OEM VAG parts - who makes what?

[emirc 0]

I came to idea about this long time ago, but only had a time recently to start this thread, motivated with few earlier threads. We all know that VAG actually doesn't manufacture a majority of the parts in their cars. Major suppliers for first factory install are Bosch, Siemens, Febi-Bilstein, Recaro etc, with VAG sticker/imprint somewhere decently hidden in :-)

VW in this case only engineers the particular system but other factory usually makes it. What i want to know is how to actually buy a part(s) directly from a manufacturer, and not from a VAG dealer...

For example, in February this year i bought from distributor of Meyle (it's German company, i heard from someone they were choosen by VW for factory install in the '90es), almost all of the stuff for a complete reparation of the front and rear suspension system: bushes, mounts, CV joints, ball joints, tie-rods, whishbones, boots, bearings, etc... Not to mention i paid a fraction of a dealer OEM price. I have also bought from a SKF distributor a set of front and rear wheel bearings, again much cheaper than VAG ones. I heard that VAG actually fits Koyo bearings as a factory install, but couldn't find a distributor/seller for them in my country. I also bought TT/R32 Boge wishbone bushings (again, Boge GMBH is too a factory VW install, AFAIK).

I hope i don't have to mention that my car still goes excellent, parts i installed looks and works no worse than VAGs, maybe even better, i don't know... :grin:

Last year i also bought a secondary water pump, only had a hard time to find Bosch part number... Once i found it, i went to my Bosch dealer and bought it for 40% less than i would pay at dealers, which only difference would be a VW imprinted part. no. on it... And it still works perfectly...

 

So, that's my experience in search for same quality parts, without paying distributor/dealer silly prices. How do you buy yours? Let's make this thread to be THE source for cheaper, yet still original OEM parts for our loved Corrados :D

 

This is from me, then:

 

Meyle, Febi-Bilstein : suspension components, bushings, engine mounts... you can look their online catalogues for catalogue numbers to see which part you need, and which one fits to what Corrado (g60, vr6, 16v)... http://www.meyle.com/html/catalogues/index.php

http://www.febi.com/

 

Koyo, SKF, Timken : wheel bearings

 

Boge : whishbone bushings, other bushings(?)

 

Bosch : electric systems (water pumps, fuel pumps, sensors, senders, regulators, MAFs, ABS systems)

 

VDO : gauges, senders

 

I am looking currently to buy a Fuel Pressure Regulator for my Corrado VR6, but i can't find Bosch part no. for it. Does someone know?

I also need fuel pump (4bar) with sender, VDO makes them now (used to be a Pierburg) but i don't know their part no. for it... And i don't feel like giving 450 euros at stealers... :bad-words:

 

P.S. Of course, many know this but it's better to be written once for all: VAG catalogue numbers ARE NOT THE SAME with actual manufacturer catalogue numbers... for example Meyle has it's number for particular rear axle bushing, VW has it's number. So they are not comparable in that sense... :wink:

 

Cheers,

Emir

[Kevin Bacon 5]

For the Bosch parts, there are Bosch aswell as VW part numbers and Bosch Direct outlets will sell you the parts direct.

 

http://www.boschautoparts.co.uk/

 

For example, the early VR6 MAF sensor, £300+VAT from VW, or £150 exchange direct from Bosch!

 

The fuel pressure regulator is a standard 4 bar bosch design, can get those from anywhere.

 

VW's input on the parts means they are produced to a particular quality and consistency. The same parts sold cheaper elsewhere may appear to be exactly the same, but often they are inferior quality.

[davidwort 0]

It's also worth remembering that if you source parts from VW you'll get the latest version of any superceeded parts, particularly important for critical engine parts that had weaknesses in the early versions such as timing belt tensionners.

When it comes to parts like bearings it's very difficult to tell as many manufacturers have plants that produce the same components but in different locations, e.g. Germany and China and it may be that the German plant supplies VW but the Chinese one supplies other outlets.

[emirc 0]

I believe what you saying is true to some extent, but still it's hard to believe that any "serious" company like SKF, Bosch, Siemens would gamble with part quality for critical system parts like bearings, ABS and ECU systems, or instrument clusters... For example, SKF parts are usually Made in France, Made in Italy... Koyo is brand that's strictly Made in Japan.

Speaking of manufacturers of rubber-metal parts like Meyle, Febi-Bilstein or Boge, all their parts as far as i've seen are Made in Germany or Made in France...

I do think that, after all, VAG approved parts must comply with certain standards for VAG sticker. However, some of our cars are more than 15 years old and i seriously doubt that VW or any other car maker in that sense are applying often quality controls of these parts that are close to be phased out anyway. More and more parts for our loved cars are being not available anymore from dealers, so i thought this to be the place for finding the closest "VW quality" parts manufacturers around the world...

Being price wise, cutting dealers-storage chains is the best way to buy considerably cheaper stuff. All of them, including VAG, are about maximizing their profits, be sure about it. That's, for example, why VAG parts are usually 40% expensive than Bosch. Storage, transport, and dealers procedures definitely adds up to the VAG price, probably up to these 40%.

 

Speaking of, my local VDO/Siemens dealer is asking me catalogue number for fuel pump and fuel level sender (VR6 here). Do some of you guys know maybe what these numbers are?

 

Thanks,

Emir