Just asking for an opinion really, I've been looking for a hardtop fitting kit and purchased a set recently but the rear brackets don't look good to me, even the wife said they don't look right. Having only seen photos of others on completed ebay auctions or google image searches I expected these to be a smooth good finish but they are quite rough, here's a photo of one, am I right in not being happy with this or do some come like this? I've queried it with the seller but they are not getting back to me. I'm sure I can get better.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZKeRCcX.jpg?1)
Official toyota are a smooth chrome finish.
It's been a good few years since I sold mine, but I remember them being very smooth chrome. I'd remember if they were pitted like those.
I do very vaguely remember that some aftermarket brackets were available for a very brief time. Made in China. They were not rated. Whether these are them, I don't know
I have asked the seller if they are genuine parts as I have my suspicions. When i've checked thses with other photos they do look the same, it's just bizarre they have that rough finish. Don't know what the material is either, it's not magnetic and too light to be alluminium, I've never handled another one to know any different. I think these will be going back for a refund.
This is the sort of thing I thought would turn up
(https://i.imgur.com/V97VMqQ.jpg)
These were also stated as 'brand new', I wasn't expecting NOS but would have been happy with good used parts.
Quote from: SoloNomad on January 8, 2021, 10:17I have asked the seller if they are genuine parts as I have my suspicions. When i've checked thses with other photos they do look the same, it's just bizarre they have that rough finish. Don't know what the material is either, it's not magnetic and too light to be alluminium, I've never handled another one to know any different. I think these will be going back for a refund.
What did you pay for them?
They don't need to be great tbh it's the internal strikers and clamps that hold the top on.
This is both
(https://i.imgur.com/Xy9aAyN.jpg?1)
2 sides and these 2 rears were £210, I thought a bit more than stuff on ebay sometimes but nothing has come up for a while so thought I'd just purchase from a trader. They are quite rough and won't look too good on the car in the summer so I'd rather get better one's, they sort of look like they've been sandblasted then painted, but why would anyone do that to good chrome?
Quote from: SoloNomad on January 8, 2021, 10:282 sides and these 2 rears were £210, I thought a bit more than stuff on ebay sometimes but nothing has come up for a while so thought I'd just purchase from a trader. They are quite rough and won't look too good on the car in the summer so I'd rather get better one's, they sort of look like they've been sandblasted then painted, but why would anyone do that to good chrome?
Ask toyota if they still sell them.
Quote from: 1979scotte on January 8, 2021, 10:34Ask toyota if they still sell them.
Yeah, the rears they do, but they have to come from Japan so can take a month but I'll probably do that.
How much do you want for the 'rejects'?
Quote from: Carolyn on January 8, 2021, 12:14How much do you want for the 'rejects'?
Well, they were half the cost but I'd take £80 to save the hassle of returning them, but I'm not sure that's a fair price, but I've only just got them so should get a refund.
Quote from: SoloNomad on January 8, 2021, 12:26Quote from: Carolyn on January 8, 2021, 12:14How much do you want for the 'rejects'?
Well, they were half the cost but I'd take £80 to save the hassle of returning them, but I'm not sure that's a fair price, but I've only just got them so should get a refund.
Fair enough. I wouldn't pay 80 for them.
Quote from: Carolyn on January 8, 2021, 12:36Fair enough. I wouldn't pay 80 for them.
:) I wouldn't pay anything for them if I knew what I was getting (no images on their website) ... I could take them into the workshop at work and spend half a day making them look good but I shouldn't have to for the cost of them. Still no response from seller!
As above they do not look like those Toyota parts that I have seen and if they were offered as such you have a good reason to return them.
Hopefully you used Pay Pal.
Paid by credit card so have some protection, but it's a trader so hopefully they'll play ball, but I'm getting no communication from them at the moment. I queried the finish on them and no reply, now I've emailed saying I want to return them ... just have to wait.
Quote from: SoloNomad on January 8, 2021, 13:32Paid by credit card so have some protection, but it's a trader so hopefully they'll play ball, but I'm getting no communication from them at the moment. I queried the finish on them and no reply, now I've emailed saying I want to return them ... just have to wait.
A typical response from those in the wrong is no response.
Persistence is your friend.
Remember that if no response to your emails you can escalate to your card provider, be sure to keep " copies" of all communications.
@SoloNomad Any part numbers stamped anywhere?
When i got some a while back they came with the same rough finish. Must admit i didnt think much about it and took it as thats how they must be. They have been fitted for a few months now with no issues bit i guess having seen this they are non genuine.
Quote from: Iain on January 8, 2021, 19:49When i got some a while back they came with the same rough finish. Must admit i didnt think much about it and took it as thats how they must be. They have been fitted for a few months now with no issues bit i guess having seen this they are non genuine.
You are correct
Ive never been a huge fan of the chrome and have been tempted a couple of times to paint them body colour, even more tempted now
Quote from: Ardent on January 8, 2021, 18:39@SoloNomad
Any part numbers stamped anywhere?
No part numbers, just a L and R - should they have part numbers on, anyone got some they can compare?
Quote from: Iain on January 8, 2021, 19:49When i got some a while back they came with the same rough finish. Must admit i didnt think much about it and took it as thats how they must be. They have been fitted for a few months now with no issues bit i guess having seen this they are non genuine.
