Could non genuine parts come from factories making genuine parts???

But wasn't it a "premium" part that broke down THIS time?

Hehehe... you're quite right about that.

Believe me, this experience has left me somewhat sceptical of the MB brand.

Cheers.

As an example a particular piece of ham radio gear under a well known brand costs $329.00 retail I can buy the sam unit with n unknown brand factory direct for $58.oo some one along the line is making some profit , what warranty does this mechanic supply ?

I have no idea with this particular case, but with vehicle manufacturers relying as heavily on outside suppliers as they do today, it's more a case of branded parts coming from the "non branded" factory. In a lot of cases, non genuine parts suppliers actually make the "genuine" parts for the manufacturers, and the only differences are the pretty boxes the genuine parts come in, and the mark-up the manufacturer shoves on them.

Good example.

Here in Melbourne (That's in Australia for you Americans :) there used to be a company called Natra who, until a couple of years ago, made radiators for Ford for the locally made Falcon. They'd buy in the stock, manufacture the radiator, package it in a pretty "Ford" branded box (complete with Ford part number and barcode) and ship it to the Ford assembly plant for the grand sum of 86 bucks per unit, including shipping (which came out of Natra's end).

All Ford had to do was unload the truck and stock the items, and their retail per unit was over 600 bucks :)

-- Regards, Noddy.

You can source a rebuilt unit from USA... there are plenty of rebuilder here... The part number must match though so you need to have the part number to see if they have the same one here.

As for the OEM... Original Equipment Manufacturer... it is same quality. OE is Original Equipment... direct from MB.

If you could, I would swap out the unit from a similar car with same part number to see if your error goes away. Otherwise, electrical part are NON-Refundable period.

Good story Noddy,

The question is, does this company "leak" out the same part to other spare part sellers to sell at a reduced price compared to the "FORD" branded part?

Cheers.

Shades of the "555" company in Japan.

They make suspension components (amongst other things) for just about all the Japanese manufacturers, those parts are "branded" with the OEM name of the car maker, or with a part number, sometimes both.

I don't know what the current price of a "genuine" tie rod end for a

But the "555" branded component, complete with Toyota Part Number, but in "white box" from a parts importer was $20.

But wasn't it a "premium" part that broke down THIS time?

-- Knob

Before I'd spend $$$$ for genuine MB electronics, I'd think back to an old episode of All in the Family TV show. Archie was arguing with the meathead about President Nixon and Watergate. Archie told him the only mistake Nixon made was hiring Germans (Haldeman, Ehrlichman) to do electronics. Everybody knows they are no good at it. He should have hired Japanese.

Seriously, I'd probably go with one of the aftermarket companies that rebuild and offer a warranty. In any case, I'd want to know for sure where the replacement is coming from and what warranty they offer, etc.

Newsflash: car makers don't make parts. They assemble parts other people into cars. The last time I got a genuine Mercedes suspension part in the mail is had "TRW" cast into it.

Of course they do, when they aren't prevented from doing so by contractual obligation. You can buy a Behr radiator from Mercedes or you can buy one from Behr. There's a difference in cost. MB will repair free any part they sell that breaks, however this is not true of the OE part.

Not publicly, but they supplied cores and complete radiators to the radiator repair industry at significantly reduced rates (compared to Ford). They used to supply the *exact* same radiator to radiator repairers that they did to Ford for around 200 bucks, which was a good mark-up for them but still a shitload cheaper to the end user than Ford.

Bendix supply Ford, Holden and others with OEM parts, such as brake & clutch friction material, master cylinders & brake boosters and brake callipers, and sell those exact same parts to anyone who wants them in their own "Bendix" branded packaging.

Usually without the 100+% mark-up that the manufacturers feel it necessary to whack on everything in order to make it viable.

-- Regards, Noddy.

Car makers do indeed make parts. Just not *every* part of the car they sell.

Manufacturers tend to limit themselves to the "major" components that are specific to their product, and rely on outside suppliers for minor components either by having something designed and built especially for them or by using an existing product and incorporating it into their own design.

Such as the differential used here in Commodores and Falcons (Holden & Ford vehicles). Same differential unit, but used in two different vehicles with different suspensions and carriers.

Things like belt idler pulleys are a perfect example of an existing product incorporated into a design, as it's not at all uncommon to find one generic type used on a couple of dozen different engines from different manufacturers (and all usually made by the same company, but with a wide range of OEM pricing from the vehicle manufacturer :)

-- Regards, Noddy.

There are a few companies out there that specialise in reconditioning electronic components. Usually they just find the fault with the unit- capacitor, resistor etc- and replace the faulty component. Arguably it makes them good as, and sometimes better than new. Sometimes certain components in certain models have common faults, which means these companies have changeover units so you do not have to wait for yours to be repaired, but it depends on the specific part.

I doubt there is actually an alternative aftermarket manufacturer of this part anayway, so your mechanic's advice is good. First I would see if there are reconditioned units available, and if not just replace it with the non-MB part, as it is the same in any case.

Axeman

A mechanic I know was replacing the front wheel bearings on his friends MB, MB price for the bearings was very expensive so the mechanic took a sample to a local bearing supplier, it turns out the bearings were identical to the ones fitted to a Holden and were about 1/10th the price. The only difference was the box they came in, Timken boxes (the OE MB parts were Timken) instead of MB boxes. I wouldn't hesitate to fit non genuine parts provided they were guaranteed.

Daryl

I haven't seen Shockies mentioned. Monroe supply GM Ford Mits etc with OE shockies. The thing is though, they are made to a very strict budget and corners are cut to reduce cost. This leads to the shockies being sold in Munroe boxes being much better quality because they can be make to a spec that isn't controlled by budget constraint. After market shocks may have better oil, better seals, (as in 2 Teflon seals as opposed to one standard) , double or triple layer of chrome on the shaft, as opposed to a single layer on the OE shaft. So aftermarket parts are often better than the original. Also not true that "Manufacturers tend to limit themselves to the "major" components". That why when a factory closes down, not only do the factory workers loose their jobs, many many workers from satellite businesses loose their jobs too.

That doesn't agree with my experience with shocks, OE shocks usually last a long time, replacements in Munroe boxes last a hell of a lot less klms. This was the case with 2 cars, a VK wagon and an XD van, in both cases the OE shocks lasted 5 yrs, the replacements were stuffed in less than 2.

Daryl

Yep..

You might try to get yourself invited to a trade night were Monroe representatives are present. ;-)

In the past, non-genuine Holdens have come from Toyota factories :)

So OK guys where can I get non-branded Nissan parts then for my X-trail?