Vaico Transmission Filter

[spock500]

Hi folks,

Does anyone know if Vaico Transmission Filter's are OEM parts? if not, any comments as to quality?

Thanks

 

[spock500]

Not mine but an endorsement I guess.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Vaico/Automatic_Transmission_Filter/W0133-1840168.html

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=115393

 

[grober]

Not OEM manufacturers but after market rebranders. http://www.vierol.de/en/vierol-ag/headquarter

 

[spock500]

Cheers for the link.

They look ok, with quite a long history.

Conversion and reduction of product range to a special line with own quality brands VAICO and VEMO for chassis and engine parts as well as automotive electrical and electronic components, sensors and air-conditioning, primarily for AUDI/VW, BMW and MERCEDES BENZ.

This step made the company independent of the major companies dominating the automotive supplier market.

Foundation of VIEROL Asia Ltd. in Singapore for commercial activities in Asia, especially China and Japan, and Autralia / New Sealand.

 

[grober]

Personally I always think for parts you change that are------- long term/inaccessible/ involve lots of labour----- its false economy not to buy the best quality= OEM or MB

 

[spock500]

I agree, it's just not worth the hassle fitting sub standard parts.

 

[Silver_Star]

I fitted one to mine 25k miles ago with no issues.

 

[Frontstep]

Who says MB parts are always better ?
I have no doubt they sometimes treat their parts suppliers with the same disdain they treat their customers.
Think of the repeated failures from suspension to SBC units are they always the best ?
By all means buy the best for your car irrespective of cost but don't think it always has to have an MB badge on it.
My 210 has had an awful lot of MB genuine parts replaced repeatedly.

 

[television]

Who says MB parts are always better ?
I have no doubt they sometimes treat their parts suppliers with the same disdain they treat their customers.
Think of the repeated failures from suspension to SBC units are they always the best ?
By all means buy the best for your car irrespective of cost but don't think it always has to have an MB badge on it.
My 210 has had an awful lot of MB genuine parts replaced repeatedly.

I agree completely, just take drop links, OK not that expensive but still have to be fitted, they never fail in a Volvo under 150k miles or more, ok they cost a little more than the Mercedes version. To have all these strut ball joints fail at 50 k is a bit sick.

The worst bit is regarding the hydraulic / airmatic struts, Mercedes started to make repair kits and the tools to fit them, but it all got dropped.

Take valve blocks on ABC, we know the sensors can fail, and dead easy to screw in, but now they are no longer supplied and you have to buy the complete valve block at some £500 more.

 

[grober]

Given the choice between a "Rebrander " and a known manufacturer such as Hengst Mahle or Knecht [ OEM for MERC] I know which one I would choose. The rebranded one might be fine or a cheap Far East knock off you don't know . Autotransmission filter= maybe a difference of £20 in price and you're going to change it possibly twice if that during your ownership . New gearbox _____£1000+++

 

[spock500]

I don't think you can adopt a general rule with this sort of thing. MB for the most part (excuse the pun) are not component manufactures and instead sub out to smaller suppliers.

In reality there isn't a MB part, only a manufactured part which may or may not have their brand stamped on the side.

The only parts you can really say are MB is the body shell and panels where I would definitely go for MB over a pattern panel.

A lot of people will opt for genuine MB parts to preserve the integrity and value of their car. They may also be unable to make a judgment call as to the quality of non MB components, having an engineering background (as I do) helps enormously in this respect.

I also rely heavily on forum feedback such as the comment above from Silver Star, that speaks volumes as does other research comments http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w124-e-ce-d-td-class/1755434-722-4-atf-specs.html

Overall the saving on an ATF change over MB prices was around £75, thanks to other members

 

[whitenemesis]

Some buy MB parts because they know they have been manufactured by a MB subcontracted supplier to and tested against MB's specification. Not something one can say for 3rd party suppliers.

 

[Frontstep]

Taking the above two posts, as a 210 owner if a aftermarket supplier produced properly galvanised panels for my car that fitted well I would not hesitate to buy them in preference to the Mercedes specification original panels they fitted to my car from new.

 

[grober]

http://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.co...r/specs/detail.xhtml?subId=14&filterId=166684

MAHLE Aftermarket Ltd, Springvale Business Park Springvale Avenue Bilston West Midlands WV14 0QL Phone: +44-845-688 50 07 Fax: +44-845-688 50 09 Email

 

[television]

I spent ages doing a guide for the fluids used in all the gearboxes and it has been taken away, took me ages to do it.

It was a sticky and gone now

 

[spock500]

Maybe we could start a sticky with after market parts with comments as to suitability.

I haven't tried Vaico before but will report back as to compatibility/overall quality. Items I have used for a number of years: Hengst/Pagid/Triple X oils and fluids.

>grober, The head gasket set along with other bits came direct from MAHLE, excellent quality.

 

[spock500]

Today I received my delivery of parts from CP4L.

Most of the service items for my S124 restoration are Hengst with the exception of pre-filter and auto filter mentioned above, both these are Vaico.

Commenting on quality, finish and general feel they are both comparable to MB OEM parts. Bear in mind they are filters so hopefully not too much in the way of complexity, you can also see the filter inside the steel enclosure for the auto box which helps asses quality.

Obviously I have no way of measuring performance but visually there is no discernible difference from an OEM part.

Aluminium washers were included with the auto box filter but unfortunately no pre-filter O ring, although this maybe supplied with the main filter, need to check.

Cost wise, the pre-filter was around 80% cheaper with the auto box filter 65% to the better.

Let me know if a sticky is on the cards as I will take a few detailed photos to accompany the above.

 

[ShivaYash]

I fitted the vaico transmission filter to my car and regret it. At the next service I'm swapping it out for a proper mb one.

I too felt the vaico was of a decent quality but I'm not happy with the transmission changes and can't help but felt the issue could be resolved with an original filter.

Silly mistake.

 

[spock500]

I fitted the vaico transmission filter to my car and regret it. At the next service I'm swapping it out for a proper mb one.

I too felt the vaico was of a decent quality but I'm not happy with the transmission changes and can't help but felt the issue could be resolved with an original filter.

Silly mistake.

Unless you have lots of debris particles swirling around it's unlikely to cause poor shift changes. What ATF did you use?

 

[ShivaYash]

Unless you have lots of debris particles swirling around it's unlikely to cause poor shift changes. What ATF did you use?

MB fluid, apparently. I'll ring the garage to double check.