From: Dave Plowman (News) on
In article <EJ6Kn.117136$NX6.63593(a)newsfe22.ams2>,
Mrcheerful <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> Kirky wrote:
> > Fitted the new suzuki cambelt and straight away i noticed that the
> > adjuster wasnt fully backed off anymore. Put everything back together
> > and the noise was gone. Thanks for your help.
> >
> > Rob

> and now you know why I will always try and get genuine parts, especially
> if they are hard to fit!! Glad to hear it is now OK.

Think that's rather a broad statement. Aftermarket parts to OEM are often
ok and can save a deal of money. Maker's parts can be identical but in a
different box which you can pay quite a bit for.
For example, I always use ATE discs and pads on my BMW at considerable
savings from 'genuine' ones and have never had problems. But I buy them
from Eurocarparts who specialise in BMW (and others) so would expect
anything they supply to fit properly.

--
*When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say?

Dave Plowman dave(a)davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
From: Mrcheerful on
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <EJ6Kn.117136$NX6.63593(a)newsfe22.ams2>,
> Mrcheerful <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>> Kirky wrote:
>>> Fitted the new suzuki cambelt and straight away i noticed that the
>>> adjuster wasnt fully backed off anymore. Put everything back
>>> together and the noise was gone. Thanks for your help.
>>>
>>> Rob
>
>> and now you know why I will always try and get genuine parts,
>> especially if they are hard to fit!! Glad to hear it is now OK.
>
> Think that's rather a broad statement. Aftermarket parts to OEM are
> often ok and can save a deal of money. Maker's parts can be identical
> but in a different box which you can pay quite a bit for.
> For example, I always use ATE discs and pads on my BMW at considerable
> savings from 'genuine' ones and have never had problems. But I buy
> them from Eurocarparts who specialise in BMW (and others) so would
> expect anything they supply to fit properly.

certainly some parts are OK and sometimes it is hard to get genuine bits,
but a difficult to fit bit like a cambelt is not worth messing about with,
frequently genuine parts are cheaper or similar prices to pattern in any
case. In the OP case he has wasted several hours doing the job twice, he
won't be charging himself, but the frustration is expensive! If I had done
that then I would have halved my income for the job, because I could not in
all good conscience charge the customer for the wasted labour, time spent
getting the right bit etc. much easier (and more profitable) to get the dead
right parts in the first place.


From: A.Lee on
Dave Plowman (News) <dave(a)davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
>. But I buy them
> from Eurocarparts who specialise in BMW (and others) so would expect
> anything they supply to fit properly.

I would generally agree, but I have had a nightmare over the last few
weeks with my VW cylinder head.
I replaced a number of valves.
Fitted the head, then turned it over by hand. It stopped after half a
turn. Didnt want to budge, so i didnt force it.

Investigation showed the valves were the same sizes, but the collet
grooves were around 2 - 3mm further down the stem, thus the springs were
bottoming out, and stopping any further turning.

I rang ECP, who looked it up and said I had the wrong valves. I said I
had ordered them from their site, and had put in the reg. no. etc to
specify the details.
"Well, you should have compared parts before fitting shouldnt you".

Not even the offer of a refund/swap of the wrong parts, never mind the
cost of a new head gasket and bolts.

So, no, ECP do not always supply the correct parts.
Alan.
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To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
From: Mrcheerful on
A.Lee wrote:
> Dave Plowman (News) <dave(a)davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
>> . But I buy them
>> from Eurocarparts who specialise in BMW (and others) so would expect
>> anything they supply to fit properly.
>
> I would generally agree, but I have had a nightmare over the last few
> weeks with my VW cylinder head.
> I replaced a number of valves.
> Fitted the head, then turned it over by hand. It stopped after half a
> turn. Didnt want to budge, so i didnt force it.
>
> Investigation showed the valves were the same sizes, but the collet
> grooves were around 2 - 3mm further down the stem, thus the springs
> were bottoming out, and stopping any further turning.
>
> I rang ECP, who looked it up and said I had the wrong valves. I said I
> had ordered them from their site, and had put in the reg. no. etc to
> specify the details.
> "Well, you should have compared parts before fitting shouldnt you".
>
> Not even the offer of a refund/swap of the wrong parts, never mind the
> cost of a new head gasket and bolts.
>
> So, no, ECP do not always supply the correct parts.
> Alan.

well found, I have seen that a few times: slightly different collet/grooves.
many people would have been stumped and just put a bigger spanner on !!!


From: Dave Plowman (News) on
In article <1jiydvj.1hytbf48qt638N%alan(a)darkroom.+.com>,
A.Lee <alan(a)darkroom.+.com> wrote:
> I rang ECP, who looked it up and said I had the wrong valves. I said I
> had ordered them from their site, and had put in the reg. no. etc to
> specify the details. "Well, you should have compared parts before
> fitting shouldnt you".

> Not even the offer of a refund/swap of the wrong parts, never mind the
> cost of a new head gasket and bolts.

I'm surprised at that - I've always found them very helpful. But do they
work from registration rather than chassis number?

> So, no, ECP do not always supply the correct parts.

Nor do main dealers. If they can even find what you want. My local dealer
couldn't find the plastic bung which goes in the side of the door for
handle fixing access. Despite coming out to look at the car.

--
*Middle age is when work is a lot less fun - and fun a lot more work.

Dave Plowman dave(a)davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.