Reboxed Parts - Is It the Good Stuff? (Lemfoerder / Boge / SGF / Febi / ACM / Dorman Whatever)

[Jlaa]

Hello gang,

Many of us have been able to purchase OEM E500E parts (parts made by the original supplier to MB, like Lemfoerder and Boge) that have been reboxed by non-1st-rate-brands (Dorman / ACM / Febi / Whatever). By doing so, we have saved a considerable amount of moolah. Febi reboxed Boge subframe bushings and Dorman reboxed SGF flex discs come to mind.....

Anyways many of us have also branched out (me included) and purchased other MB models which are not as strongly supported by a forum such as the 500E board. Conseqeuntly, I have the following question - how do we guess that a GOOD STUFF part is being re-boxed by third rate brand?

For example, I want to buy some flex discs for my m112e37 powered w220 Sonderklasse car. The original flex discs are very costly. I looked around, and I discovered this little "OEM" label on the image of this flex disc at RMEuropean.com. Is this an indicator that this might be reboxed?

How does one take the gamble that this is actually the OEM part (by Lemf or SGF or whoever)? I'm not "in the industry" and I can't just order from Worldpac or SSF and send stuff back for free if I don't like it ... I would have to pay RME to ship it to me and then pay again to ship it back.

Curious as to how people manage this. Thanks.

 

[gsxr]

If you can obtain the item from a vendor that allows free returns (Amazon might be the only one), that would be the only way to find out for free. However, the item you want may not be available from Amazon.

In years past, I've ordered the suspect part to see what shows up. If it was an item I didn't want to use in my car, I'd re-sell it on eBay and eat the loss.

FWIW - take the "OEM" tag at RME/FCP/AHAZ with a grain of salt. I've seen where they sometimes attach this to the brand name (e.g., Lemforder) when that brand may not be the actual manufacturer of the OE/Genuine part. Meaning, Lemforder is OEM for some parts, but not necessarily the specific part number you are looking it. WP/SSF don't have their act together in this regard, and likely lack the motivation to make the OEM tag accurate.

 

[Jlaa]

WP/SSF don't have their act together in this regard, and likely lack the motivation to make the OEM tag accurate.

Fascinating. Are you saying that this "OEM" tag comes from Worldpac / SSF and not from RME / AHAZ who are retail-facing?

Also I note that FCPEuro I think takes the COO / OE / OEM / whatever labelling quite seriously - I BELIEVE they label the parts on their catalog themselves (and do not rely on Worldpac / SSF ?)

 

[gsxr]

Fascinating. Are you saying that this "OEM" tag comes from Worldpac / SSF and not from RME / AHAZ who are retail-facing?

Good question. I may be wrong... could be the retail vendors, not WP/SSF. Would need to random sample a bunch of parts at the retailers to see if they all show the same tag or not.

Also I note that FCPEuro I think takes the COO / OE / OEM / whatever labelling quite seriously - I BELIEVE they label the parts on their catalog themselves (and do not rely on Worldpac / SSF ?)

I've seen FCP label a part as OEM that IS NOT OEM (the manufacturer shown does not make the OE/Genuine item being sold). Also, FCP's COO is not updated until a customer complains that it's wrong - they do not proactively monitor for COO changes. FCP is better than other vendors in this regard in that they show COO, but don't be surprised if the COO that arrives doesn't match the website claim.

 

[Jlaa]

If you can obtain the item from a vendor that allows free returns (Amazon might be the only one), that would be the only way to find out for free. However, the item you want may not be available from Amazon.

Amazon to the rescue! Amazon sells Dorman 935-504 which crosses over to MB 230-410-01-15 which supercedes MB 210-410-06-15 which fits many m112 and m113 powered cars. Note that these flex discs are labeled "SGF" and made in DE, but there does not seem to be any place where an MB logo/part number would have been scratched off. That said, these are less than $50 each from Amazon.

 

[lowman]

Amazon to the rescue! Amazon sells Dorman 935-504 which crosses over to MB 230-410-01-15 which supercedes MB 210-410-06-15 which fits many m112 and m113 powered cars. Note that these flex discs are labeled "SGF" and made in DE, but there does not seem to be any place where an MB logo/part number would have been scratched off. That said, these are less than $50 each from Amazon.

View attachment 223590 View attachment 223591 View attachment 223592 View attachment 223594 View attachment 223593 View attachment 223595 View attachment 223597

There is a ground of Mercedes star on the part you have...its supposed to be a "Star" logo between SGF and GAD134...
Ive marked it out where it seems to be ground of on yours...


Here is a poor picture of an original one.Zoom out..and you can barely see it
.

 

[Jlaa]

There is a ground of Mercedes star on the part you have...its supposed to be a "Star" logo between SGF and GAD134...
Ive marked it out where it seems to be ground of on yours...
View attachment 223601

Here is a poor picture of an original one.Zoom out..and you can barely see it
.View attachment 223602

Ohhhh thank you! Only the tribal knowledge of this group would know this obscure fact!!!

 

[nocfn]

when I was buying FCA and other bits for the C126, FCP euro was purchased as one brand, OE and when I got them, one was and the otherside was not. I had to hunt quite a bit to get the correct brand that was OE and I paid for it, and FCP to their credit took back the part, corrected the links and there was no more OE for that side any longer.... like next day, no substitute, just the off brand. That was good they did that.