Maybe you got them the same place? If you remember where pm me, just curious (don't want to put up the name here as it might all be resolved ok, although still no response)
Someone suggested they might be painted badly, there could be an ok chrome finish under that, just wonder why someone would paint a chrome finish then sell them as 'chrome'.
Quote from: Iain on January 8, 2021, 19:53Ive never been a huge fan of the chrome and have been tempted a couple of times to paint them body colour, even more tempted now
I did wonder about painting them but I don't think the paint would stand up so well to the hardtop being fitted and removed as much as the chrome finish, paint would probably mark quickly?
Quote from: SoloNomad on January 9, 2021, 10:42Quote from: Iain on January 8, 2021, 19:53Ive never been a huge fan of the chrome and have been tempted a couple of times to paint them body colour, even more tempted now
I did wonder about painting them but I don't think the paint would stand up so well to the hardtop being fitted and removed as much as the chrome finish, paint would probably mark quickly?
Yes this is what is stopping me, paint wont stand much chance when the hardtop is on and off.
Quote from: SoloNomad on January 9, 2021, 10:40Quote from: Ardent on January 8, 2021, 18:39@SoloNomad
Any part numbers stamped anywhere?
No part numbers, just a L and R - should they have part numbers on, anyone got some they can compare?
Apologies for that. So used to seeing part numbers for everything.
But here are some pics of mine.
20210109_145733.jpg
20210109_145857.jpg
20210109_145941.jpg
20210109_145216.jpg
Quote from: Iain on January 9, 2021, 11:03Quote from: SoloNomad on January 9, 2021, 10:42Quote from: Iain on January 8, 2021, 19:53Ive never been a huge fan of the chrome and have been tempted a couple of times to paint them body colour, even more tempted now
I did wonder about painting them but I don't think the paint would stand up so well to the hardtop being fitted and removed as much as the chrome finish, paint would probably mark quickly?
Yes this is what is stopping me, paint wont stand much chance when the hardtop is on and off.
My experience is hardtop on or off only twice a year.
Today I learned ... Jase has a hardtop?! (Or at least the brackets for one).
Quote from: Carolyn on January 9, 2021, 15:34My experience is hardtop on or off only twice a year.
This is my MO too, too much hassle taking it on and off for me, especially since my storage is a few miles from home.
Quote from: househead on January 9, 2021, 17:11Today I learned ... Jase has a hardtop?! (Or at least the brackets for one).
Car came with one. Sold it long ago.
But still have the fitting kit and even the boxing gloves for the upstand things
Quote from: Ardent on January 9, 2021, 17:19Quote from: househead on January 9, 2021, 17:11Today I learned ... Jase has a hardtop?! (Or at least the brackets for one).
Car came with one. Sold it long ago.
But still have the fitting kit and even the boxing gloves for the upstand things
Surprised you've kept them, then. The fitting kit sells for a ridiculous amount for what it is.
Boris (Snellbard) has made like 75% of a fitting kit. I don't think he makes the rear strikers, but it probably won't be long until he does!
Quote from: Ardent on January 9, 2021, 15:11Apologies for that. So used to seeing part numbers for everything.
But here are some pics of mine.
Thanks for those photos Ardent, mine look identical apart from the finish, your's have the sort of finish I would expect, my L and R imprint aren't as sharp as yours, I am beginning to wonder if these have been painted badly and there might be a reasonable finish under there.
(https://i.imgur.com/f0IVENV.jpg)
I'll probably remove my hardtop quite a few times, I don't have a garage so it lives outside and is a 2nd vehicle so the hardtop will protect the vinyl roof over the winter from seagulls and that horrible green stuff that builds up. On a sunny winters weekend it'll come off for a drive and back on for the week, then off completely for the summer :)
Quote from: househead on January 9, 2021, 18:56Surprised you've kept them, then. The fitting kit sells for a ridiculous amount for what it is.
It's my shameless capitalist out look, long term, might end up being worth more than the rest of the car. Should have held onto the hard top. Now worth double. Hey ho.
Original Toyota hardtop bracket Boxing gloves. I'll start the bidding at £100 each.
No hard top fitting kit is complete without them. Make that, £150 each.
Make that £200 each n I'll throw in the car lol 🤔🤔🙄🙂
Hardtops are crazy prices, when looking for one I'd see them for MGs for £100, even Porsche one's were cheaper. I feel lucky to have found one recently an hour away and the right colour, reasonable price too.
Those brackets are going back for a refund, finally got a reply so all good. Now I'm on the lookout for a good pair :)
Does anyone use those boxing glove things, they look like the sort of thing that's going to end up at the side of the road as you're whizzing along.
Does anyone use those boxing glove things, they look like the sort of thing that's going to end up at the side of the road as you're whizzing along.
If I've seen them fitted, it was once only. And I might even have imagined that.
Quote from: Ardent on January 10, 2021, 11:47Does anyone use those boxing glove things, they look like the sort of thing that's going to end up at the side of the road as you're whizzing along.
If I've seen them fitted, it was once only. And I might even have imagined that.
I had them fitted when we met last 8)
I usually have mine fitted when the hard top is off. Only reason being that I know if I don't fit them, I'm practically guaranteed to bash my head on the bracket :)
Just incase anyone is still interested ... got a call from Toyota, parts have arrived! New, in bags, here's one, that's more like it! ;D
Parts guy said they (Toyota UK) must have a statsh of them as they arrived in 2 days.
(https://i.imgur.com/IJL5NwU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rHgdVKa.jpg)
That's more like it.