FAQ's
Pricing and Payments
We can offer monthly payments for all eligible customers through Klarna
For customers in Countries where Klarna is not supported, PayPal Virtual Credit might be an option
All the prices on our website exclude VAT, so when you add them to your cart and select your Country, the system will recognise if VAT should be charged and will add this to your total.
VAT
UK Customers
The website will display prices both including and excluding VAT.
European Customers
As of 31st December 2020, the UK left the European Union. In the simplest of terms, the only real change you will see is around VAT. Instead of paying us the UK VAT @ 20%, we will sell the goods without VAT, then the taxes will be paid by yourself upon import at your local rate.
Shipping
Shipping quotes are based on the weight (and size) of the items in your cart as well as your location.
The Shipping and Taxes estimate DOES NOT include any Import Tax, VAT or Duties you may be liable to pay upon import into your country. It is the buyers responsibility to pay these charges upon import and to adequately research such charges BEFORE purchasing any items. If import duties are not paid, the item may be returned back to us. The initial shipping costs and any extra charges we incur as a result of this will be deducted from any refund made to you.
European Customers
Instead of paying us the UK VAT @ 20%, we will sell the goods without VAT, then the taxes will be paid by yourself upon import at your local rate.
Most carriers charge a fee for handling the transaction, we have created a Duties and Tax Calculator if you want to estimate without adding items to your cart
EU Business Customers
Provide us with you EORI number in the Company Details field when placing an order to ensure smooth customs clearance processing.
Further Information
We have further information here.
Yes, we do ship to most countries around the world. However, there are some exceptions which are outlined in our Terms & Conditions.
Invoices, Tracking and Returns
Please Note: Some tracking numbers will not update the same day as dispatch. Please try the tracking number the next day for an update.
Summary of our returns policy:
Within 14 days of delivery: Goods can be returned for any reason for a full refund of the goods. Neither the initial delivery charge nor the return delivery charges will be refunded. You will have a further 14 days to return the goods. If the goods are not returned within 14 days after notifying us, we reserve the right to refuse the return or charge up to a 20% restocking fee to cover card fees, time and packing costs
After 14 days of delivery: We reserve the right to refuse the return or charge up to a 20% restocking fee to cover card fees, time and packing costs. Neither the initial delivery charge nor the return delivery charges will be refunded.
Non-re-saleable condition: If goods are not in re-saleable condition—for example, if they have been fitted/test-fitted, lack original packaging, or are covered in grease or lubricant—whether supplied correctly or incorrectly, we will not accept them for a refund.
Vehicle Details
The engine code can be found on a small sticker located on top of the timing belt cover.
See photos below:
The main place to find the VIN Number is in the bottom passenger side corner of the windscreen. It can also be found in your V5 Document.
See photos below:
To work out your vehicles axles weights you will first need to locate the VIN / Chassis sticker on your model. This location varies between models but can often be found within the engine bay or door shuts.
A transverse engine is mounted sideways (across the car), commonly found in FWD cars. A longitudinal engine is mounted front-to-back, typical in RWD or AWD vehicles.
See photos below:
Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF)
A Dual Mass Flywheel is made up of two parts held together by a damping mechanism design to reduce the vibrations of the engine transferring throughout the vehicle. It also absorbs the torque loads of the crankshaft and helps deliver a smooth transfer to the road wheels via the clutch.
Advantages
- Isolated engine vibrations
- Reduced noise
- Improved shifting comfort
- Quieter start-up behaviour
Disadvantages
- Lower life expectancy
- Not good for high torque applications
- Quieter start-up behaviour
- Compromised reliability
Single Mass Flywheel (SMF)
A Single Mass Flywheel is a simple one piece alternative for customers needing to replace the dual-mass flywheel clutch system. This will do the job of a flywheel without complicated mechanisms.
