So I think I've had an experience with counterfeit BMW parts. You Ford guys may not know but the control arm bushings are one of the Achilles heels of the style 3 series I have as they fail at low mileage and it seems like you are always replacing them. BMW, at least trying something, have re-designed the part a few times both during and after production on the series finished, but alas, its still a problem.
My experience, however comes from ordering the bushings online instead of at the dealer (which i had been doing before). I installed new control arm bushing as well as new control arms at the start of this season and just last month had to replace them already. When looking at what i took off the car and what i put back on (purchased from the dealer this time), there were some obvious differences. The take offs had what appeared to be cast part numbers, where as the dealer parts had what appeared to be etched numbers. Additionally, the main part of the take off bushings appeared to be a rubber ring pressed into place, where as the dealer part was solid. What caused me to need to replace them so soon was that this rubber ring would work it's way out after a hundred miles or so (see picture). After pushing it back in with a screw driver and mallet a few times i finally broke down and bought the new parts.
Have any of you had experiences with counterfeit parts?
Paul, I am sure we don't have near the chance to come across that as you do. Ford parts are not that expensive :)
ReplyDeleteKen
Paul, was this sold as a "real" BMW part?
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of aftermarket parts available, some as good or better than OEM, and some worse.
If it was sold as a BMW part, could it be one of the later parts BMW made that was just a bad design?
If it really was counterfeit, you could at least make a complaint to the VA Dept of Consumer Affairs. Don't know how far that would take you though.