MAF Question?

[Cisc0]

I am in need of a new MAF for my '02 3.0i and did some "google searching" and came across this:

Wholesale Guaranteed 100% (1piece/lot) mass air flow meter for BMW SIEMENS:5WK96132 (Door to Door Express Service)

Do any of you here think this would be a good quality buy or go OEM?


Thanks in advance.

[chas3]

I wouldn't touch that. If you don't want to buy a new one, better try the scrape yard.
On the other hand, it is so cheap that you can actually buy it just to see if it works

[mysweetx5]

what about the one posted as: OEM/BOSCH for $170.94 is it the same as the stealer one requested: $429 for? Is it worth to take a try?

(01 X5 4.4i)

[chas3]

I can only tell for the 3.0d, it is the most common in here. The OEM one that is fitted on the X and the one you can order at the dealership, they are both Bosch.
I have no clue, do they offer any warranty for it? However, if the part number matches, it sure must be the same you order at the dealership.

[mysweetx5]

Appreciated your quick response chas3!
However this is like pushing people away from the (stealer) because if you compare the (website prices) with the (stealer prices), they're totally different,
But parts usually match the same way. However, most sites sells their parts under different part # but you obviously getting the same part as BMW stealer.

I wish you could take a look at: (Air mass meter) 01 BMW X5
they have for both: X5 3.0/X5 4.4i and stated OEM for them under different #.
Bosch Air Mass Meter
Retail Price: $416.43
Your Price: $170.94
Quantity:

Part Number: W0133-1599408
Availability: In Stock
Condition: New OEM

This Product Fits the Following: Catalog: Replacement 1
Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5 4.4i


VDO Air Mass Meter
Retail Price: $416.43
Your Price: $225.94
Quantity:

Part Number: W0133-1663166
Availability: In Stock
Condition: New OEM

This Product Fits the Following: Catalog: Replacement 1
Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5 3.0i

could they be stated as OEM but not???

[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 Cisc0

I am in need of a new MAF for my '02 3.0i and did some "google searching" and came across this:

Wholesale Guaranteed 100% (1piece/lot) mass air flow meter for BMW SIEMENS:5WK96132 (Door to Door Express Service)

Do any of you here think this would be a good quality buy or go OEM?

I had a 2000 4.4i for which the SEL was illuminated but the vehicle drove without any obvious symptoms. While investigating the problem I became 95% sure the MAF was to blame. However given the high price of an OEM MAF I was hesitant to buy one on the chance it might not be the problem. So I picked up a low cost (think it was $110 or so) aftermarket MAF. After installing the SEL cleared and I was happy. Until the vehicle began to experience unexplained hesitation and stumbling on occasion. I took the vehicle to a mechanic a friend referred me to and he installed an OEM MAF in order to diagnose the problem. After driving the vehicle for a couple of weeks with no problems I called him up and paid the $350 for the MAF. In the end the aftermarket part ended up costing me more money than just buying the OEM part. If you know it's the MAF my experience leads me to the conclusion to go with the OEM part.

[chas3]

Well.. by not providing the BMW PN, you can't really tell how it will match while replacing the OEM MAF you have right now on your car. There are various parts produced by both VDO and Bosch, so both examples could be a perfect replacement for the OEM MAF. The photos on that website depict correct MAFs for both the 3.0i and the 4.4i. However, I never had any past experience with that website, so I cannot advice you about their products. In here, I would rather go for the scrapeyard for an OEM one instead.