Counterfeit Automotive Parts

By Mark Herbert


A customer sent me an email saying that a part we sold was $70.00 dollars higher than the same part he found it on eBay®.

I had to look into this.

The part in question, a headlight switch for an Audi A6, we sell as an Original Equipment part, meaning it was from Audi, in the Audi box. Not from one of our OEM/OES part manufacture.

The part on eBay® looked the same in the pictures so how could this be? How could they be that much cheaper?

But than I noticed the part was located in Hong Kong. Now I got it; it is a counterfeit part selling under the premise of being an Original Equipment part.

And the other point that interested me was in the seller's conditions you cannot return the part. A typical counterfeit part manufacture trait.

For a $70.00 savings what could be bad about installing a counterfeit headlight switch?

If it is not made right it can cause wiring damage, melted wire harness,the part itself melting in the dash, even a fire!

A headlight switch might not be that big of a problem, but what about Brakes? Bearings?

How does this affect you? Installing a counterfeit part might just lead to a minor inconvenience but it also can be a safety issue depending on the counterfeited part.

Counterfeit Automotive Replacement Parts Problem.

The counterfeit part problem is a Global problem that has been going on for years, reported to cost upwards of 12 billion a year.

It was a big problem in the 80's, Fram filter's being the most publicized problem. Old tuna cans were made into an oil filter and stuffed with rags. If the part was installed on an engine, that engine did not last long. Hard to tell the difference from the real Fram filter and the counterfeit one until you opened the part.

Back than the counterfeiting problem was slowed down, but now with today's sophisticated global economy and the increase in technology counterfeiting has made a comeback, big time.

Most of the counterfeit parts are tracked to the Far East. Cheaper labor and lax trade laws.
Some of the counterfeit parts are high quality reverse engineered copies of the original, they look and feel the same, but the components are not of the same quality, cheaper metal, inferior plastic, improper electrical components, substandard brake pad material and a lot more .

In pocketbooks or watches this isn't a problem, but in car parts in can be a safety issue.
Even in our shop we have experienced counterfeited parts, mostly from customers who got the part at a great price.

We have seen timing belt tensioners that looked the same but fell apart when the car was started. Resulting in bent valves.

We had one timing belt tensioner that was assembled backwards.

An air conditioner receiver dryer where the holes were not machined correctly, we couldn't keep the lines from leaking. We didn't open it but we wondered what they used for the desiccant material inside.

A Porsche 911 Parking Brake/Seat Belt warning light assembly, wired incorrectly inside causing the wire harness to melt.

Had a customer come in with a melted wire harness because the counterfeit fuse he installed didn't melt, that cheap little fuse cost him a lot of money.

We have heard of brake pads made of compressed grass clippings. Wheel bearings made out of inferior metal causing them to fail almost immediately.

Bottom line is if the price is too good to be true it is.

Mark Herbert is the owner of GermanPartsOnline.com, an online parts supplier for German Automobiles. GermanPartsOnline.com is also a great resource for technical articles written by German Car Technicians

http://www.germanpartsonline.com/

Drive Away With Savings on Your Automotive Parts and Maintenance

By Joe Deacon


Purchasing a vehicle is a major financial step. In order to enjoy the return on your investment, you need to perform maintenance on your car or truck. However, you can save a lot of money on your next oil change or set of tires if you know where to look and what to do. If you take your time and shop around, you can save up to 50% off your next automotive project.

Spending Money on Maintenance Can Save You Money

Studies show that most major auto repairs are directly related to lack of maintenance. Consider that most oil changes cost as little as 30 dollars, but a new motor will cost you thousands. Most auto makers will provide a checklist of things on your vehicle that need maintenance on a monthly of yearly schedule. Performing these small tasks can leave your vehicle running like new for years to come.

