I've done a quick search on the net and notice that even after exchange rates, prices of replacement panels in the US are alot cheaper that here in aus. (havent added shipping yet though..)

Has anyone bought panels form o/s and if so was it the way to go or would you buy locally

Yes you need to consider many things. Exchange rate, shipping, insurance, taxes (GST), customs duty. There is also the possibility you may get the wrong part?

I personally would not go through the hassle just to save 10% or even 20%

What kind of panels are they? If they are simple shapes you would be better off to make them yourself out of some 16 guage sheet, the replacement panels are usually VERY thin metal!
Or for more complicated shapes, try to find someone who would be willing to cut them out of a donor bug..
If you do end up buying some panels, try and find out how thin they are, if they are for something structural like door pillars or heater channels, make sure they are at LEAST the same guage as the metal they are replaceing

#! Message No Longer Available !#

There's nothing wrong with importing your own parts, just be smart about it. Horror stories can happen to anyone, why do businesses take the risk?

I'd buy it locally, saves you the hassle (unless you want to take the risk on board). You also get to see exactly what you are paying for. From my experience the replacement panels are all a bit variable on quality. The brazilian/danish replacement sections I have used have been the correct gauge for early beetles (20gauge or jabout 1mm) however they have been a lot more malleable than the original german steel (mine was pre-61). The heater section replacement, (not sure of the country of origin, possibly germany or italy???) was very good. The steel was as stiff as the original stuff and the correct gauge.

If its a simpler shape, or if it is not available you can just make it yourself if you have the tools to do it.

I was checking out some replacement panels today at KDF werks. These were excellent quaility and very reasonably priced.

what about replacement parts like floor pans & heater channels? How much would you be looking at paying for those here in Aus.

And what about smaller misc parts like rubber etc. they would surely be cheaper bought from O/S?

I have found that through buying many things from o/s the secret on avoiding customs duty is to make sure that the seller marks the customs declaration as "vintage parts" there is no duty on secondhand parts and 9 out of ten times customs consider "vintage parts" as second hand parts. I recently imported a new exhuast system and the seller marked it as vintage, no duty paid no hassle.

The only time anything was pulled in by customs for me was when I imported a Motorcycle petrol tank from the USA as the xray machine spat a fuse as the tank was made from Fibreglass. Once inpsected they let it through. without any hassle.

The good one i mentioned above was a heater channel complete. VG quality. Although the spot welds were further apart than the original. And the pressing for the botttom plate was different from OG, although that is being picky.