Cheap part woes
Discussion
Why do people buy and fit them? Mate of mine bought a lovely 36 328 sport, one day the radiator gave up so he went to the place where everyone goes for cheap parts, as opposed to spending a little more and using C3BMW or BMW themselves.
Radiator
Water pump
Thermostat
Thermostat housing
Someone fitted them, car overheated again, so someone else had a look and it overheated again.
Convinced him the block was cracked or head gasket was gone, and it was only a passing conversation that I decided they were talking b
ks and agreed to have a look at it.
Removed all the parts and refitted, go to bleed and it won't bleed, no heat out of heaters, so check heater valves, both dead...Replaced them, but still after 45 minutes idling away the car didn't overheat
Pressure tested it and it held pressure for 10 minutes, started it up and it created no pressure on tester, so head gasket ruled out and block not cracked, still baffled, took bottom hose off and got a small dribble out of it.
So went through it all again
New water pump is so stiff and really compared to BMW one, the wrong shape, so replaced it with second hand BMW one.
Checked thermostat housing, the little feed hole from left to right is partially blocked by swarf/cast scrap so it can't flow.
Checked thermostat, and it doesn't open, checked old BMW and it works.
So this car has been off the road a year, done 50 miles all because of cheap st parts, turns out it's the second faulty thermostat from same place.
Spent hours of my life going through this car, only to find cheap parts that don't work and have airlocked an engine that is a nightmare to bleed as it is.
Vent over.
Radiator
Water pump
Thermostat
Thermostat housing
Someone fitted them, car overheated again, so someone else had a look and it overheated again.
Convinced him the block was cracked or head gasket was gone, and it was only a passing conversation that I decided they were talking b
ks and agreed to have a look at it.Removed all the parts and refitted, go to bleed and it won't bleed, no heat out of heaters, so check heater valves, both dead...Replaced them, but still after 45 minutes idling away the car didn't overheat
Pressure tested it and it held pressure for 10 minutes, started it up and it created no pressure on tester, so head gasket ruled out and block not cracked, still baffled, took bottom hose off and got a small dribble out of it.
So went through it all again
New water pump is so stiff and really compared to BMW one, the wrong shape, so replaced it with second hand BMW one.
Checked thermostat housing, the little feed hole from left to right is partially blocked by swarf/cast scrap so it can't flow.
Checked thermostat, and it doesn't open, checked old BMW and it works.
So this car has been off the road a year, done 50 miles all because of cheap s
t parts, turns out it's the second faulty thermostat from same place.Spent hours of my life going through this car, only to find cheap parts that don't work and have airlocked an engine that is a nightmare to bleed as it is.
Vent over.
I've found this on a few things in the past.
People think I am nuts to get some things from a dealer but TBH I am getting a little sick of working on cars and changing bad parts all of the time. Life is too short to be constantly working on a car, espeically if it is your sole motor.
On my E36 323i it had an overcooling issue. While the genuine 'stat wasn't cheap it did keep it to temp.
I have seldom bought a pattern 'stat that worked correctly. Most of the time they tend to overcool or cannot keep a constant reading.
People think I am nuts to get some things from a dealer but TBH I am getting a little sick of working on cars and changing bad parts all of the time. Life is too short to be constantly working on a car, espeically if it is your sole motor.
On my E36 323i it had an overcooling issue. While the genuine 'stat wasn't cheap it did keep it to temp.
I have seldom bought a pattern 'stat that worked correctly. Most of the time they tend to overcool or cannot keep a constant reading.
Edited by SebringMan on Thursday 23 February 18:47
Lots of no name no blame parts are shyte. Some of it's okay - Anschlers dampers and the cheapo discs from ECP are alright these days. A lot of Meyle stuff is Chinese rubbish so I avoid all of it.
Valeo and Hella radiators are junk, as are aftermarket Behr ones. Either Nissens or go to the main dealer. Lemforder and Febi stuff is fine - most BMW parts from them are genuine parts with the BMW logo and part number ground off. Circoli water pumps are good too.
Main dealer stuff is just too dear and some prices are insane.
Valeo and Hella radiators are junk, as are aftermarket Behr ones. Either Nissens or go to the main dealer. Lemforder and Febi stuff is fine - most BMW parts from them are genuine parts with the BMW logo and part number ground off. Circoli water pumps are good too.
Main dealer stuff is just too dear and some prices are insane.
Lemforder I am careful of these days. On my Alfa 147 I had an upper arm fail within 18 months. Autolusso (a known specialist) were not surprised to see it at all.
I've never had a genuine suspension part fail quite that quickly, and I've done some miles in my time (read at one point 10,000 miles a month). I soon got to know what lasted and what was junk.
To be fair Nissens are not too bad at all and Febi seem to be fine
.
I've never had a genuine suspension part fail quite that quickly, and I've done some miles in my time (read at one point 10,000 miles a month). I soon got to know what lasted and what was junk.
To be fair Nissens are not too bad at all and Febi seem to be fine
.I've never used main dealer parts, hugely over priced and cant justify being ripped off like that especially on the old bangers I generally own and NEVER had a problem, even my 20 quid window regulator is still going strong after a year. (must admit I sort of expected that to pack up)
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