Cheap Quality of MB Replacement Parts
 

I'm now starting to replace parts I've already replaced once on my 240 and it's really bothering me.

I've owned my car now for 4.5 years and have put about 29k on it. When I first got it, I replaced the starter with a Bosch reman. Just replaced it again a few months ago. I also changed all the glow plugs with Bosch ones along with the relay when I first got it. Just had glow plug number 3 go bad on me a couple weeks ago.

The orginal parts used to last 20+ years and now this replacement crap we buy lasts only a few. My car is basically just a weekend driver and for any long trips. It's not like I start it each day for short trips. Am I being unreasonable that stuff should last more than 4.5 years or 29,000 miles?????

Scott

i agree totally, ill rebuild parts on mine before i buy reman stuff... Orignials are always better than parts that claim to be comparable.. yea they are comparable they are both the same basic shape.

4.5 years for glow plugs isn't bad, but a started should last WAY longer than that. It is a shame stuff isn't built to the quality levels it was back when these cars were new, if they were, these things would never fade away.

This discussion could get philosophical.

Since this is a discussion about quality, could we start with the thread title?

Please note that quality can not be cheap. It would be best in this case to use 'low' or 'poor'.
Parts can be 'cheap', but then you might consider that you got your 'money's worth.'

There are certainly going to be parts that are better than the originals and there are many that will not. Clearly this discussion is leaning toward those parts that can not match the quality of the originals. Many of these original parts may never be made the same again. Also note that as other related systems in a car age, supported items may age more rapidly after being replaced. ie: in some cases replacing everything with new may provide a longer service life. I don't recommend this as it is impractical.

Do you have any examples of; "original parts used to last 20+ years," under your ownership? :confused:

I'm wondering where you got the idea that parts will "last 20+ years," of use in the first place??

As consumers we demand parts at reduced cost. As shareholders we demand higher dividends. As employees we demand higher wages and better benefits.
Manufacturers only have a few ways of meeting those demands. One is to produce parts of reduced quality. The other is to move manufacturing offshore. Both result in junk but it is our fault and our fault alone... if it were not Wal-Mart and 'No-Name' products would not exist.

it's also possible that the reason parts failed in the first place have not been repaired. I.E. the glow plugs may be failing because of soot buildup around them resulting in hotter glows with more difficult starting... also the starter having to crank a car with weak glow plugs and low compression would impart additional load that the new motor did not have...
I'm just sayin...

I associate Bosch with O.E. quality; maybe I shouldn't. It's not like I'm buying parts from Autozone.

Scott

Most of the front end parts have lasted 20 years. I've replaced what appear to be original starters, alternators, a/c compressors and radiators around the 20 year mark (I concede in advance there is no way of knowing something is original if you didn't own the car yourself the entire 20 years but one can make fairly educated guesses based on the condition of the part along with the surrounding automobile, service records, etc.). There are lots of original parts on these cars that lasted a really, really long time. Just doesn't seem to be the same anymore.

Maybe everyone else here replaces their parts and they never go bad again. Maybe it's normal to replace everything every 4.5 years and 29,000 miles. Who knows. I just expected more. Like I said before, it's not like I'm buying cheap parts from autozone. I'm paying up for the supposed (or my perception of the) "Bosch quality" name.

Anyway, I'm just venting about my recent experiences and wondering if anyone else was experiencing the same thing. Don't want to turn this into something philosophical.

Scott

That's a valid point and something I hadn't considered. Thanks for posting. Do you think reaming the glow plug holes will remove the soot buildup or do you think it is simply an unavoidable by product of a high mileage engine?

Scott

Bosch shouldn't be associated with OE quality. They are as bad as anybody else. It's too bad, I remember when they used to make the best stuff around. Same with Sony and Pioneer. Now it's all junk.

Now you kids get off my lawn!

My 1983 240D has 320K on the clock. Original engine and according to the paperwork from the lady who was the original owner, no engine rehab required. She was religious in oil changes and valve adjustments.

Ditto with wheel bearings, and until recently, motor mounts.

Plus, as whunter will tell you, the axle boots lasted 27 years. One started to tear, so we changed both. But the other was ok.

Ditto with radiator. Ditto with PS pump.

and the car was driven pretty steadily and daily for about 26 tyears. A little less now, because I have 3 cars that use depending on the situation (commuting, dirty work, lumber pick-up).

So I support the durability thing for a starter.

I do not do exchanges, I prefer rebuilds by a local shop.

Both of the above are ture.
Reaming the carbon out will increase the Glow Plug life and a worn Engine will carbon up more than a new one.

Also Injectors with worn out Nozzles will shorten Glow Plug Life (and cause more Carbon build up).

Older vehicles need more maintenance and work to keep them going.

Rebuilders: I removed my Alternator to replace the Bearings. The sticker on the Alternator said "Rebuilt by Bosch North America". The bearing that went bad was made in China. So I conclude that Bosch is using the made in China Bearings during the rebuild.

I guess these 2 threads are sort of connected???

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=293379

Charlie