I have a question about Kia parts. I like http://www.kiausaparts.com, but my local dealership is asking a lot more than the MSRP listed on http://www.kiausaparts.com. Is that everyone else's experience, as well? The ignition coils are listed as $39.xx on the site, but the dealer wants $74.xx! I know that the site says the dealer price may vary, but MSRP is usually higher than the retail price.

Anyway, I'm having trouble finding a valve cover gasket for the tune up I have planned for this weekend. I know there has been talk about similarities between the KIA and Mazda FE's, but could the valve covers be the same?


Also, can I get the timing belt replacement instructions as well as the instrucitons to solder the various sensor connections?

Thanks much,
Kris

I found the price difrance to be true around here also. It seems that they add a little bit o' extra for shipping and then thay add more on top for the dealership profits. Thay all add a certain percentage and the rest of it is decided by how far from california you are. Thats where all of the parts come from, so I'm told anyway. The coil packs were $64 for me here in Pa.

The valve cover gasket you need to get from the dealer. I dont think anyone else carries them. While your at at the dealership, pick yourself up a plentum gasket you will need that also, for at the throttle body. You probably have a paper one there right now that will have to be replaced when you take everything apart.

About a year ago the coils WERE $74 each. The price has since dropped considerably. I have encountered similar issues with other Sportage parts. The prices are dropping but the dealers aren't keeping up. For example: the valve cover gasket used to be over $30. I think the price is now under $15. When I went to buy one the dealer wanted to charge me $30. I showed him a hardcopy of the parts website that said the price was $15. Long story short...the parts guy called Kia HQ in California and they said to sell it to the customer for $15. Since the DEALER originally paid over $15 wholesale for the part Kia HQ said they would reimburse the difference.

So....you can try the same thing and see what happens. Bring a hardcopy of the parts site. Show him that the coils are now $39. I'm going to replacing mine soon too and I'm sure they'll want to charge me $74. I'll show them that they should drop their price.

I try this with every part I buy. I always bring a hard copy to show them and I have done this many time at two differant Kia dealers near me and one about an hour away on my way to pick up my son and the only answer I got is that the dealership sets the price and they cannot do anything about it. do you want the part or not, they ask. They know damn well I'm going to take the part reguardless because it's the only place I can get it and they can charge me whatever they want to.

Too bad you can't order directly from Kia. That would be the way to go.