[Dorchester]

Good news today MOT (our CT - technical control) successful with just 2 minor advisories already made 2 years ago.
The first one is that inner part of front tyres looks very slightly more worn than the outer one, but equally. The man in charge thinks a wheel alignment might be useful unless it's a factory slight flaw because he didn't see any failure in the front-axle and links.
The second advisory is the first braided part of the exhaust just after the 2 curved pipes (and part of them) looks slightly worn and corroded but without any damage or risk so far.
Unfortunately at Rimmer's and on Ebay the part WCD10227EVA(P) is NLA...
Happily it looks available at Damen & Kroes in Netherland for 100€ without water tearing custom duties (for us). But the same is 238.88€ at Oliveira & Valentim in Portugal where I was lucky to find the recent KRE10009 I've just fitted. Easy choice!
All in all it's 135.60€ after shipping costs (29.95€) and a weird payment charges of 5.88€...
And 26.35€ more for both gaskets on each side.

[itcaptainslow]

I’d be very wary of dealing with Damen en Kroes. I’m having a horrendous time trying to get a refund for some damaged goods (ironically, an exhaust!) they sent me. They just don’t want to know.

[Stan Thomas]

Could you post a picture, because with the application of a little lateral thinking, could not the part(s) required be fabricated by one of the exhaust specialists, or from stock parts?

Have a traw around the 'net for custon exhaust parts or let your nearest exhaust centre have a look. Worth a try!

Also, ring A.E. Wilcox on 01454 294213 - they are always very helpful and still have a lot of "unobtainable" Rover parts in stock.

[rjessett]

This pattern part looks a good price

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234898288916

[Dorchester]

Thanks for your replies but unfortunately some didn't notice I'm living in France, hence awful custom duties or people - like in the previous link - not wanting any deal outside the mainland.
I've got very little opportunities but in European dealers, because in the whole South-West of France there are no dealers selling new pieces out of an old stock.
Rovers are very scarce cars here.
Some French scrappies are dealing on the web but indeed only used pieces.
Obviously regarding exhaust I'm to find brand new pieces as you may guess.
I'll keep you posted when I've got the front exhaust pipe from Damen & Kroes.

[Dorchester]

I've got my front exhaust part WCD10227EVA from Damen & Kroes without any problem but a slight damage on the cardboard. No harm though for the pipe was well wrapped inside thanks to an abundant bubble plastic.
Anyway as one can pay via Paypal at Damen & Kroes' there is no fear of being robbed: on the very few occasions I had a problem with the dealer in the past years and I could offer evidence, I'd got my money back from Paypal without any bickering.

[itcaptainslow]

Unfortunately PayPal are part of the problem for me. Damen en Kroes are so far apparently refusing to cover the return postage, which is contrary to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

PayPal are refusing to help, saying they can’t force them to pay for the postage.

I’m not impressed with either organisation, especially given I’ve bought a lot of stuff from D&K in the past.

[Topcat Tomcat]

I would also be reluctant to use them, given my last experience.

I ordered a 216 GSi badge from them, which arrived with several scratches. I emailed them to ask for a replacement, pointing out that they weren’t much better than my original. They responded by saying that it was the last one!

After a couple more emails, in which I pointed out that they didn’t advise of the damage beforehand, with an option to cancel the order, they did eventually agree to a refund. No apology was offered.

I also ordered the centre Rover badge for the boot lid, only used on the early R8s. When it arrived, I noticed that the dimensions were slightly different, as was the part number. A little research revealed that it was a Metro/100 version. As it happens, once on the vehicle, you would be hard pressed to notice the difference.

However, it would have been nice to have an explanation for the substitution, a not just send it and hope the customer doesn’t notice.

Good communication and courtesy doesn’t cost anything, but it can prevent a lot of conflict and bad feelings!