Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I recently bought a used X200. The seller didn't inform me that the back left ( near power supply jack ) corner of the bottom cover was smashed until I met him. The price was right, however, so I bought it. Now, I'm trying to source a good replacement. There's a company selling one very cheaply that I am sorely tempted to do business with, but I want to be sure of the compatibility of the part. It's FRU 42X5182, which according to the service manual, goes with X200 submodel 2024. Conversely, the FRU for my X200 (submodel 7458) is 44C9562.

It appears that in many cases major components like motherboards can be swapped between different models (eg X201 motherboard -> X200 chassis). Can anyone tell me if it's safe to use bottom cover 42X5182 in my X200 7458?

You can fit X200s motherboard into X200's bottom, but not X200 in X200s - X200 bottom has a little more space for processor cooler, otherwise they are the same.
I've gone through this by myself.

So, an X200 chassis is an X200 chassis - right?

I'm not even talking about X201, X200s, etc - but for X200 models alone there are a half dozen FRUs for the bottom cover. This one in particular is listed by numerous parts suppliers as "42X5182 - IBM Lenovo X200 Series Laptop Bottom Base Cover Enclosure" and sells as little as $10-$50 while the other bottom covers with different FRUs sell for around $100. The one very strange thing is that these parts vendors describe the 42X5182 part as manufactured by HP, rather than Lenovo. I've done some research and there isn't any HP computer part identified as 42X5182 so I'm led to think this is a mistake, or that HP has for some reason been involved in the manufacturing of the bottom cover for some X200 types. I'm tempted to pull the trigger and order one for $10 but it would be a waste of $35 after shipping is factored in.
Thoughts?

If I needed a base this is where I would go:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-THINKPAD-x2 ... 19b6f01c42

Have purchased Thinkpad lids, bases, palmrests and keyboards from them and have never been disappointed.
Always new, always genuine.
YMMV

With a hair dryer & putty knife and you can even move the stickers over. Heat & patience are the secret.