Aftermarket parts not worth it.

[Ian-G1]

I picked up a cheap C220 (2010) about a month or so ago. Had quite a few faults but low mileage.
But will I ever learn! It started with a cheap DPF Sensor on eBay for £20 …that didn’t work. Went to Mercedes and got the correct part and paid c£90. That worked in so far as a sensor fault was solved.
Fuel filter housing leaking, replaced with a cheap one from eBay £20 - fine until the coolant system was pressure tested ..leaked!!. Mercedes only £43 for the genuine fuel filter housing - I fitted that and the leak cured.
Needed new hub assemblies …went to Autodoc for what I thought was a bargain at £50 per hub. Got ESP and ABS faults and the brake calliper bracket needed washers to stop it catching the disks. So back to Mercedes for the entire hub assemblies x2 £380. Those worked.

I still have the differential pressure warning and I’ve tried everything I can think of….including a forced regen ,(according to my scanner soot and ash are optimal) , no leaking sensor hoses, renewed with genuine Mercedes ones this time to rule that out. I’ve had the EGR off and cleaned with Wynns DPF cleaner. Also DPF cleaner down the sensors tubes. Wired in a new updated Mercedes socket for the sensors as well..all to no avail. If it’s a cracked DPF then Mercedes want £780 - aftermarket at £500.

Think I’ve learned my lesson now. The lure of saving £££s has been a false economy in my case, not to mention the labour involved which granted I do myself but it’s very time consuming.
Just a heads up for those thinking aftermarket will save money, in my case it has cost me a lot more.

 

[DSK]

My experience is, not specific to Merc, that some aftermarket parts can be better than original but they won’t be cheap! Some aftermarket parts just are made of the same materials quality and/or machine exactly as per the original.


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[onefortheroad]

Anything electrical or to do with water works I shop at a main dealer.

differential pressure warning , part will need teaching in with Icarsoft or similar.

 

[EmilysDad]

.....
Just a heads up for those thinking aftermarket will save money, in my case it has cost me a lot more.

..... which is why I buy OE brake discs

 

[Ian-G1]

My experience is, not specific to Merc, that some aftermarket parts can be better than original but they won’t be cheap! Some aftermarket parts just are made of the same materials quality and/or machine exactly as per the original.


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Anything electrical or to do with water works I shop at a main dealer.

differential pressure warning , part will need teaching in with Icarsoft or similar.

I have the Launch 129 Evo. Not sure if that option is available.
I have done a lot of reading about replacing the sensor and I read that the DPF Sensor doesn't need to be taught in. I hope its just that though but it could be a leak in the air intake system. Today I had the hoses off, tried yet another DPF Sensor - a new Bosch and no difference. Since clamping the hoses with better clips I am getting 0.12 bar on full boost which is the best I've seen on live data. Still the DTC pops up. It's in at Autoclass in Milton Keynes next Monday as I have literally tried everything I can think of, short of removing the DPF and manually cleaning off car, which isn't an option for me as I don't have access to a lift.

 

[onefortheroad]

I have the Launch 129 Evo. Not sure if that option is available.
I have done a lot of reading about replacing the sensor and I read that the DPF Sensor doesn't need to be taught in. I hope its just that though but it could be a leak in the air intake system. Today I had the hoses off, tried yet another DPF Sensor - a new Bosch and no difference. Since clamping the hoses with better clips I am getting 0.12 bar on full boost which is the best I've seen on live data. Still the DTC pops up. It's in at Autoclass in Milton Keynes next Monday as I have literally tried everything I can think of, short of removing the DPF and manually cleaning off car, which isn't an option for me as I don't have access to a lift.

Dpf may well be crystal clear , if a new sensor isn't ran through an adaptation,the ECU remembers the failed values of the old one. It's a Pandora's box tbh , the dp sensor should see close to zero on live data + - 0.004 . The rubber hoses can even block up.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I learnt that lesson many years ago running BL and Ford cars even OEM were troublesome at times but aftermarket were made from poor quality materials and manufacturing tolerances. Wind the clock on 40 years and the same applies but modern EU compliant diesels are so complicated that it’s not worth the risk with anything other than OEM especially engine parts and sensors.

 

[Trev1964]

My biggest issue these days is fake parts.
At least buying from Mercedes, you should be able to count on the supply chain.

Had Brembo discs warp in just a few thousand miles on one of my Mercs.
Turned out to be fake.
They were bought through a reputable supplier.
Brembo confirmed they were fake parts.

