OM651 timing gear wrong? Autodoc mistake?? fuming!

[JP79]

Hello all,
so following my other post where I'm doing the cam chain and gears on my 2010 E220cdi, I ordered from Autodoc (previously ordered the tensioner with no issues) a Febi timing gear kit.
I have now, after googling, found out other people with autodoc order problems and issues with refunding - I have just opened a case with them and they ask to post to Germany! it's a co.uk website, nowhere it says they are in germany!
If anyone has advice on the refund/post, is appreciated, maybe threaten them with something? trading standards for operating under co.uk and misleading?

Anyway, my issue.

I ordered the kit that says it fits my car, got it today and the camshaft gears is nowhere the same!
Their mistake? I ordered this kit here - https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/19921102#timing-chain-kit
It clearly says construction year to 12/2011
what are these cam gears they sent of??? anyone knows? photo attached

and now searching about on the internet, hoping to find some in the UK, I came across partsinmotion website, put my reg plate on it and booomm - one of their listings show a photo of a kit with the timing gears I need. Photo attached.
but.. if I scroll down on the list, it shows the Febi kit, with the photo with the gears I got from Autodoc and construction year to 12/2011.... so.. what's going on??

was hoping to get the car going again this weekend and now I'm stuck..

and I know, order Mercedes.... thing is I bought the car cheap and I do like 10k miles a year and wasn't really planning on spending a lot of money on it, sometimes aftermarket parts are just the same, just not branded.

any UK website I could get a kit ordered quick?
I'll spend the money now to get the car going and then focus on the fight with Autodoc.

thanks!

 

[JP79]

Well.... just in case someone comes around this problem.
someone on another group pointed out the kit I need is the 44971 - that kit shows the timing gears like I need!

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/7643564?search=FEBI+BILSTEIN+Timing+chain+kit+%2844971%29

why autodoc gives the 2 kits for my engine/VIN I have no idea!

 

[Jobsworth]

I’m probably going to upset some people, but I won’t use Autodoc. Sometimes parts take forever to arrive, sometimes they are wrong and it’s a massive ballache to return. I have also had customer turn up with Brembo brakes that they claim to have bought from Autodoc, and they have been fakes. Six weeks later back with DTV and I have to tell them the brakes are bad. Autodoc tell them it’s a fitting error. Thank you very much! Funnily enough I replaced them with gen parts at cost and the problem doesn’t return. Won’t do that again.

 

[JP79]

until the other week when I wanted to get a new chain tensioner I had never heard about autodoc, bought it and was here in 3 days. no issues.
so, seeing as autodoc has so many products I went straight to them to get the kit. had no idea about problems experienced and that they were in germany...

and just to throw more confusion...
if I go to parts in motion website, put my reg.. and the Febi kit number that shows the correct sprockets..it says is not compatible!
makes me think my car maybe got an engine from something else and not the engine that was in with that reg!

 

[gurpz]

The problem with such online parts suppliers is they go by registration or manual entry of vehicle details. The only true way to ensure correct fitment these days is by VIN as there are too many variences or options that determine a small difference especially within the aftermarket.

 

[ALFAitalia]

I’m probably going to upset some people, but I won’t use Autodoc. Sometimes parts take forever to arrive, sometimes they are wrong and it’s a massive ballache to return. I have also had customer turn up with Brembo brakes that they claim to have bought from Autodoc, and they have been fakes. Six weeks later back with DTV and I have to tell them the brakes are bad. Autodoc tell them it’s a fitting error. Thank you very much! Funnily enough I replaced them with gen parts at cost and the problem doesn’t return. Won’t do that again.

Me too....I've used them twice... rubbish service both times... took forever to get the money back. Never again. As for the .co.uk web address the op mentioned...yes that's true but it's obvious it's in Germany from the moment your start to order....or just read the small print. More annoying is that they use about 14 DIFFERENT ones......OK the sites all look pretty much the same, just different colour but even so....... it just reaks of dishonesty to me.i did have a list of all their trading names....can't find it now. I use Parts in motion quite s bit.

 

[W1ghty]

I’ve used them 17 times since 2020 .
On the positives I’ve saved hundreds of pounds to keep running both Mercs on the cheap (but using quality parts)
Negatives , yes they take 8-10 days , but I’m DIY so the money saving is more important .
The one return I had was a right pain but it did get refunded .
I do cross check the info on parts across numerous sources before ordering , but even incorrect parts supplied from UK suppliers as well.
I can’t imagine how anyone in the trade could possibly use them becuase of the delays .
Anything in car parts ordering is a steep learning curve , good luck op .

 

[DSM10000]

Hello all,
so following my other post where I'm doing the cam chain and gears on my 2010 E220cdi, I ordered from Autodoc (previously ordered the tensioner with no issues) a Febi timing gear kit.
I have now, after googling, found out other people with autodoc order problems and issues with refunding - I have just opened a case with them and they ask to post to Germany! it's a co.uk website, nowhere it says they are in germany!
If anyone has advice on the refund/post, is appreciated, maybe threaten them with something? trading standards for operating under co.uk and misleading?

Anyway, my issue.

