The Latest Tactic In Mercedes Dealer Scare-Mongering...

[Deleted member 37751]

Not a great photo (I was trying to be incognito) but the general theme to this bit of marketing was to not only 'promote' main dealer servicing parts etc but to denigrate 'aftermarket' parts.

The first example at the top is the Mercedes filter (Mann) on the left and a Bosch filter (in this case the 'aftermarket' part) on the right.

Now if I was going to attack 'aftermarket' suppliers, I'd have chosen some Chinese fake crap, NOT someone that manufacturers other parts for myself.

Just like the CPS that I was picking up, made by... a certain company by the name of Bosch...

 

[jaymanek]

I cant really see what they will achieve, most of the items look identical!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I cant really see what they will achieve, most of the items look identical!

I said to the parts bloke 'what's wrong with Bosch fuel filters?' he just grinned at me in a knowing way.

 

[dan1502]

They should have shown a genuine Mercedes R129 pollen filter and the ECP cheap option. I bought the latter as it was the only one available at the time whilst I was working on the car and it was utter rubbish. No plastic moulding around it and a rubbish fit such that air could go around the edges without even being filtered. I took it back and bought a genuine one.

 

[Deleted member 55947]

Which side of the board would an SBC unit be?

 

[jaymanek]

They should have shown a genuine Mercedes R129 pollen filter and the ECP cheap option. I bought the latter as it was the only one available at the time whilst I was working on the car and it was utter rubbish. No plastic moulding around it and a rubbish fit such that air could go around the edges without even being filtered. I took it back and bought a genuine one.

I think ECP have the option of a better one, I had the same issue.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Which side of the board would an SBC unit be?

Iirc the SBC unit is made by Bosch!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

They should have shown a genuine Mercedes R129 pollen filter and the ECP cheap option.

Which is exactly my point, attack the cheap crap, not one of your own suppliers!

I wonder what Bosch make of it...

 

[MercFanUk]

From a distance I imagine that would look more like a sales stand, offering both genuine and non gen parts... which would defeat the point of it!

 

[dokalj]

I cant really see what they will achieve, most of the items look identical!

The objective is to inform the customer there is hardly any difference between the two, except MB inflated prices

 

[bernie driscoll]

I wonder what Bosch make of it...

Bosch aftermarket vs Bosch OEM, Bosch aftermarket filters are made in India.

 

[mebs]

i saw that stand on show at mercedes benz Blackburn on tuesday, it was`nt all that impressive. comparitives were based on quality but failed to show prices as that would have been the decider for many...some were even missing probably been nicked.

 

[GreetMe]

They should have a Whoopee cushion next to an Airmatic suspension pump. "We'll let you decide which one does a better job."

 

[MercFanUk]

Actually, it would be quite an interesting experiment if you replaced as many consumables as possible on one out of two identical cars, and then tested out the differences.

 

[LTD]

Maybe they should put an aftermarket body panel on the display .....

 

[MercFanUk]

Maybe they should put an aftermarket body panel on the display .....

And watch their own genuine panel rust while that one doesn't? haha

 

[tallgeese]

I tend to buy mintex brake components and k&n filters can't say I have ever had any issues??

 

[dan1502]

I think ECP have the option of a better one, I had the same issue.

They do but that wasn't in stock at the time and I wanted to get the job done. As the website had no picture I couldn't tell what it was like. With hindsight I should have opened the box and taken a look whilst I was there.

 

[grober]

They should tell you that you also get a nice box with a "hologram thingy" on it ---although occasionally it has been known that the box has oily fingerprints on it and the hologram thingy is mended with sellotape.

 

[kth286]

I cant really see what they will achieve, most of the items look identical!

I think that is probably the whole point.

You cannot tell a book by looking at the cover !!!!!!!!!

It what's inside and how it's been designed to a stringent specification
to do a certain job that's important.

Will it stand the test of time for another 15 years ? I guess that's the question.

I always buy the genuine article from the Merc dealer and I square it in my mind as follows:

I consider I am paying a premium to an insurance policy, as well as the cost of the part, when I buy the genuine article from the Merc dealer.

The insurance premium is the type that is always guranteed to pay out, because in my experience, I know the part will fit first time every time; it will perform exactly as Merc intended, and the same as the part I just replaced; and the part WILL last and continue to perform exactly as required for the
next 15 years.