eurovans. Well, I can tell you that there is one exception. While our competitors have been reducing their Eurovan parts selection, here at BusDepot.com we've been actively expanding further into Eurovan parts. In the last two years we've doubled our Eurovan parts selection, doubled our sales volume of Eurovan parts, and reduced prices on hundreds if not thousands of parts due to the resulting increase in purchasing power. This is made possible by the fact that we import container loads of parts directly from Europe, rather than relying chiefly on U.S. wholesalers (most of whom have dwindling interest in Eurovans). There is still a reasonably healthy supply of T4/Eurovan parts in Europe, a lot of which isn't available in the States (or is too expensive, or poor quality), and I've spent a lot of time sorting through and starting to import those parts. Replacement sheet metal, rubber, and various coolant hoses come to mind, just to name a few. It's somewhat of a labor of love, as I'm a long-time Eurovan owner myself (an MV, two EVC's, and two Rialtas over the years). If you can't find something on our site (or see a part on a European website that interests you), please feel free to email us at sales@.... Admittedly there are plenty of parts that are no longer available new (as with many Bus and Vanagon parts), but I spend a lot of my time sleuthing out parts other places can't find, and I love a challenge! Ron Salmon The Bus Depot Inc. www.BusDepot.com www.MyRialta.com
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
That's half the fun! Keeping something going that any sane person wouldn’t.?
Kyle? 95 EVC 5 Speed?
On Thu, Nov 21, 2024 at 2:20?PM Justin Soares via <greaseworks= [email protected]> wrote: That’s a good point, T4 parts in Europe are still supported, UK and Germany and some of the eastern countries especially.?
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Justin
2000 EVW 1.9TDI Syncro 5-spd
505k mi :-)
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
That’s a good point, T4 parts in Europe are still supported, UK and Germany and some of the eastern countries especially.?
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Justin
2000 EVW 1.9TDI Syncro 5-spd
505k mi :-)
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
I ordered many parts for my 1995 from Europe and found this simple enough. Yeah, we are screwed, but I hope to get fifteen years more out of it.?
On Thu, Nov 21, 2024 at 1:01?PM Justin Soares via <greaseworks= [email protected]> wrote: There’s a certain panache and quasi-cult like following for the T3 Vanagon models that I’m afraid our beloved T4 Eurovans will never achieve. Unfortunately T4’s in America are like the Ivory Billed woodpecker—on the edge of extinction (arguably already there). When OEM and aftermarket parts stop being produced for a vehicle model this is the inevitable outcome.?
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The number of companies supplying parts for the Vanagon, both aftermarket OEM parts, as well as updated OE components for today’s day and age is on a different order of magnitude compared to the T4 and I’m doubtful this supply chain will suddenly gain enthusiasm for our beloved Eurovans. Check out the wares of a few of the plethora of companies supporting primarily the T3 to see what I’m talking about.?
gowesty
busdepot
Vancafe
T3techniques
?
A couple other factors have firmly rung the death knell of the T4: the failure prone automatic transmission and cost prohibitive repair. It’s the perfect storm: Dwindling parts supply, weak and expensive critically important components, and the increasingly sparse number of shops who will take them in for repair.?it’s really no surprise to me we’re in the end times and I say this as a retired VW mechanic/shop owner and Eurovan owner for over 15yrs w a highly modified 2000 EVW unicorn w/ over a half million miles. ?
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Justin
2000 EVW 1.9TDI Syncro 5-spd
505k mi :-)
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
There’s a certain panache and quasi-cult like following for the T3 Vanagon models that I’m afraid our beloved T4 Eurovans will never achieve. Unfortunately T4’s in America are like the Ivory Billed woodpecker—on the edge of extinction (arguably already there). When OEM and aftermarket parts stop being produced for a vehicle model this is the inevitable outcome.?
?