I ordered the kit that says it fits my car, got it today and the camshaft gears is nowhere the same!
Their mistake? I ordered this kit here - https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/19921102#timing-chain-kit
It clearly says construction year to 12/2011
what are these cam gears they sent of??? anyone knows? photo attached

and now searching about on the internet, hoping to find some in the UK, I came across partsinmotion website, put my reg plate on it and booomm - one of their listings show a photo of a kit with the timing gears I need. Photo attached.
but.. if I scroll down on the list, it shows the Febi kit, with the photo with the gears I got from Autodoc and construction year to 12/2011.... so.. what's going on??

was hoping to get the car going again this weekend and now I'm stuck..

and I know, order Mercedes.... thing is I bought the car cheap and I do like 10k miles a year and wasn't really planning on spending a lot of money on it, sometimes aftermarket parts are just the same, just not branded.

any UK website I could get a kit ordered quick?
I'll spend the money now to get the car going and then focus on the fight with Autodoc.

thanks!

All you can do is follow their lengthy returns process.

What can you threaten them with? The parent company is in Germany. The website is confusing but it quickly becomes apparent that the parts are supplied from Germany.

If you paid by credit card then you can reclaim on that if they delay or refuse to refund you.

 

[JP79]

yes same here, I'm DIY mechanic and the prices were very appealing..

on good news, just spent 10min with their advisor on the chat and explained I didnt have a clue it was in germany, that their website showed me the wrong kit, etc... and they have issued as gesture of good will a label for free shipping back to germany (I didn't know about clicking safe order so it would be free to ship back)
I'm not worried about the time will take to get money back, as long as I get the money back.

I will go to Mercedes today and ask how much for the cam gears and timing chain.
But in my mind I think "if going to get genuine parts, I should be doing the whole thing, not just cam gears and chain".
but... getting the engine out is something I don't want to do, car was cheap, just not worth it.

Anyway... Autodoc chat person said never rely just on what is shown, always check everything against OEN numbers and double check with them as well.

She's also getting the tech department to check all the parts needed against my VIN and send over on email.
If I'll order from them again...that's a question mark.

Another question, is there somewhere with a OEN parts numbers a guy can look up?
I'm used to my american classics and classic harleys and only I can easily find exploded diagram of all components with part numbers, which then I use to buy aftermarket parts from W&W in germany - yeh you dont want to go buy genuine harley parts, specially for bikes from 1950, hard to find and mega expensive!

 

[Petrol Pete]

I too have used AutoDoc a number of times (I was aware that they are in Germany) and , as said, they are OK if you are in no hurry and ,personally, I never use just the Reg of the car to order parts . JP79 I feel for you , but it's a lesson learned.

 

[colinallcars]

yes same here, I'm DIY mechanic and the prices were very appealing..

on good news, just spent 10min with their advisor on the chat and explained I didnt have a clue it was in germany, that their website showed me the wrong kit, etc... and they have issued as gesture of good will a label for free shipping back to germany (I didn't know about clicking safe order so it would be free to ship back)
I'm not worried about the time will take to get money back, as long as I get the money back.

I will go to Mercedes today and ask how much for the cam gears and timing chain.
But in my mind I think "if going to get genuine parts, I should be doing the whole thing, not just cam gears and chain".
but... getting the engine out is something I don't want to do, car was cheap, just not worth it.

Anyway... Autodoc chat person said never rely just on what is shown, always check everything against OEN numbers and double check with them as well.

She's also getting the tech department to check all the parts needed against my VIN and send over on email.
If I'll order from them again...that's a question mark.

Another question, is there somewhere with a OEN parts numbers a guy can look up?
I'm used to my american classics and classic harleys and only I can easily find exploded diagram of all components with part numbers, which then I use to buy aftermarket parts from W&W in germany - yeh you dont want to go buy genuine harley parts, specially for bikes from 1950, hard to find and mega expensive!

Partsouq.com is a good place to start but if your engine has been swapped then it will give wrong information.

 

[JP79]

After more investigation, I don't think the engine been swapped.
is just autodoc and other websites, if you use their search functions is not reliable.

after my chat with autodoc this morning, i got a further email from their tech team with all the correct parts and their associated OEN
So basically in autodoc, you can put your VIN number, it will show a kit that fits, but then you have to individually go into each part in that kit and see if it fits your car - bit stupid in my opinion, should just show a kit where all individual parts fit my car.

so what they replied back with being the correct timing kit is a different kit to the 2 I had seen, but on this kit, all individual parts show as fitting my car and the OEN also match.
for example, in autodoc, febi timing kit 44971, shows that fits my car, but then you go on timing chain in that kit, click that - shows it doesnt fit. the chain won't be for my car.
but the kit they advised on email, Febi 49211, all individual parts fit my car when looked at individually.

further more, when you compare these 2 kits - 44971 and 49211 - all the parts in the kit are exactly the same numbers.... except the timing chain. that's why the 49211 is the one to chose.

very very confusing that's for sure.
lesson learnt.
at least got free shipping back to germany and will eventually get my money back. can't really complain about their response on that.

hope this helps someone else not to fall into the same error as me.

please note, on my post #2, the kit I mention is also incorrect because the chain in that kit is not the right one.