MAF Question?

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

There is original equipment (OE) from the dealer.
There is original equipment manufacturer (OEM), ie Bosch, from any number of sources.
There are no-name parts that are sold as "will fit" that don't claim to be OE or OEM.

There are counterfeit parts floating around for both OE and OEM. BMW has had problems, as have manufacturers such as Bosch, Pagid, Delco, Autolite, NGK, Champion, and so on.

The lowest risk is to buy from the dealer, but that also has the highest cost.

One way of managing risk is to buy name brand aftermarket parts, from a supplier that you know, and who buys from a distribution network (his supply chain) that you trust. In both cases, it is worth inspecting the parts upon receipt, particularly high risk parts like plugs, electronic components, oil, filters, etc. The counterfeiters aren't creating a market, they are selling into existing markets where there is some volume.

Lastly, buying off eBay is the highest risk overall.

From what I can tell the part in question is not being represented as an OE or OEM part. It is clearly marked as OEM equivalent (manufactured by SPR).

[JCL]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

From what I can tell the part in question is not being represented as an OE or OEM part. It is clearly marked as OEM equivalent (manufactured by SPR).

I saw your comment about it not being OE or OEM, and revised my third point while you were typing. See my post above.

SPR is apparently the Shanghai Spring Auto Parts Co, according to a web link. They say it is equivalent. Siemens, Bosch, BMW, etc, certainly don't say it is equivalent.

So, you have to decide who to trust. An unknown Chinese manufacturer selling through eBay, or the people who designed and built your vehicle (and their OEM suppliers).

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

I saw your comment about it not being OE or OEM, and revised my third point while you were typing. See my post above.

SPR is apparently the Shanghai Spring Auto Parts Co, according to a web link. They say it is equivalent. Siemens, Bosch, BMW, etc, certainly don't say it is equivalent.

So, you have to decide who to trust. An unknown Chinese manufacturer selling through eBay, or the people who designed and built your vehicle (and their OEM suppliers).

Do you honestly expect them to?

[mysweetx5]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

I'm not sure I would agree with your statement "the cheapest is the best". While I don't always buy the cheapest I see nothing wrong with trying to find a lower cost alternative, all else being equal. I see no reason for the dealers to ask the prices they do for many of the parts they sell. While they're free to do so it tends to push people into the aftermarket. And sometime aftermarket is equivalent to or better than OEM.

1000% with you sunny5280! why not trying to save ourself from the highest BMW STEALER prices outhere??? BMW STEALER just doesn't make no sense with their prices. Not only they push people away to the after market, but they also make you not even want to drive any BMW's.
It could be any simple thing like a bold washer plug which could be found even on the ground easily or @ any autozone for less than a $0.dollar. But @BMW STEALERS they will want $2.94 for each. This is just to show you how difficult they're to make people not even try any BMW's.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

Do you honestly expect them to?

Not at all. You noted that the box was marked as equivalent. Personally, I think that is an absurd claim.

You must have considered it equivalent, when you bought it. Do you still?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by mysweetx5

Why not try to save ourself from the high BMW dealer prices out there? BMW dealer just doesn't make any sense with their prices.

I certainly think there is a place for aftermarket parts. I use them myself in some cases. I just think that purchasers of those parts should know how to compare them to OE, and that they should be aware of the risks. Education is generally a good thing, it saves people money. It would have saved sunny5280, as he noted himself, above.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

Not at all.

If you don't expect them to then what is the point of mentioning it?

Originally Posted by JCL

You noted that the box was marked as equivalent. Personally, I think that is an absurd claim.

Why? You said you use aftermarket parts. I assume you do so because you feel they're at least equivalent. Is that assumption incorrect?

Originally Posted by JCL

You must have considered it equivalent, when you bought it. Do you still?

I don't know. Given it had problems the first thought is: No. However it's a sampling of one. It's possible the replacement part was defective.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

I certainly think there is a place for aftermarket parts. I use them myself in some cases. I just think that purchasers of those parts should know how to compare them to OE, and that they should be aware of the risks. Education is generally a good thing, it saves people money. It would have saved sunny5280, as he noted himself, above.

How do you compare them? What should I have done differently when purchasing the aftermarket MAF I did?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

If you don't expect them to then what is the point of mentioning it?

Why? You said you use aftermarket parts. I assume you do so because you feel they're at least equivalent. Is that assumption incorrect?

I mentioned it to highlight the absurdity of the claim.

I use aftermarket parts from name-brand manufacturers, when I know the seller. I certainly don't buy from a company called Shanghai selling on eBay.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

How do you compare them? What should I have done differently when purchasing the aftermarket MAF I did?

I listed what to do differently in post #20. I won't retype it here, but am happy to clarify anything that isn't clear.