The number of companies supplying parts for the Vanagon, both aftermarket OEM parts, as well as updated OE components for today’s day and age is on a different order of magnitude compared to the T4 and I’m doubtful this supply chain will suddenly gain enthusiasm for our beloved Eurovans. Check out the wares of a few of the plethora of companies supporting primarily the T3 to see what I’m talking about.?
gowesty
busdepot
Vancafe
T3techniques
?
A couple other factors have firmly rung the death knell of the T4: the failure prone automatic transmission and cost prohibitive repair. It’s the perfect storm: Dwindling parts supply, weak and expensive critically important components, and the increasingly sparse number of shops who will take them in for repair.?it’s really no surprise to me we’re in the end times and I say this as a retired VW mechanic/shop owner and Eurovan owner for over 15yrs w a highly modified 2000 EVW unicorn w/ over a half million miles. ?
--
Justin
2000 EVW 1.9TDI Syncro 5-spd
505k mi :-)
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after reading posts mentioning the growing paucity of reliable shops, I thought I'd put in a word for three I've had excellent experiences:
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MAG VW? Dublin,OH?
?? This is my hometown dealer I've worked with the service manager Stan Ralph for 40 years of different VW's.? I'm sure that familiarity helps. Developing a? relationship one primary advisor and having mechanics with years of experience helps.? They have gone above and beyond what most places would do whether I'm in town or somewhere on the road to help and often work with on the phone a shop somewhere to help me out.
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Konstruct Performance Inc? Santa Fe,NM
?? The above mentioned Stan Ralph called them to plead my case with this VW/Audio only independent shop.
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Here's my review: ?1997 VW Eurovan full camper Visiting Santa Fe from Ohio when check engine light came on and engine stated missing. Checked the codes with my handy code reader(27 year old vehicle,good to carry one). Code said cylinders misfiring. Checked with 3 VW dealers and 4 independent shops in SF and Albuquerque. Konstruct was the only one that even works on Eurovans. They were scheduled 3 weeks out but brought me in for a diagnostic, offered to get the parts and had me fixed and on the road in 3 days. Great to work with, costs were right on the estimate. Cannot recommend them enough.
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Integrity Import Service, Grawn, MI (Traverse City)
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? Another independent shop welcoming Eurovans with excellent reputation.? I'm fortunate to have a second home near Grayling,MI where I also store the EVC winters.? I've used them for routine service and to track down dreaded check engine lights.? They are very accommodating.? Even give you a free loner car.
One note. If it's a CEL they have a standard $300 fee to find the problem. The actual repair cost is on top of that.
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I hope this info may be of help.? If you do happen to go to MAG, ask for Celsea. She's my current? service advisor and mention my name: Elden Apling.? It couldn't hurt.
Before Chelsea, I had Bobby C. who spent a lot of time talking to shops around the country to find the best option? to rebuild my transmission.
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E
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Hi Dan.
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I have noticed that the prices have dropped from the levels of a few years ago. I live in Monterey, CA and the large number of Vanagon (T3) vehicles on the road gives me hope that our Eurovans will remain a desirable commodity. Any Eurovan is newer than a Type 3 so I figure that there is hope yet. I recently purchased a 1997 EVC but only because I wanted to take advantage of the (slightly) larger and more powerful engine. In the meantime, my 1995 EVC is running as well as it ever has but (and this is the relevant part to your post) within the next few months I will be needing to sell it. Then I'll see where the market sits.
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At this point I would like to put in a plug for GoWesty's RECARO seats that I have installed in the '95. It's easy to not notice how flabby and worn out 30 year old automobile seats can get. Once I installed the RECARO seats it felt like a whole new camper. The driving experience was dramatically improved, particularly on long road trips.
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Eurovan ownership has definitely become a cult thing. I feel so fortunate to have a mechanic here in Monterey who is willing to work on my EVC's. He is thorough and curious to get to the bottom of any issue. I also realize that many do not have that luxury.
