My order from FCP Groton arrived today.

Part of the $472US order was hydraulic engine mounts for my 93 940. FCP Groton's online description for the mounts is 'German OEM'. The mounts I've been sent are Scantech.

Do I have reason for concern?

Thanks in advance,
John H from Downunder

Motor mounts remain a mystery, at least to me. Some folks claim Volvo mounts are better. eEuroparts.com claim their Febi/Bilstein (East Germany) are Volvo original. That may be what you got from FCPG. I bought a set of Scantech without researching and they seem fine…so far. Don’t ask me to measure the pan to the rubber bumper, though. I’ll probably use the F/B next time I order mounts.

Give FCPG a call and ask them if they are the Febi/Bilstein.

Replacing the tranny mount too? The rubber in the two I had replaced on a ’93 and ’95 were badly cracked.
--
Tom F. Three 940s. One down. Mods, RainX. Lien holder on two more (the kid's). Rust In Pieces, '78 245

Thanks Tom and Bruce.

Been told by Nick Bauer at FCP...... 'the mounts in the Scan Tech bags are made by CRP which is OEM'. Research indicates that CRP,Conti,Conti Tech and Continental are under the same corporation umbrella.

They have no markings of any kind to indicate place of manufacture, brand or part no. apart from the Scan Tech packaging. Having had good dealings with Grotons and Nick, I have no reason to doubt his word. But, must say I would not have made the purchase, a pair for my wife's car as well as mine, if I had have known Scan Tech was involved. A friend needed to replace Scan Tech mounts after only 2 years.

Chose to have them sent surface mail. They took 11 weeks to arrive. My relief on them finally arriving, turned to disappointment when I saw Scan Tech!

Intend to replace the transmission mounts at the same time. They are MTC.

Take care,
John H from Downunder

QUOTE: "Research indicates that CRP,Conti,Conti Tech and Continental are under the same corporation umbrella."

I know nothing about the specifics of the products made by these companies, but your logic does not necessarily apply in today's corporate culture. For instance Ford and Volvo are "under the same corporate umbrella." So are Mercedes and Chrysler. Would you even consider owning a Ford or a Chrysler? (Me neither!)
For decades, Sony Trinitron TVs were widely considered the best you could buy. Even their bottom-of-the-line sets were well made -- and priced accordingly. But they relized that there was a market (a BIG market) for low cost TVs. So they outsource poorly made TVs and slap a Sony logo on them. If you buy one of these TVs thinking you're getting a Sony, you're going to be disappointed. But hey, you spent $100 on the set, not $300 like you would have for a "real" Sony.
My point is that it is getting more and more difficult to shop by brand. Even companies that have historically been "quality" companies, are diversifying to meet the ever-increasing market share of customers who shop EXCLUSIVELY by price. These customers are the reason Wal-Mart is the number-one retailer in the world.

Jeff Pierce

--
'93 945 Turbo ( one kickass family car ! ), '92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece -- sold to a loving home), '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow

Ugh - sorry to hear of your dilemma.

Scantech stuff is sourced from whomever can supply it. Some are good parts, some are barely suitable, and some are downright atrocious. So perhaps indeed that these are German made parts - Meyle is one company comes to mind. IIRC, the last Meyle parts I had (strut rod bushings) were marked as such (Meyle, Germany). Came with a ST tag/part number, though.

FWIW, MTC parts have an even worse reputation than Scantech here ... strut mount bearings that failed (sending the struts into the hood) and hoses that leaked right from the get-go (especially turbo hoses). Hopefully, that mount holds up better, though.

-- Kane
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

Yeah, MTC seems about as low as you can go.

I bought a tranny mount and a crank pully from FCPG (both MTC). The tranny mount crapped out real quick, or so it seems (I still haven't taken it off, but the tranny is really banging around.. much worse than before). I never bothered to install the crank pulley because the MTC one doesn't look like it will fit without work (big burr on the inside).

I bought replacement mounts locally (engine and tranny this time) from RPR (they were ST). Hopefully I'll have a chance to install them this weekend. Rusty swears that he's had good luck with the ST mounts (and crank pulleys). While I don't really trust ST quality, I don't want to jump for Volvo prices either. At least if I have a problem with something I purchased locally, I can go back and raise a stink in person and get a replacement same-day.

--
alex

'89 765T, 174,0xx mi

I've had good experience with Borton Volvo (www.borton.com) A bit pricier but the parts are genuine Volvo and you do the job once.

Good Luck.

Having emailed my concern to Nick at FCP. His response.......

'The Scan Tech are definitely CRPS. I have compared the ones that came from Scan Tech and Febi and they are both CRP inside the box. CRP is the original supplier for Volvo, so those are definitely not aftermarket'

It seems that Scan Tech must be sourcing engine mounts from different manufacturers.

As stated earlier, I have no reason to doubt Nick's word, as all business dealings with FCP and Nick have been honourable. They are good people to do business with.

Take care,
John H from Downunder

To my knowledge, Scantech is (now) a low-price aftermarket supplier who gets parts from all over. If they ever were a Manufacturer, I doubt they made Volvo OE.

I got mounts for my '93 940 from FCP last year. I think the website said "German Made" at the time. What I got had no name or origin info. They lifted the engine but did little to reduce vibration. I replaced them with Volvo OE mounts and got a drastic improvement.

I had similar experiences with the Crank pulley and Heater hoses, and am becoming a believer in "you get what you pay for". I no longer shop for price if it takes over an hour to replace, or should last 50K or more.

And I'm about to replace a "new" AC condenser that got used about 3 months late last year, but now shows a core leak.. FCP will replace it at no cost, but how long will the next one last? I don't need this hassle this every spring. This one came from Chile, it's replacement will come from Volvo.

FCP is not a scam outfit, and will get what you ask for, even Volvo OE. But IMO, you did not get what was advertised.
--
Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

I think you always get what was advertised. You just need to inquire further. OEM no longer means blue volvo box. You can get OEM from almost any place and get shoddy parts. Advanced Auto has sold me warped OEM rotors before. Nick will get you genuine volvo parts for almost anything you want, you just have to wait and pay.
-Gil

"I think you always get what was advertised. You just need to inquire further."
I'd like to believe that, but "German made" parts with no Manufacturer's identity marks or country of origin labelling makes me skeptical these days.

"OEM no longer means blue volvo box."
In my experience it never did. The blue box parts were and are "OE", for Original Equipment.

The much abused term "OEM" once stood for Original Equipment Manufacturer, some one who actually made and supplied the OE parts to Volvo. And that Manufacturer would be identified (Ate, Boge, Conti, etc.). But now "OEM" has become meaningless jargon. Did Advance Auto tell you who Manufactured your warped "OEM" rotors?

"Nick will get you genuine volvo parts for almost anything you want, you just have to wait and pay."
I know—I don't blame Nick. His service is excellent. It's the whole aftermarket, off-shore, low-buck scene, compounded by bastardized and misused terms that ticks me off.
--
Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.