Genuine or aftermarket replacements

[Jim Gallagher]

Guys,

Will shortly be replacing 2 front wings and bonnet. MB panels are twice the cost of replacements from say Euro parts. My car is a 1994 E220. In a word what should I buy

Genuine MB panels or aftermarket replacements

 

[mercmonkey]

aftermarket or pattern parts sometimes need a bit of persuading to fit, although ive had the same problem with genuine parts in the past (not MB ones admittedly) but in my limited experience genuine parts are normally a slightly better fit. Material quality wise i dont think theres a lot in it

So if you dont mind spending a bit more time in fitting then id go for the pattern ones

 

[tom7035]

Put a pattern front wing on mine a year or so ago, fitted perfectly. Price then if I recall was £26.00 inc. VAT & carriage. Paid great attention though to undersealing treatment before fitting.

 

[television]

I go along with both Tom and Mercmonkey, it is a well known fact that pattern parts can be more of a pain to fit, if you have the time and are not to fussy on perfection. For a simple bolt on use a genuine part and it goes straight on, maybe more to do with value of car at the time of replacement.

Malcolm

 

[clive williams]

aftermarket or pattern parts sometimes need a bit of persuading to fit, although ive had the same problem with genuine parts in the past (not MB ones admittedly) but in my limited experience genuine parts are normally a slightly better fit. Material quality wise i dont think theres a lot in it

So if you dont mind spending a bit more time in fitting then id go for the pattern ones

Pattern body parts are usually produced on the moulds that the genuine suppliers have finished with. I wouldn't say they were worn out but the tolerences are probably a little slack and beyond what the car manufacturers will accept for franchise parts - hence why they need a bit of persuasion to fit occasionally. It all depends on how much effort you're willing to expend to get it to an acceptable finish.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[stever]

pattern wings can have a higher scrap content in the metal, and are often thinner. Personally, I would look for good second hand panels.

 

[clive williams]

pattern wings can have a higher scrap content in the metal, and are often thinner. Personally, I would look for good second hand panels.

Friend of mine used to rally a Lada (don't laugh - I didn't after a quick ride, very impressed) and was fanatical about saving weight on it e.g cutting all bolts down to the minimum length necessary etc. He had genuine Fiat wings as these were half the thickness of the Lada ones and 50% lighter than the pattern ones. You could press the sides in with your finger. In fact, he used to tell anyone off who leaned on the front wing!

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Charlotte001]

MB most of the time play on the name. I was quoted £359.00+Vat for a set of HT leads today simply because they're MB parts think they're £43.00 from Euro Parts. Depends if you have the money to buy genuine parts or just need a part pattern parts are as good as the real thing.

Charlotte