MAF Question?

[jst2878]

eBay has Bosch, brand new for 155.00. I just bought one and it is perfect.

[mysweetx5]

Originally Posted by jst2878

eBay has Bosch, brand new for 155.00. I just bought one and it is perfect.

Yeap my friend!!! I'm pretty sure there are some great deal too on ebay, and I might as well get mine on ebay too; as we owned the same vehicle model. However this is my 2nd one and I owned this blue one for more than a year now, never go to any stealer outhere.

peace out brother
(01 X5 4.4i)

[mysweetx5]

I don't care whatever people say but me personally I will not go to any (BMW STEALER); N'less this part cannot be found anywhere around the internet.
A few months ago, I was looking to see how much it would cost me to buy just the parts from the stealers without having them doing the job for me.

I visited one in Bridgeport CT at the time for an estimation of: 8 spark plug
9 bottles motor oil
1 oil filter/air filter
Total came up to: $367.21 because stealer spark plug cost:$29.32 each
and I don't remember how much the other parts cost; but if I wanted them to do it for me, all together came up to:$ 621.71 for a simple tune-up.
I wen't back home, and searched on pelicanparts.com for the required spark plug and the other accessories for my car, I ordered all of them for less than $180.00
Once I'm a little bit experienced about cars, I've replaced everything by myself successfully and my engine started right-away from day one!

(01 X5 4.4i)
Peace out folk no stealer for me

[JCL]

Originally Posted by mysweetx5

could they be stated as OEM but not???

Of course they could. The internet is full of mislabelled parts at low prices, and there are lots of counterfeit parts out there that come in boxes that appear to be OEM. It is rampant on filters, spark plugs, and electrical items that are easy to make in contract factories off shore.

What you buy on the internet at a low price may be fine, but you are buying some risk along with those cheap parts. If an MAF doesn't work it will probably just cause the vehicle to run poorly. On the other hand, a counterfeit sparkplug can break off the electrode and cause significant engine damage (piston, rings, valves).

This report gives the market for counterfeit parts as $16 billion, with the US being the target market.

Counterfeit Car Parts Market Worth US$16 billion warns New Report

Whether or not you use the dealership is up to you. I certainly understand that they are not cheap. However, buying on ebay has its own set of risks, and you should be aware of that.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

Of course they could. The internet is full of mislabelled parts at low prices, and there are lots of counterfeit parts out there that come in boxes that appear to be OEM. It is rampant on filters, spark plugs, and electrical items that are easy to make in contract factories off shore.

What you buy on the internet at a low price may be fine, but you are buying some risk along with those cheap parts. If an MAF doesn't work it will probably just cause the vehicle to run poorly. On the other hand, a counterfeit sparkplug can break off the electrode and cause significant engine damage (piston, rings, valves).

In my case the MAF caused the vehicle to stumble and hesitate randomly. This was a huge issue as it once did so when I was pulling across oncoming traffic. My girlfriend was so scared she told me never to pull out across oncoming traffic until the issue was resolved.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

In my case the MAF caused the vehicle to stumble and hesitate randomly. This was a huge issue as it once did so when I was pulling across oncoming traffic. My girlfriend was so scared she told me never to pull out across oncoming traffic until the issue was resolved.

The reason that there is such a large market for counterfeit car parts is because there are so many people who want something for nothing, who believe that the cheapest is the best, and that they can somehow beat the system. Selling those parts on eBay just makes it easier for the counterfeiters. Once people have had problems like you mention, they tend to take a much more critical look at things like car parts.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

The reason that there is such a large market for counterfeit car parts is because there are so many people who want something for nothing, who believe that the cheapest is the best, and that they can somehow beat the system. Selling those parts on eBay just makes it easier for the counterfeiters. Once people have had problems like you mention, they tend to take a much more critical look at things like car parts.

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.

[JCL]

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.

Yes, like all generalizations, it is too general. I buy aftermarket myself, when I know the seller and trust his distributor. I also examine parts I install, having seen counterfeit parts more than once. How about this: There are enough people trying to get a better deal, who are happy purchasing off eBay from unknown sellers, that the counterfeiters are doing a booming business. And sometimes it bites people. In your case, you noted it only cost you something more than the cost of the OE part. With others, they face bills for consequential damage from things like fake spark plugs.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JCL

Yes, like all generalizations, it is too general. I buy aftermarket myself, when I know the seller and trust his distributor. I also examine parts I install, having seen counterfeit parts more than once. How about this: There are enough people trying to get a better deal, who are happy purchasing off eBay from unknown sellers, that the counterfeiters are doing a booming business. And sometimes it bites people. In your case, you noted it only cost you something more than the cost of the OE part. With others, they face bills for consequential damage from things like fake spark plugs.

My MAF was not billed as an OEM part (i.e. a counterfeit) but rather an OEM equivalent. So how do you know which to buy and which not to buy?

[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. That always has more risk than buying something that is tested and/or approved. Sometimes will-fit parts work, ie there are several transmission fluids that are sold as 'Dexron equivalent' or 'suitable for applications calling for Dexron' that are not certified to meet the Dexron standard (which costs them money), but that have been reported to work OK. You are buying some risk along with your parts in that case, though.

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.

Another thing to think about is what the consequences are. Failed sparkplugs can have high consequences. Using non-spec transmission fluid or any filter can have high consequences. Poorly made wiper blades probably just wear out faster.

Lastly, buying off eBay is the highest risk overall.