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Hi:
Just bought some parts from Pelican, fairly fast delivery - about as fast as eeuro, who are great.
febi/bilstein motor and trans mounts, product says Germany, sticker on box says India.I bought because of Bilstein name.
lower ball joints, both in MOOG boxes. 1 natural color made in Spain, says MOOG on bottom, other has good black paint, made in Germany, says TRW on bottom.
sway bar links, Karlyn brand, Pelican rep said German. Bag has German lettering, saying original KARLYN part in German language, TUV sticker, big sticker says German engineering w/German flag, also has small pic of elephant with "chine" or similar lettering underneath. NOTHING actually says where made, just dances around the issue w/impression that it is German or wants you to think it is. No kit, have to buy washers, etc. seperately. I wonder about India? Rep claims much better than MTC brand.
I actually have no theoretical objection to China. Years ago I helped a small parts firm purchase from Taiwan - custom parts for German cars - and they (Chinese) were very friendly and eager. They wanted to know what quality level was desired. If you wanted super cheap and poor quality it could be done, if you wanted better quality they could come close to oem but the savings, although real, were much less than w/cheap specs. And you hoped they knew which grade of steel, heat treating, etc. to use. E.G. German made product $20 wholesale, comparable grade Taiwan product $14, looks OK but minimum quality unit $5. My friend wanted German equivalent product, but the low $$ item was the way to make real money.Which means it usually isn't the producer, but Scan Tech, URO, etc. that decide the quality.Today I am sure many oriental firms are capable of making good stuff if there is a market for it. BTW I read of small firm in Vietnam making very small runs of bumpers for BMW GLAS 1600'S.Too small a market for China, I guess, no originals available at all.
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