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Louis Kaplan
Monterey, CA
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Beyond seasonal buying constraints, the fact that Volkswagen is no longer supporting EVC's with replacement parts or service is a big problem. With fewer independent shops also unwilling/unable to offer service it takes special people willing to either do the work themselves or at least the leg work required to maintain these vehicles. For the last few years this forum has had many examples of owners doing repairs themselves, and not always just to save some money. I'm not sure exactly how new, potential buyers can come to this conclusion but the vehicles are over 20 years old. My EVC has been laid up for about 6 months needing a transmission replacement/rebuild. The concern over cost and finding someone local with the knowledge and ability to make the repair is daunting. Even after the repair the vehicle will only get harder to maintain. While I haven't given up yet it has me seriously looking at other options.
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Thanks all! I’ll wait til the spring and in the meantime figure out if it’s worth fixing some electrical issues, or just selling it for what I can get.
Sent by the tiny personal assistant who lives in my pocket.
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
And our vans are aging like some of us! I would dearly love to have the safety features found on newer vehicles like our Subaru. But for us-not worth the cost to do after market on the EVC or buy new. We’ll stick with our EVC!?
Good luck in selling! Maybe the spring… Bailey 2000 EVC Vashon, WA
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On Nov 18, 2024, at 7:50?AM, Mike Hoddinott via groups.io <obnoxiousblue@...> wrote:
? Here in the northeast, prices do seem to be falling a bit. Likely for a few reasons, but most people aren’t looking to buy a seasonal car/camper in the off season only to need to store it for the winter. Election concerns on both sides if the aisle (this is not political - do not make this political) have also curbed some spending. This all paired with the known phenomenon that pleasure cars sell for more in the spring when people are itching to get out and use them and less in the fall winter when there is less demand and usability in much of the country.? Lastly, campervans saw a surge in the last few years. There was a point when Buses/Vanagons/Eurovans were some of the few readily available models to be had already upfit and many buyers were willing to pay for that. Now, there are not only more options for small campers/Class B’s coming to market but it has become trendy again for owners to build out their own interiors, also contributing to the falling sales/prices of older model camper vans.?
Mike 01 EVC? On Nov 18, 2024, at 8:27 AM, Spencer Allen via groups.io <soxndubs1951@...> wrote:
? Check the Samba Eurovan classifieds. The prices there haven't gone down much if at all. Out your way Pop Top Heaven seems to have flooded the market with Evans and Rialta's.
Spencer 02 mvwk
On Sun, Nov 17, 2024 at 10:23?PM Daniel Rotblatt via <drotblatt= [email protected]> wrote: Need to sell my ‘95 eurovan camper. Looked on Craigslist in the Los Angeles area, and there’s only two and the price for a working ‘95 is $15,000 and ?not selling. Down $10,000-15,000 from a several years ago!? Is this truly the case or is this just a one off?? Larger sprinters, etc are all the rage now, did they kill the market??
Thanks in advice,
Dan
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Here in the northeast, prices do seem to be falling a bit. Likely for a few reasons, but most people aren’t looking to buy a seasonal car/camper in the off season only to need to store it for the winter. Election concerns on both sides if the aisle (this is not political - do not make this political) have also curbed some spending. This all paired with the known phenomenon that pleasure cars sell for more in the spring when people are itching to get out and use them and less in the fall winter when there is less demand and usability in much of the country.? Lastly, campervans saw a surge in the last few years. There was a point when Buses/Vanagons/Eurovans were some of the few readily available models to be had already upfit and many buyers were willing to pay for that. Now, there are not only more options for small campers/Class B’s coming to market but it has become trendy again for owners to build out their own interiors, also contributing to the falling sales/prices of older model camper vans.?
Mike
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On Nov 18, 2024, at 8:27 AM, Spencer Allen via groups.io <soxndubs1951@...> wrote:
? Check the Samba Eurovan classifieds. The prices there haven't gone down much if at all. Out your way Pop Top Heaven seems to have flooded the market with Evans and Rialta's.
