Fight Back; Post/List Where The Parts You Bought Were Made

[Diesel911]

I think it would be helpful if the Members had one thread that they could go to so that they can see where their parts are made before they order. I hope this can be the Thread.
Please give info on your New Parts.
Give any additional details; especially if you had any problems installing or fitting the parts.

Here is my parts just received today:
Lemforder Motor Mounts for 917.952 are made in Turkey

Meyle Drive Shaft Support is made in Thailand

Bought last year:

Lemforder Lower Ball Joints are made in Germany

Bought as part of a front end kit; URO Ball Joints. Where they are made is not listed. The ouside diameter is larger than the outside diameter of Lemforders and I believe the extra width would have made it harder to press in.

Bosch Glow Plugs made in France

I have read 2 accounts that Motor Mounts ordered from the Dealer for 617.95s are made in Turkey. The Lemforders are also made in Turkey and both Motor Mounts have a place on them where it looks like the Mercedes Star was ground off.
So I do not see the point of buying Motor Mounts from the dealer and paying the High price for them if you can get the same by getting Lemforders (at around $22 each).
Both Motor Mounts also have 2 Blue Dots on them.
See Pics
　
　

[Jon J]

You mean like the crappy "lifetime " warranty starter from Auto Zone that only lasts about 10 months? (I'm on #3) ? You know the ones with all of the parts made in Red China and assembled in Mexico? Those parts?

[dieseldan44]

diesel911 - they ground those spots off because there was a mercedes start there. If you went tot he dealer, they'd be the exact same part, unless they have NOS.

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by dieseldan44

diesel911 - they ground those spots off because there was a mercedes start there. If you went tot he dealer, they'd be the exact same part, unless they have NOS.

I believe that.
I started the thread in hopes that it would become a resource. As an example while I was looking at Motor Mounts I see Cortico, Westar and FEQ Motor Mounts.
I know nothing about any of them. It would be nice if someone who as bought from those companies would post and give the info on them. Then when someone else is in the same fix they can go to this thread a look that info up.

[Jeremy5848]

It's also possible that the parts with the ground-off logos are excess production (which is fine) or manufacturing rejects (which may be a problem).

[layback40]

w123 trans mount ~ febi made in Germany ; came via Lebanon.
w123 secondary fuel filter ~Hengst made in Germany
w123 oil filter ~ Knecht/ Mahle made in Austria
w123 euro head light glass ~ MAGEF no made in label
w123 water pump ~ No Name can see where the MB logo should be, Made in Germany, ; came via Lebanon.
w123 rear brake pads ~ Remsa made in Spain
w124 oil filter ~ Bosch no country of origin label
w124 secondary fuel filter ~ Bosch made in Korea
w124 air filter ~ Knecht/Mahle made in Austria

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Various parts in the past few years for my diesels and other's cars-

240D Febi upper control arms and Lemforder motor mounts - I believe from Germany.
A friend got a Chinese upper control arm for his 300D much cheaper, but seemed OK, then sold the car.

Checked a pair of aftermarket Lemforder (German I think) tie-rods for a friends ML430, but the ball-socket on one was too loose so I got them from the dealer.

Awhile ago I got an aftermarket hood-star for a friend's 220 from my local indie Mercedes parts store - no country of origin - that detiriorated rapidly.
So I got the one for my 240D from the dealer - made in Turkey!

Bought a German MANN 240D canister fuel filter, in a Purolator box from Pep-Boys. Same 'Purolator' I inspected at Advance-Auto was cheaper, but contained a no-name Chinese filter.
My indie stocks the German filter much cheaper than Pep or Advance.

Got a Mexican-rebuilt Pep-boys 240D alternator that failed in six months. Replaced with a used one from my friend Chuck Taylor - still going strong after a year.

Aftermarket Chinese 240D flex-disc was rock-hard out of the box, so I got one (German I hope) from the dealer.

