What parts to use. Dealers or Aftermarket

[L_A]

I am debating on whether to use dealer or aftermarket parts in my car at the moment i am getting done bottomball joints, droplinks and anti rollbar bushes for a w210 e class. My indie uses aftermarket parts from europarts or other motor factors that he can probably get cheap from i prefer dealer parts as i belive you pay for what you get is this true or will aftermarket parts do the same job.

I am definatly not happy with the after market brake pads my inde fitted as they screech and move in the caliper when reversing. first set of aftermarket pads i have used thats why i am debating on this issue of using aftermarket parts any views??

 

[L_A]

Also how much should i be paying a indie to do the above work prices with parts supplied and without parts supplied?

Thanks..

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

Hi L_A

I have had some of this work done. I think they used OEM parts which cost:

Anti roll bar bushes 7.99 each
Ball joints £58.75 for the pair

I would go for OEM parts as the relative savings are small compared to the hassle if they do not fit correctly.

I can not comment on the labour as it was combined with other work.

Regards

Peter

 

[L_A]

thanks peter,

the indie says that he makes a lot of his money from the parts however like you say i prefer to use dealer parts however the indie quoted me 170 inclusive of parts and 150 labour if i supplied the parts ? The parts cost me from the stealer 75 pound so i would be looking at 225 using dealer parts however who knows whether the indie will fit the parts i supply ?????

 

[WLeg]

If you can't trust the Indie to fit parts you supply... walk away....

What kind of warrenty will you get with his parts as opposed to OEM ( and I would like to hear the excuse about not providing a warrenty with OEM parts anyay)...

Personlly for the £55.00 difference ( not even a tank of fuel) I would go OEM with a Trusted Indie...

 

[rajinder_1]

with brake pads and discs, you can buy textar and ate, which are oem from eurocar parts, they are the brands which supply MB, i have used the so called after marked pads but only the ones that are used by MB.
They are alot cheaper but same quality.
Ball joints etc i would go dealer for probably as these are longer lasting parts and i would prefer to know that the part is of good quality

Raj

 

[BlackC55]

Athough Textar and Ate make the OEM parts for MB cars the pad compound is very different to the aftermarket pads they make for MB cars. The compound is much harder on the aftermarket pads. This is a common misconception.

If at all possible stick to genuine parts because you get what you pay for

 

[Gollom]

Athough Textar and Ate make the OEM parts for MB cars the pad compound is very different to the aftermarket pads they make for MB cars. The compound is much harder on the aftermarket pads. This is a common misconception.

If at all possible stick to genuine parts because you get what you pay for

As someone who does not know much about this kind of thing, why would softer compound be better? Logic would suggest that harder is better?

Thanks

 

[BlackC55]

Softer is better due to it having more "grip" and less wear on the disc. Saves maintenence cost.

 

[BlackC55]

Oh and softer pads tend to squeek less.............

 

[Gollom]

Softer is better due to it having more "grip" and less wear on the disc. Saves maintenence cost.

OK - I get it. Replacing pads is cheper than replacing disks. Thanks for the info.

"He who asks is a fool for 5 minutes - he who does not ask is a fool forever"

 

[1998K]

Athough Textar and Ate make the OEM parts for MB cars the pad compound is very different to the aftermarket pads they make for MB cars. The compound is much harder on the aftermarket pads. This is a common misconception.

If at all possible stick to genuine parts because you get what you pay for

I've changed the pads on my previous W202 and I've installed Textar, I confirm that my feeling was completly different from previous factory pads, they were harder!

you confirm my feeling, thanks

 

[G40]

Bottom balljoints are .8 hrs to do each.
1.3 hrs to do the link rods and bar bushes.
So main dealer would charge you approx £300 plus vat.
Your indie is charging you 50/hr, so not a bad price for installlation.
And yes, for the small saving, always go for main dealer parts. They will include a 2 year warranty, and the bottom balljoints are very important components

 

[LeighW]

I am definatly not happy with the after market brake pads my inde fitted as they screech and move in the caliper when reversing.

I had the same, they're soon to be swapped for MB ones.

 

[74merc]

I got some dealer supplied pads fitted to my e320 coupe. They squeal when reversing, I think it's more to do with how they're installed rather than with the pad itself.

 

[BlackC55]

How they are installed plays a very small part. The main cause of brake squeel are:

Pad make and pad compound

Lip on the disc

 

[L_A]

well the indie did say that he used textar pads which another member on here has just confirmed are also supplied by mercedes however another member says they are of different qualitys. I will also be changing my pads and disks allround however will get them done off a friend of mine rather than the indie as he is a lot cheaper and knows what he is doing and you dont need to be a specialist in mercs to do the brakes . . however i prefer to leave the car with the indie for other jobs such as the work i am about to get carried out as i know they will know exactly what they are doing as they have done soo many.. If i left it with another independant garage they may have never worked on one before and just make a mess of it which could cost me more in the long run getting it put right..