Counterfeit Car Parts.

[t-tony]

The Government are apparently looking to a growing trade in Counterfeit Car Parts in the UK.

Borrowed from MSN.

MSN

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

" Genuine parts come with a certificate of Original Equipment, the IPO said "
Not in my experience they don't. But I was only working as a mechanic for most of my working life, so what would I know? Someone somewhere had to fill a web-page up with garbage, didn't they.

 

[Duncodin]

But what actually "is" a fake car part?

I've bought some ropey parts over the years - often regretted it of course but I knew what I was buying.

What if an OEM always used Bosch headlights and someone like Hella make a matching light is that a fake? Or would brake pads from some brand that I'd never heard of from AUTODOC be classed as Fake?

Or is a "fake" only when some guy in China slaps a well known brand logo onto a dodgy, noname, item.

 

[t-tony]

That is exactly what counterfeiting is, making something out to be what it's not. Years ago a trader used to sell lorry spring shackle pins to my late father-in-law, obviously much cheaper than genuine articles. This same dealer also sold them to a truck main agent out Grimsby way (no names mentioned) who's parts dept. put these pins into branded poly bags making out they were genuine parts.
THAT is counterfeiting.

Tony.

 

[SV8Predator]

That is exactly what counterfeiting is, making something out to be what it's not. Years ago a trader used to sell lorry spring shackle pins to my late father-in-law, obviously much cheaper than genuine articles. This same dealer also sold them to a truck main agent out Grimsby way (no names mentioned) who's parts dept. put these pins into branded poly bags making out they were genuine parts.
THAT is counterfeiting.

Tony.

Agreed — that's what counterfeiting is. But what has your example got to do with the link you posted? "Fake tyres" indeed!

As stated above: "Genuine parts come with a certificate of Original Equipment". What planet does the writer of that article live on?

 

[Ianmc]

Parts/things are only fake if they purport to be something they are not. A bit like putting M badges on a non M engined car; BMW have been doing this for some time though!

 

[motco]

It occurred to me some time ago that one of the most 'hidden' parts that could be counterfeited and would defy detection is lubricating oil - engine oil mainly. Some synthetics are very expensive and there is no obvious signal that the slippery stuff you are putting in your engine is the real thing or some lookalike from the back streets of Shanghai at a tenth of the cost.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Until it goes bang.

 

[motco]

True, of course, but how often would it be so dramatic? More likely is that wear is greater, fuel consumption poorer, cold starting in winter harder, rattles in summer (in the event that we have one).

My son drove his just serviced Z4M Coupé down to the south of France in summer on two occasions and on both he noticed camshaft rattle increasing rapidly. The first time he consulted a local garage in Cannes or somewhere and the workshop mechanic declared that "...thees oil, eet ees sheet!". There being little option he drove it back gently (a near impossibility for him!) and took it to our local indy German car specialist in Amersham. While it was there he had the big end shells replaced (a good idea with S54 engines at the mileage his had) and crank inspected, plus a new set of cams and followers.
The second time it wasn't quite so dramatic and nothing needed replacing but we began to wonder whether the oil he'd used was Kosher. No damage was done but the valve clearances were a bit off. The car is now in New South Wales and he regularly tracks it in high temperatures similar to Monte Carlo where he was the second time. Nothing like that has happened again. Whether it was counterfeit oil or not we will never know, but it looked right, and the packaging was first rate with no telltale errors.

 

[Pond]

I think a lot of the big noise with this 'counterfeiting' is that the owners of the 'brands' lose their huge mark ups, as the items aren't licenced.
If anything is made to a dangerous quality, then crack down on it, fine.

But I don't have any sympathy for the likes of Nike, Adidas, or BMW for that matter who licence goods and make fortunes out of them just because they are 'branded'.
Adidas and Nike, etc have their goods made in cheap sweatshops the same as the 'counterfeit' items are. Only difference is the cost to the consumer IMO.

The words 'genuine BMW' make me laugh, as nearly everything is out-sourced and just licenced. Is that not a form of counterfeiting?

China are not really interested in 'brands', never have been. For an extra quid they will brand the goods they make with anything you ask them to. They couldn't care less as long as you pay them for it.

 

[Stevo7682]

I think the most common 'fake' we would come across as a collective group would be BMW badges on ebay with just about all of them proclaiming to be original equipment and absolutely none of them are.
Stephen .

 

[t-tony]

And, at the prices they sell for we know full well they are not. You pays your money and takes your chance. I will every time.

Tony.

 

[Pond]

I think the most common 'fake' we would come across as a collective group would be BMW badges on ebay with just about all of them proclaiming to be original equipment and absolutely none of them are.
Stephen .

I have bought a few sets of wheel centre caps from eBay at about £10 for four, rather than £30 each for BMW 'originals'.
I am 100% convinced they are identical. I have compared the old 'originals' that come off to the 'fakes' in every way and they are identical (at least the ones I bought have been). Even down to stamping of info on the underside. I am convinced they are the same caps, just cheaper.
AND they last just as long as the expensive ones, if not longer.

And then we have the BMW 'original' wheel bolts at around £5 EACH. Bought two sets of 'fake' bolts, £17 for 20. They are identical aswell.

BMW don't make plastic badges, or wheel bolts. They out-source pretty much everything. So who is to say that the factories where they are made aren't keeping a few back and selling them on. Or, if they are copies, the technology to make a plastic badge and mould some steel bolts with a thread cut into them is hardly rocket science, so I am happy with my 'fakes'. Long may they continue.

 

[Pingu]

I have bought a few sets of wheel centre caps from eBay at about £10 for four, rather than £30 each for BMW 'originals'.
I am 100% convinced they are identical. I have compared the old 'originals' that come off to the 'fakes' in every way and they are identical (at least the ones I bought have been). Even down to stamping of info on the underside. I am convinced they are the same caps, just cheaper.
AND they last just as long as the expensive ones, if not longer.

And then we have the BMW 'original' wheel bolts at around £5 EACH. Bought two sets of 'fake' bolts, £17 for 20. They are identical aswell.

BMW don't make plastic badges, or wheel bolts. They out-source pretty much everything. So who is to say that the factories where they are made aren't keeping a few back and selling them on. Or, if they are copies, the technology to make a plastic badge and mould some steel bolts with a thread cut into them is hardly rocket science, so I am happy with my 'fakes'. Long may they continue.

I used to work in this area, and it could be a nightmare to explain to the newbies what was, and what wasn't, a kosher part. Fit, Form and Function. Fit is obvious, Function is obvious, but Form is much more than just dimensions, it is also the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship.

That last paragraph is an example of IP theft if BMW had outsourced the manufacture of the badges and had not given the company the manufacturing rights. Only BMW and the company know what the arrangement is.

Some companies (the likes of Hella) usually have the contract to manufacture in their own name after a certain amount of time. This is how you can get the same part, made by the same company, but without the BMW logo. OEMs tried to prevent us using these parts (and void any warranties), as Form was different, since it didn't have their logo. They won their case, and we stopped using them whilst in warranty.

Copyright for parts usually expires after 10 years, and anybody can make anything. The buyer has to use due diligence to determine if a part is of sufficient quality. I've just bought a pair of 229mm drop links (box says Borg & Beck) for my M. The advert says they are for a Land Rover. On inspection, they look to be of sufficient quality, but I'll never know for sure.