Are you trying to start a parts supplier riot here, Sir ?!?

Here is a reply I got from Lemförder the other day.

My question: I recently acquired three front end parts for the above vehicle. All three boxes were Lemförder branded. The two control arm bushings, part #2275501, were made in China. The ball joints, part #1214902, was made in Germany. There has been much discussion lately about counterfeit parts coming from China and/or Chinese made parts being inferior. Can you please tell me if the parts I received are indeed genuine Lemförder parts and if so that the quality of your Chinese made parts are equal to the quality of your European made parts? If requested, I would be happy to send you photos of the boxes and the parts.
Thank you.

Lemförder reply - Hello Len,

You're correct in the country of manufacturing regarding our Lemforder products. The plants are all run under the same guidelines though. The components you've purchased weren't counterfeited if you bought them from a reputable dealer.

Kind regards,
Joe

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Plants run under the same guidelines. Hmmm..."guidelines".....

Does that also mean that all of their plants also use the same quality of rubber in their components?

I was disappointed that Lemforder might be dipping its toe into Chinese waters. That response Len got hasn't helped.

Unless the Lemforder rep simply has really poor communication skills, you can drive a truck through "The plants are all run under the same guidelines though."

I can think of all manner of more active/positive-voice ways in which Lemforder's commitment to product quality, regardless of source, could have been stated.

Guidelines are not standards; if they were, the garment workers who lost their lives in third-world factory fires over last decade would be eating dinner with their families tonight. Many of those factories had guidelines set in place on how workers were to be treated, to ease the consciences of the companies buying from them.

Don't know about the rest of you, but I am going to start slowly hoarding Lemforder products made in Europe.

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

This is really bad news.

__________________
1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"

It's not just Lemfoerder. GVZ received an OE/MB dealer part recently that was marked "Made in China". Maybe he can dig up the photo and post it here.

By Moses' holy drawers, as my relatives down east would say. Yes, please.

The other thing to be careful of is a brand now being marketed on certain sites called "Genuine Mercedes." It is not clear what that means. Some stuff they supply does indeed appear to be OE, but some is not (this is heresay based on posts I read). I have so far avoided buying anything so branded.

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I don't think I have the photo anymore. Anything physical that I have relating to Chinese-made MB parts gets deleted, recycled or tossed in the ditch, immediately.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gerry - what was the part? Did you use it or ask questions about it?

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Photos here:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/375764-genuine-mercedes-parts-now-made-china.html