Is it just me or has the quality of replacment parts headed downhill?

For example:
In late April, replaced door strikes on wagon. Yesterday, the rubber bumper on the drivers strike popped off.
Life span - 2.5 mo

Bought replacement condenser for SDL in March. Had to wait until May to charge system because I replaced the evaporator but, the first time I charge the system the condenser springs a leak that is obviously a manufacturing defect.
Life span - 0 mo

There's been other fairly recent issues but I just can't recall them right now.

Grrr....

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Aftermarket aux. water pump lasted about four months on the SD. Started drawing too much current and was driving the monovalve ballistic. Fortunately disconnected it before another CCU got fried.

If your parts were purchased from a dealer, they have a one year unlimited warranty on them. That includes parts and labor regardless of who installed them the first time.

Len

Not the point. New parts should last. Period.

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I agree, I've gotten some crap parts from ********. I bought 2 different fuel primer pumps from them, and neither one lasted more than a month. Went back to the original leaky one (at least it still pumps, which is more than I can say for the ones I bought). Also they sent me an antenna gasket that looks like it was intended for my car, but does not fit worth a damn. Their parts are cheap, but I guess you get what you pay for.

__________________
87 300D - Running on Veggie oil; 260,000 plus miles; Original #14 head

I have noticed the outsourcing a lot of what used to be aftermarket German parts to other countries lately. So far, still European made(I guess Turkey counts), but I am expecting to see Chinese stuff soon

Rick

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

You get what you pay for. Most websites sell cheap parts which you have to watch out for.
To avoid that buy from Phil here. He will only sell OEM or similar quality parts. Sure you'll pay a little more but you get good parts, fast shipping and you help support this forum.

Danny

__________________
1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination