Parts, dealer vs generic.

They might not last as long depending.

I never use official parts and never had a problem, just use your loaf a bit though, if the part is £150 everywhere else and a eBay seller is bashing them out for £20 there may be a reason for that.
 
I've used eBay parts quite a few times over the years and not had a problem, as said make sure its not stupid cheap and have a good look at it when you get it just in case.

I've had brake pads, discs, springs, suspension bits and bobs and touch wood all have been fine.
 
BUDFORCE said:
They might not last as long depending.

I never use official parts and never had a problem, just use your loaf a bit though, if the part is £150 everywhere else and a eBay seller is bashing them out for £20 there may be a reason for that.
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I think that's why I'm questioning this, vast difference in price.
 
tom_e said:
What about for an extra £54?
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I didn't read the OP properly :D

In that case I would make a decision depending on how long I plan to keep the car. I've tried no-name ebay parts before and it's hit and miss depending on the part.
 
The Nissan dealer I use a lot to their credit usually give me the option of the OE part or "non-genuine" cheaper part where there is a suitable part. Usually they will say if they believe it to be basically identical or better to the original part. But there is no rhyme or reason - nominally if there isn't a huge difference in price the OE part is a better bet but sometimes alternative brands can be significantly better, sometimes significantly worse, so without doing research there isn't really a straight answer.
 
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There are a load of cheap chinese parts on eBay that are very poor quality. I had a Ford Mondeo which had a wishbone bushing fail within one year. The previous owner had it replaced by a garage who used the cheapest parts. I replaced it myself with a FAG one. I was shocked at the weight difference between the new and old parts. The FAG one had an extra stiffening plate through the middle which was missing on the cheap part.

You don't always have to buy OEM. The FAG part was cheap but decent. It was still doing fine 42k miles later when I scrapped the car.

Anyway, for the OP, I'd go for this Metzger part for £17.79 from Leader Components. I've bought parts from that company before. They're an established, good retailer. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177157823669
 
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Jiffy said:
There are a load of cheap chinese parts on eBay that are very poor quality. I had a Ford Mondeo which had a wishbone bushing fail within one year. The previous owner had it replaced by a garage who used the cheapest parts. I replaced it myself with a FAG one. I was shocked at the weight difference between the new and old parts. The FAG one had an extra stiffening plate through the middle which was missing on the cheap part.

You don't always have to buy OEM. The FAG part was cheap but decent. It was still doing fine 42k miles later when I scrapped the car.

Anyway, for the OP, I'd go for this Metzger part for £17.79 from Leader Components. I've bought parts from that company before. They're an established, good retailer. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177157823669
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This sums up my thoughts really. I've been in the trade for 16 odd years now, the variance in the quality of parts are huge. It's rare you need to spend out on genuine parts, there are plenty of good after market parts out there, but also a lot of rubbish too. Stick to the well known brands and you're usually good. A lot of genuine parts are made by another company anyway, so you can often get a part that's identical to genuine, but at half the price. Sometimes the price of genuine parts can be surprisingly cheap as well, so it's always at least worth a look.

I recently fitted new aux belt tensioner and guide pullies to my A6, I got them INA branded as that's who make the genuine Audi parts, but at half the price.
 
how many miles on the car, think I'd change the shocks, and inspect the mounts to see if their rubber inserts are really dilapidated

I had vibrations from 3er shock mounts that were a give away, and could feel movement at top of shock, but if you can't may not need to bother,
shock mounts for mine could just change rubber insert though/meyle £12/pair -
metzger seems to be re-branded products so I'd be suspicious of durability, but wouldn't spend out similar amounts to shocks w/o proof they also needed change.
 
If you go with a brand like Febi, they make OEM stuff anyway. I've used their top mounts and bushes before and they were fine. The quality is good and it's much cheaper than a part with an OE mark.

Just don't buy cheap Chinese fake parts. Especially for anything load bearing, breaks, or holding the wheels on.
 
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Nasher said:
If you go with a brand like Febi, they make OEM stuff anyway. I've used their top mounts and bushes before and they were fine. The quality is good and it's much cheaper than a part with an OE mark.

Just don't buy cheap Chinese fake parts. Especially for anything load bearing, breaks, or holding the wheels on.
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Febi's quality has went downhill...
 
Jiffy said:
You don't always have to buy OEM. The FAG part was cheap but decent. It was still doing fine 42k miles later when I scrapped the car.
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FAG is an OEM brand mate. That's why it's of decent quality.

"With safety as a critical component, FAG wheel bearings need to conform to exacting material and manufacturing standards in order to be tested, approved and fitted by vehicle producers around the world, which has earned FAG an OE Quality and the trust of leading car brands who fit FAG wheel bearings to new cars right off the factory floor."
 
jpaul said:
how many miles on the car, think I'd change the shocks, and inspect the mounts to see if their rubber inserts are really dilapidated

I had vibrations from 3er shock mounts that were a give away, and could feel movement at top of shock, but if you can't may not need to bother,
shock mounts for mine could just change rubber insert though/meyle £12/pair -
metzger seems to be re-branded products so I'd be suspicious of durability, but wouldn't spend out similar amounts to shocks w/o proof they also needed change.
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106k I'm doing the dampers at the same time Sachs ones ordered via Autodoc.
In the end I just went with the dealer ones, didn't recognise any of the cheaper brands.
Probably get some sort of anti corrosion paint, to coat the top, hopefully this set will last longer then.
 
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andy_mk3 said:
the variance in the quality of parts are huge. It's rare you need to spend out on genuine parts, there are plenty of good after market parts out there, but also a lot of rubbish too.
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Yup, sadly there is an awful lot of rubbish out there.
I’ve replaced suspension arms that I’ve failed on the MOT only for me to fail them again 12 months later due to the bushes being excessively worn.
andy_mk3 said:
Stick to the well known brands and you're usually good. A lot of genuine parts are made by another company anyway, so you can often get a part that's identical to genuine, but at half the price.
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Some have had the manufacturers logo ground off and just put in different packaging, but exact same product.
andy_mk3 said:
Sometimes the price of genuine parts can be surprisingly cheap as well.
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Very true, some gen parts are surprisingly cheap and dealers often have promotions on common service items.
 
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