Join a Car Care Club

The cost of vehicle repairs can vary from shop to shop. Many repair shops now offer car care clubs for loyal customers. They might offer your tenth oil change free or a huge discount on your fourth set of new tires. These clubs can save you a lot of money over the years. When you are in search of this type of offer, look for a shop that has been in business for a long time. It is no fun to get to the goal and find the business is no longer open. You should also look for quality workmanship; never sacrifice service just to get a discount.

Do It Yourself

Even if you have no automotive experience, there are many things you can do yourself. Buy a manual for your vehicle that provides step by step instructions. Most auto repair costs are high because of labor costs. You will find that in most cases, the parts required are only a fraction of the cost. Rather than paying an automotive shop fifty dollars to change a light bulb, you can buy the part for just a few dollars and do it yourself. However, you need to make sure that any task you decide to take on will not void your existing warranty.

Buy Online

If you need automotive parts you can often find great prices online. When you are in search of that specialty part, this can also be a great option. There are many large part companies online. You will find that many offer substantial savings over your local parts supply store. Cutting out the middle man can save you a lot of money on auto parts. Consider that every time an auto part changes hands, the price is marked up a little more. Order directly from the distributor and save yourself up to 50%.

Use Coupons for Auto Service

You can often find coupons for auto maintenance or repair. Some companies offer an opt-in list that you can join. They will send you coupons by mail or email. You can also look on coupons sites online and find many great coupons. If you live close to major auto chains, this can be a good option.

How To Find And Install Auto Parts On Your Own Vehicle

Are you one of those people who is mechanically inclined? One way that you can reduce the expense of auto parts is to go for recycled car parts.
You will find that companies that specialize in recycling auto parts can offer you some really good savings. One of the ways that they get the cars is from insurance companies that drop off cars that have been deemed to be totaled which the recyclers use the parts from.

You are also helping the environment by buying recycled parts because there is a good bit of pollution caused by making new parts due to the fact that they use a lot of oil to make new parts. As with many other things that we use as humans, reusing raw materials like this is very beneficial to our environment. There are well over four million vehicles recycled annually in the United States so that should tell you that there are lot of parts available out there for a wide range of vehicles. The act of recycling also saves and helps the environment by not filling unnecessary space in landfills. You are also able to get the same quality parts by using a recycler as you would get from the original manufacturer’s parts.

Recycled parts have so many benefits, from being environmentally conscious to saving you lots of money this is one of the best possible ways to buy auto parts. If you are concerned about the quality of the recycled auto parts you should know that most of the recyclers give warranties on the parts they sell so you do not have to be worried about whether they are good or not. They also usually have huge networks of other recyclers and parts dealers and can find the part you need quickly, efficiently, and at a good price.

How To Find The Automotive Body Parts You Need
If you have ever had to look for body parts for a vehicle you know what a pain it can be. There is such a wide array of different choices for the parts that it can really be confusing. There are aftermarket body parts that are more on the low end and then there are others that are more expensive so the prices can vary wildly. If you go with original manufacturer equipment you can expect to pay a great deal more than if you go with an aftermarket company that has similar if not equal quality. You also have the choice of going with used body parts which may come off of a junk car which will be cheaper still. Virtually any body part you need can be found from lights and grills to quarter panels and entire truck beds. You can find a vehicle that may have damage to one side and the rest of the car is fine, or you may need the front clip are able to get it from a car that the rear end has been totaled on. If you own a late model car you can be sure to find just about any part you need and there will more than likely be several models of your car at a bigger salvage yard. The real defining factor of whether you are able to find quality parts at a salvage yard is probably geographical. For instance if you live up north where they use salt on the roads you may find it difficult to find parts that haven’t already began to corrode. If you live in a desert area such as New Mexico or Arizona there will be no problem finding parts at all.

Another idea for you is to buy cars with salvage titles. You can get them extremely cheap and then you have all the parts you need, once you have all you need you can part out the rest. If you have time on your hands this can be a good option and it allows you to bypass the middleman. Lastly you also have the aftermarket industry that specializes in automotive body parts. They have parts available for just about any car you can imagine.