The new Pierburg vacuum-pump lever-kit for my 300TD was made in Spain, but the new Pierburg Vacum-pump I wound up using was made in Argentina!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[vstech]

...
Advance is now endcap stocking Mann line of filters!

[junqueyardjim]

So what is the purpose of the thread. If we don't like where the part is made are we not going to buy it. Are you going to take it back and demand one made elsewhere. Looks like your options are pretty limited. There are many parts labeled P&P and they can be difficult to get in the winter.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by junqueyardjim

So what is the purpose of the thread. If we don't like where the part is made are we not going to buy it. Are you going to take it back and demand one made elsewhere. Looks like your options are pretty limited. There are many parts labeled P&P and they can be difficult to get in the winter.

I don't care that much where the part is made so long as it's decent quality (Though it does get tiresome to see nearly evertything coming from China these days)
The Bosch rebuilts from Pep-Boys seem pretty decent, but unfortunately their alternator for my 240D wasn't the Bosch. But that problem has been solved for now.
I suppose we must now be forever vigilant, and try to evaluate parts as best we can before buying. Like those Lemforder tie-rods. One reason I'm not fond of buing mail-order!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[showme]

Ignition switch housing and ignition switch (electrical) from ******** in Phoenix, AZ were both German made. But I've gotten a few parts that were marked Spain and Austria.

Per the Autozone parts with that unbelievable guarantee, I count my time under the car or hood too valuable to do a job twice that should have only had to be done once. If that lifetime warranty covered labor and a rental, it might be worth it, but that ain't gonna happen! When I bought my Bosch alternator, it came not only with a two year guarantee, but road service towing if it would not start or run because of the part for those two years.

Also, I am disgusted when parts that use to be made in factories by decently paid, skilled workers is pawned off to consumers as actual OEM at the original or higher prices. Just because you CAN do something (making more money for stockholders by incorporating near slave labor) doesn't mean it's either right or good for the company. Makes me want to vomit.

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by junqueyardjim

So what is the purpose of the thread. If we don't like where the part is made are we not going to buy it. Are you going to take it back and demand one made elsewhere. Looks like your options are pretty limited. There are many parts labeled P&P and they can be difficult to get in the winter.

The Purpose of the thread: So you do not end up ordering ore buying a part from a country you do not want parts from.
And, to get that info in one thread instead of scattered as individual info in 100 different threads.

Example:
Purolator Oil Filter for a 617.952 bought at Pep Boys is Made in India. I cut the filter apart and found that the Central Tube in the Bypass section is not attached at either end; free floating inside of the Filter.

The STP Oil Filter Sold at AutoZone appeared to be the same filter also made in India.

[Diesel911]

U-joint for 1984 300D 123 Drive shaft made by GMB (Japan) part number 220-7284 (The internet seller used part number 9004100031)

W123 Drive Shaft Support Bearing was sold to me as an INA OEM Bearing but I received a FAG Bearing made in Korea.

I was going to return it but unfortunately FAG and INA are part of the same conglomerate: "The Schaeffler Group's INA and FAG brands stand for the development and manufacture of high-quality rolling bearings, plain bearings, linear guidance systems, and engine components for mechanical engineering, aerospace and the automotive industry worldwide."
I do not know if a Korean Bearing is better than a made in China one.

Mann Auto Trans filter for 722.315 (84,300D) made in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Transmission Pan gasket for the above 722.315 made by WOCO made in Germany

Valve Cover Gasket 617.952, Victor Reinz made in Germany

Driveshaft Boot rubber REIN automotive made in Italy

[junqueyardjim]

Well you can fret about it, but if you need a part you can do much about where it is made, unless you can find a way to order the parts you need from the countries we like, (or prefer). Much of auto manufacturing is of a polluting nature and the "Greenies" want that all shipped out of here. And that is a big part of the unemployment situation.

[1stbenznc]

Two massive wheel bearing HUB assemblies for the 7.3L Excursion......from NAPA.....made in China. The quality and machining actually looked decent. Still working after 20,000 miles. We'll see over time....