Spencer 02 mvwk
On Sun, Nov 17, 2024 at 10:23?PM Daniel Rotblatt via <drotblatt= [email protected]> wrote: Need to sell my ‘95 eurovan camper. Looked on Craigslist in the Los Angeles area, and there’s only two and the price for a working ‘95 is $15,000 and ?not selling. Down $10,000-15,000 from a several years ago!? Is this truly the case or is this just a one off?? Larger sprinters, etc are all the rage now, did they kill the market??
Thanks in advice,
Dan
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Re: Have Eurovans totally lost value
Check the Samba Eurovan classifieds. The prices there haven't gone down much if at all. Out your way Pop Top Heaven seems to have flooded the market with Evans and Rialta's.
Spencer 02 mvwk
On Sun, Nov 17, 2024 at 10:23?PM Daniel Rotblatt via <drotblatt= [email protected]> wrote: Need to sell my ‘95 eurovan camper. Looked on Craigslist in the Los Angeles area, and there’s only two and the price for a working ‘95 is $15,000 and ?not selling. Down $10,000-15,000 from a several years ago!? Is this truly the case or is this just a one off?? Larger sprinters, etc are all the rage now, did they kill the market??
Thanks in advice,
Dan
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Have Eurovans totally lost value
Need to sell my ‘95 eurovan camper. Looked on Craigslist in the Los Angeles area, and there’s only two and the price for a working ‘95 is $15,000 and ?not selling. Down $10,000-15,000 from a several years ago! ?Is this truly the case or is this just a one off? ?Larger sprinters, etc are all the rage now, did they kill the market??
Thanks in advice,
Dan
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Re: Headlight relay install and DRLs
Thanks for all the info!? Based on you all's comments, I think I'll install the harness and wait to see(no pun...well maybe) before getting new headlights.
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E
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Re: Headlight relay install and DRLs
I’m planning to use the harness from this kit. Seems to be very high quality, not surprising since it is purportedly an OEM kit from Toyota. ?Got the harness only from an older Westfalia T3 guy who only wanted the lights. Win-win I would say.
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Re: Headlight relay install and DRLs
Barry here, I bought my harness from The Bus Depot also.
I ran my passenger side lights differently. I found it easier to run?up high?along the firewall tie-wrapping them in several?places along the way,?making sure that it was?out of the reach of the wiper arms assembly. There was plenty of length to route it this way.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 2:49 PM, Alex L via groups.io <amlevy@...> wrote: I am not Barry but I used this harness from Bus Depot:?https://www.busdepot.com/hrk3?gQT=2
I ended up doing a little extra work - ran extra length under the radiator for passenger side headlight because i was worried about the wires melting on the hot metal. Also added heat resistant tubing.?
Makes a HUGE difference. Remarkable.?
As to aiming headlights - there should be two adjustment knobs (vertical and horizontal position) on the back, plus a height gauge which you can see looking down from the top of the headlight.?
Alex On Nov 12, 2024, at 05:30, Tom Kennedy via groups.io <kennedy.tom@...> wrote:
Hi Barry, where did you get the harness from? I have been thinking about doing this as well. The lights on my 95 might as well not even be on ?
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Re: Headlight relay install and DRLs
I am not Barry but I used this harness from Bus Depot:?https://www.busdepot.com/hrk3?gQT=2
I ended up doing a little extra work - ran extra length under the radiator for passenger side headlight because i was worried about the wires melting on the hot metal. Also added heat resistant tubing.?
Makes a HUGE difference. Remarkable.?
As to aiming headlights - there should be two adjustment knobs (vertical and horizontal position) on the back, plus a height gauge which you can see looking down from the top of the headlight.?
Alex
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On Nov 12, 2024, at 05:30, Tom Kennedy via groups.io <kennedy.tom@...> wrote:
Hi Barry, where did you get the harness from? I have been thinking about doing this as well. The lights on my 95 might as well not even be on ?
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Sean Robinson
Bob H
Justin Soares
Spencer Allen
Barry Black