Hi,

Does anyone recommend an OEM Radiator for my 2000 Jeep XJ 2.5-litre manual? That I can purchase in the UK and have delivered quickly, anyone bought one recently?.

Guessing the 2.5 and 4.0 are exactly the same?.

Also trying to track down a Windshield I can't seem to find one anywhere!

Tah
Georgia

 

Can't help with a source, but the 2.5 and 4.0 are definitely different.

 

I see that you that’s really useful to know .

much appreciated

 

A Jeep radiator in the UK is whatever you can find but I've bought 2 (& 2 for Cadillacs) on Fleabay with no issues.

Normally I'd say Fleabay was your friend but you do have know what you want & need to tread carefully, especially when it comes to rads because a lot of them are wrongly described.

However, Parts in Motion (an outfit I'd trust) have got one for £105.45 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234864423...Bk9SR_Db1rXYYQ - I thought that was dear, 'til I saw what others were asking (& the only 2 s/h ones I saw were £75 & £99.

Never tried to buy a screen over the counter, but I had one fitted by AutoWindscreens - after Autoglass (every insurance company's favorite screen replacement service) said they couldn't do it 'cos it was too old.

 

Do you have rockauto.com in the UK? I’m working on moving to Australia and am planning to ship my Comanche. My Aussie Jeeper contacts say that’s where they source all their American Jeep parts. Takes awhile but they get can get about anything.

 

RA supposedly have a UK presence but whenever I've got anything from them (only in desperation, best avoided) it's come from the US.

Truth is, the XJ parts you are most likely to want are neither difficult to find nor, for the most part, particularly expensive here (in fact, sometimes, cheaper than in the US). Just don't expect OEM parts, not because it's a Jeep, but because it's more than 5 years old, out of warranty, dropped out of the dealer network (which wouldn't touch it anyway) so nobody's interested in supplying, or even making, any parts.

I wonder if it's because the Ozzies are getting their stuff from RA that their own companies have such a significant presence on UK Fleabay? Good stuff, often attractive prices - but the shipping is astronomical.

 

With my experience here in America Rock Auto still has astronomical shipping prices even domestically and don't usually consolidate shipping for individual parts and pass it on. But if I compare going to a local auto parts store with a supply of parts off the shelf it's comparable or a bit cheaper after you add shipping. Call it the I want it now tax or it can wait slight discount. I normally use Rock Auto when I don't need it now. Say it's early in the week and I plan to do a job the following weekend, I'll order it from RA and then have it waiting for me in boxes late week for the weekend job. Saves me a trip to the parts store. Also sensitive things like cylinder heads tend to get roughed up in shipping and can be problematic. Also with 2.4 Million XJ Cherokees built and most of them being sold here in the United States it's fairly easy to find one in a junk yard here for spare parts and have no problem going that route for non wear and tear parts. Eventually you will start seeing more reproduction parts from companies such as Crown and Key Parts as parts get scarce and people go from more of daily driving repairs to restoration repairs. Example: Key Parts has recently started producing the Crown Jewel and formerly elusive tail light assemblies for MJ Comanches. They just knew there was a market for it.

 

Not sure how much RA are to blame for shipping costs as, in my limited experience, US postal rates are very high both internally & to Europe. Their habit of sending each part of an order from a different warehouse sometimes works to our advantage as each one will probably be under the tax & duty thresholds, offsetting the higher shipping costs. Any delay is largely subsumed in trans-Atlantic delivery times &, in any event, we have to buy everything on-line as the chances of being to buy anything off the shelf are negligible, but my real issue with them is the high risk of receiving the wrong parts combined with a customer service policy which simply doesn't work internationally. Fortunately, I'm seldom that desperate because, as I said tune-up items & consumables are fairly readily available. Just don't expect to walk into a parts store (which are following junk yards into oblivion) for them.

 

Here in the US RA uses FedEx for most things. I normally get it in 2 days but ouch! Guess the good news for me is that I still have many friends here in the US when I move to Australia that I'm sure would find a part and ship it to me. I'm currently in a hurry to try to get the hard to find parts with spares for my Comanche before it ships regardless. I'm sure I'll also have running lists of parts when I come back here and visit family. No doubt our luggage will be crazy every trip!

 

Thanks for all of your help sourcing. I've sourced a radiator but it arrived damaged so back to sourcing another. I'll get there in the end enjoying taking the car apart and documenting the process.

 

Then, like me, you'll get used to the inevitable "Have you got auto parts in there" challenge from airport security.

As far as I can make out XJ parts are readily available in Oz, much of it local brands, so don't really understand the reliance on RA. the MJ specific bits might be a different story though.

Have you cleaned it ready for shipping? Vehicles have to be virtually sterile to get into Oz.

 

Have no fear Rock Auto ship to Australia, most parts are less than half the local price including shipping and take 10-14 days to arrive

The cost rises if they cannot consolidate internal shipping costs for multiple items

XJ in Australia now becoming rare on the road due to age, you really need to be your own mechanic

NO LHD specific parts are available locally

 

Not surprised RA ship to Oz, it is one of the more enlightened US companies when it comes to international shipping but surprised at the comparative cost as the Oz stuff I've seen on FleaBay has been quite reasonable.

XJ's were rare here when they were new, although 10 years ago I'd reckon on seeing another one whenever I was out, now I doubt I see one a month, they come up for sale all the time though - but not often for sensible money, but parts have never been a problem..

There aren't that many L/RHD specific parts, especially if you discount those that can be repaired/rebuilt &/or modified to fit, which only really leaves the trackbar, so no real cause for concern there.

 

aircon evap, heater matrix, steering box are particular problem areas

 

So informative to read all of these comments. I actually ordered a few parts ( water pump , fan clutch, rad hoses, door pin, thermostat and thermostat housing, belt etc) for my cooling system from rock auto after a recommendation on here before Christmas. Arrived in the Uk so quickly and even though the cost of shipping and fees added a chunk onto the price it was still more reasonable than buying here. It was still cheaper with the postage added.

Whilst I’ve been doing the rounds there are a few people selling smaller ticket items on eBay at reasonable prices. They must ship a lot over like jeep Chrysler on eBay etc also Amazon is quite good for being able to order US or EU based items with the costs all included. Learning a lot. Just about to fit all the parts mentioned above. I’ll post some pictures once I’ve carried out the work.

Thanks again