Advantages
- Low cost and re-usable
- Good for high torque applications
- Increase reliability
Disadvantages
- Increased noise
- Increased vibration
- Less refined gear changes
- Harsher start-up behaviour
Tuning
We retain the right to refuse any work if vehicles are not in a roadworthy condition. (e.g. Bald Tyres, Expired Road Tax etc.)
Cars that are not in a fit state for tuning work will also be refused, it is expected that a car is in perfect health before any power increase.
Please notify us prior to the booking date if there are concerns regarding the cars health, we can then advise and/or have the correct staff and parts ready to repair prior to working on the vehicle.
Please browse our products, projects and customers cars to get an idea of what we can offer before you contact us.
We receive 100's of emails weekly from customers who have not spent a few minutes to look around the site, where they would find all the information they need.
Yes, all of our turbo kits will also fit left-hand-drive vehicles unless otherwise specified.
Please send us your UK Registration / VIN number for confirmation that the kit you are looking at is correct for your vehicle.
Not necessarily. Most power increasing modifications, when done right, will not adversely affect the fuel economy of your engine under normal driving conditions. This is because the engine will not have to work as hard as standard at normal RPMs. Some customers have even noted an increase in economy with the higher power output. However, when driving spiritedly your economy will likely be reduced.
Whilst not all the clutch kits we have available are listed online, please check to see if a kit is listed for your vehicle before contacting us. If you do require assistance, please ensure you provide the following details:
- Vehicle Make and Model
- Engine Code
- Transmission (5 or 6 Speed)
- Registration Number / Chassis Number
- Current / Desired Power output and Torque Figures
- Use of vehicle (Daily Driving, Fast Road, Track, Drag etc.)
We will then be able to advise on your options and give prices accordingly.
Trade / Dealer
Yes, if you have a valid EU VAT number, please create and account on the website and then contact us with your company VAT details:
- Company Name
- Address
- VAT Number
We will then apply the 0% Tax rate to your account.
We deal with trade customers on an individual basis. Please get in touch if you want to become a Darkside Developments trade customer. Trade customers must be in the automotive industry and actively advertise our products in their local area.
Products
Genuine
Genuine or OE (Original Equipment) are the same parts as originally fitted to a vehicle from factory. These are usually the safest option as you know what you’re buying is the exact same, and will also maintain manufacturer’s warranty (when installed professionally). The downside to these parts is that they are generally the most expensive, only available from the dealership and are sometimes uneconomical to replace.
In some cases, these parts may still made by other companies (such as Bosch, Siemens, Sachs etc.) but will come in the vehicle manufacturers branded box and with genuine part numbers.
OEM
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) are parts that have been made by an external manufacturer that has supplied the car manufacturer with components for that car at some point. The parts will be similar quality to Original Equipment parts or might even be the exact same item with their own packaging and part numbers.
These parts are usually cheaper than Genuine/OE and in some cases you can use them without invalidating the vehicle warranty. Often the manufacturing company such as Bosch, Siemens or Sachs will have negotiated to sell the parts independently as part of its contract and only released to the aftermarket a number of years after initial production.
Aftermarket
Aftermarket parts can cause some confusion due to the wide range of parts it can cover.
Some aftermarket parts are designed as cheap substitute for OE parts. These parts may be made from substandard materials and could wear out / fail a lot sooner than a higher quality OE/OEM equivalent. Quality control on these parts is usually poorer so defects and fitment issues are more often a problem.
On the other hand, some of the better aftermarket manufacturers analyse why OE/OEM parts fail and improve upon the design, thus making them better than the original, Elring for example only sell parts meeting or exceeding OE quality.
The term aftermarket also covers upgrades and modification parts for vehicles. Companies such as Bilstein, Powerflex, Quaife, Sachs SRE and ourselves all produce aftermarket products.
Yes, follow our guide on how to purchase a Gift Certificate from our website here.
Yes, some products come with a free fitting guide. It will automatically add this to your cart when checking out with selected products. This is a downloadable PDF that is available on your order confirmation email. Click the link to download the guide. (We do not send out a paper copy of fitting guides unless requested before the product is sent out).