****** nightmare these days.

 

[JBell]

I have used many aftermarket parts, not really had any issues:

Brakes - Brembo, Pagid (Make the OEM)
Suspension arms - Lemforder (make the OEM), GSF Premium
EGR - Lucas

 

[sonic]

Back in the 60's, 70's, 80's & 90's when I did my own servicing I always used aftermarket parts, I can't remember having any issues.
Since 2001 when I bought my first Mercedes, it been dealer servicing, except for a set of discs & pads all around on my 212. These were aftermarket parts fitted by my local trusted garage over 2 years ago, no issues so far. Cost £450 which is well over half what Mercedes would charge.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Think I’ve learned my lesson now. The lure of saving £££s has been a false economy in my case, not to mention the labour involved which granted I do myself but it’s very time consuming.
Just a heads up for those thinking aftermarket will save money, in my case it has cost me a lot more.

Every time I have bought used car parts from eBay, they are either terrible quality, or just as broken as the original broken part.

The reason they are cheap on eBay, is because they do not work. People sell broken parts mail order because they know they can get away with it. "It worked fine when I had it" or they just hide the word "untested" in the description, which is code for "broken". You are not going to return it to Latvia, or Belfast, and they know that.

It is also really tempting to play parts darts and keep replacing parts that were not the problem, instead of getting a proper diagnosis.
The thing is, it is so easy these days to order parts from the comfort of your armchair.

If it looks fine in the photo, it must work,. Nope.

 

[onefortheroad]

Every time I have bought used car parts from eBay, they are either terrible quality, or just as broken as the original broken part.

The reason they are cheap on eBay, is because they do not work. People sell broken parts mail order because they know they can get away with it. "It worked fine when I had it" or they just hide the word "untested" in the description, which is code for "broken". You are not going to return it to Latvia, or Belfast, and they know that.

It is also really tempting to play parts darts and keep replacing parts that were not the problem, instead of getting a proper diagnosis.
The thing is, it is so easy these days to order parts from the comfort of your armchair.

If it looks fine in the photo, it must work,. Nope.

Used parts are different to aftermarket parts though , Shirley?

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

Old adage, buy cheap buy twice

 

[Blobcat]

Old adage, buy cheap buy twice

I don’t mind paying, I don’t like paying twice - is another way of putting it (and one I use regularly)

 

[DSK]

My experience is, not specific to Merc, that some aftermarket parts can be better than original but they won’t be cheap! Some aftermarket parts just are made of the same materials quality and/or machine exactly as per the original.


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Didn’t realise I hadn’t corrected this. It should have read that the not so good aftermarket parts, I have found to have not been machined like the originals and of lesser quality materials.

As for OEM brakes, let’s not forget the death trap original MB units I had started disintegrating the moment they were fitted. The aftermarket ECP sourced Brembos work spot and on all cars over used them have been durable.


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[Dean Fletcher]

Didn’t realise I hadn’t corrected this. It should have read that the not so good aftermarket parts, I have found to have not been machined like the originals and of lesser quality materials.

As for OEM brakes, let’s not forget the death trap original MB units I had started disintegrating the moment they were fitted. The aftermarket ECP sourced Brembos work spot and on all cars over used them have been durable.


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Brembos get a bad rep but iv never had an issue with them

 

[DSK]

Brembos get a bad rep but iv never had an issue with them

Don’t know why as I have ran Brembo discs and pads ECP sourced on many cars without issue. On the Volvo’s I have run the Brembo Max discs with Ferodo DS2500 and Carbotech XP8 and 10 pads (those who know, know what these pads are), on road and track without issue. Even on standard ATE and Brembo discs this combo was reliable.


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[onefortheroad]

Brembos get a bad rep but iv never had an issue with them

Recently changed all 4 corners on my GLC 350 for brembo. Spot on.

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Recently changed all 4 corners on my GLC 350 for brembo. Spot on.

Yeah iv had mine now for couple thousand miles and all good

 

[AnthonyUK]

There's been some discussion previously about Brembo and it appears they are not always what they once were.
I understand they make some products for ECP which appear to be lesser quality and do not always follow Brembo's own genuine product checks e.g. no holograms, QR codes and no laser engraved IDs.
I have fitted Brembo to my C240 6 years ago and they are still perfectly fine.
I also fitted some of the ECP Brembo discs and pads to my daughters A3 and they were also OK for the year or two before she sold it.

Unless I could be sure of the authenticity in the future I would likely look for Pagid, ATE or one of the other better suppliers.
For brakes it is just not the thing to gamble with.