Do not buy an Autozone fuel pump
 

The score:

Bosch: 16 years, 195k miles

Made in Taiwan: 1.5 years, 20k miles


Yes, I knew better, but it was in stock on a Sunday...

But hey, I lucked out. My neighbor loaned me his flatbed trailer to drag it home with.

A new Bosch went in easy. The Taiwan one fits terribly.

Does everyone know about the virtues of "Hose Pinch-off pliers?"
Consider them extolled! I did not drain the tank.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/media/KD-145.jpg

CSNOW:

Don't feel badly. You were probably in a pinch and these people are open 7 days a week.

I get a kick out of all of the Bosch plugs wires. etc. that are stacked mile high behind the counter. I recently asked to see a set for my 103 motor. No way these are close in quality to the Beru's or for that matter Bosch wires sold at real euro parts houses.

The mass-marketers are ok for oil, windshield wiper fluid, etc. but not for anything like pumps, alternators. etc.

"The mass-marketers are ok for oil, windshield wiper fluid, etc. but not for anything like pumps, alternators. etc."

That's what I think. I get oil there and that's about it. Seems the parts are often wrong or faulty out of the box there too.

I've never been given an incorrect part from Auto Zone or Advance auto etc.... :D :D

So far I've had good luck with parts from my local 'Pep Boys', including rebuilt parts like starters and alternaters. Their rebuilt parts look like they're carefully done, not thrown off a truck and spray painted like some others. Haven't tried 'Advance' yet but their predecessor 'Trak Auto' wasn't that great on rebuilt stuff.

Happy Motoring, Mark

AZ and some of the other reboxers do sell a lot of parts and they command some great power purchases from companies like Bosch.

As an authorized Bosch Service Center, I can tell you that Bosch has three methods of distribution: OE, their warehouse jobber system, and the large store accounts. The large store accounts usually only buy large quantities of a small number of items. They will probably not be able to order any item not on the store account list except through the second distribution line (or the first).

The product they sell is the same Bosch that comes from any other source, but will usually only be rotating electrical (starters and alternators) and service parts: filters, plugs, etc.

As to plug wires, Bosch isn't OE and MB's way of dealing with wires requires real technicians because they would only have you fix what is broke. Since real techs are few and far between, they now sell Bosch wire kits at the dealers. I am pretty sure there are a couple different quality of Bosch kits, some even come with the quality Beru pieces.

Neither have I (Never buy parts there) ;-)

Yeah, I'm not really bashing Autozone. Some of the stuff they sell is perfectly fine.

This is a case where I got burned by a low-grade generic part that they sell. They do not offer a Bosch pump at Autozone, despite carrying other Bosch items.

This same exact Taiwan pump is sold for a variety of other MB models, and I wanted to report my results so that no one else is tempted regardless of cost or availability.

The cost difference is about $60. In stock on a Sunday, priceless!

NOT!

ok, i lied. i have bought a few parts from those places, just like you, on a sunday afternoon when nothing else was open.

key is to only buy the lifetime warrantee stuff (it wont last a lifetime, its just that they will replace for free when it does go out. and it will.)

sorry to hear about the loss and thanks for letting us know to avoid them.

Warranty is nice enough, but when you are stranded by the side of the road, they offer up little comfort...

Then there is the labor to factor in...

I guess it depends upon the part.