ger040 3 Posted September 10, 2015 Ordered more parts for my long long long corrado resto Visited a stealer and ordered what I believe are routine spares, oil filter, fuel filter and other bits (bolts) Went to collect the parts only to be told oil filter is now obsolete! WTF Fuel filter is now made in CHINA under a brand SOFIMA! Earlier this year I bought a Hella oil cooler from Germany and it has been made in China too! Cant help but think quality of these items will be suspect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted September 10, 2015 That is extremely concerning.. though it may be obsolete from VW, 3rd party companies that make them for VW such as Mann may still make them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 10, 2015 Yeah, i noticed this when buying a fuel filter, was a made in china jobby. I use Mann oil filters. Its not that everything made in china is crap, china can make stuff well, its the quality control that lets them down, i would hope if supplying a large company like VW with parts then VW must insist or employ their own quality control. They make the iphone and not one really complains about that saying made in china on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 10, 2015 Available from the likes of Mann, Meile, Karcher etc. These are all OEM manufacturers. VW don't make oil filters themselves, they are made by third party manufacturers and rebranded, and as always, usually in China. AFAIK the G60 oil filter is the same as the MkII Golf GTI anyway, so definitely still around. The only thing to look out for is that the replacement has the proper non-return valve fitted, as some of the cheaper ones don't have it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) I've posted this here before, but it goes to show the engineering or not in some cases behind filters, they're not all equal Other Frank Massey videos that might be of interest to the insomniacs amongst us https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+massey Edited September 10, 2015 by Dox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 10, 2015 Scaremongering! It's a fair point though - you get what you pay for. Otto here in Ireland sell Hengst filters and they are OE quality - in fact, the VW ones were probably made by Hengst in the first place. http://www.ottocarparts.com/shop/parts/57710-hengst-filter-oil-filter-h14w33.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yandards 0 Posted September 11, 2015 Available from the likes of Mann, Meile, Karcher etc. These are all OEM manufacturers. VW don't make oil filters themselves, they are made by third party manufacturers and rebranded, and as always, usually in China. AFAIK the G60 oil filter is the same as the MkII Golf GTI anyway, so definitely still around. The only thing to look out for is that the replacement has the proper non-return valve fitted, as some of the cheaper ones don't have it. No its not. The non return valve operates at a higher pressure. As for availability, once again because of the way VW UK have decided not to distribute VW Classic parts range an item that is available from VW in Germany and the US direct from the dealer cannot be obtained in the same way in the UK. So you can still buy 'new' G60 genuine oil filters from VW Heritage, sit down though as they are cheap. I have bought a couple recently direct from Germany and they look ok. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) Yes, discovered that the G60 has a specific filter. However it is applicable to more than one car and the Hengst version I linked to above is widely available. The Hengst part has the non-return valve. AFAIK all VAG dealers should be able to order direct from Classic Parts - is this different in the UK? Edited September 11, 2015 by fendervg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted September 11, 2015 Yeah - VW over here don't deal with Classic Parts I don't believe, which is why VW Heritage have managed to fill that niche. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 11, 2015 OK - maybe that's why Heritage take so long to ship parts over from Germany (perhaps they do a bulk shipment), whereas a dealer can back order from Germany in 3-5 days over the dealer network. Ah well. Once the oil filter is good enough quality I wouldn't be too worried about whether it has VW-Audi stamped on it or not - they tend to get pretty dirty quite quickly! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ger040 3 Posted September 12, 2015 I've posted this here before, but it goes to show the engineering or not in some cases behind filters, they're not all equal Other Frank Massey videos that might be of interest to the insomniacs amongst us https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+massey Very interesting that never seen that link before When you buy from vw at least all items can be traced back to source and known VW they will tell you who was on the production line when it was made and what they had for their lunch!! When buying from third parties you cant help but think they will just buy items on a cost basis which is important as in any business but can they track to exactly where it came from. Anyone can copy anything today and in china copyright law is a joke! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 13, 2015 The point I was trying to make was that the "original" oil filters are not made by VW anyway either - the likes of Hengst and MANN are OEM suppliers to VW - the filters are just re-branded and put into VW boxes. Provided you get one from a reputable supplier the quality will be the same. I have a Hengst one here for the VR and it's marked "Made in Germany". You just have to make sure that the filter is made by a reputable supplier. The same goes for suspension parts, bushes, radiators, electrics etc - none of these are made by the car manufacturer themselves - they are made by someone else according to the car manufacturer's specifications. You will sometimes get a longer warranty period and have a better chance of replacing a faulty item if bought straight from the dealer though. As for parts from China, there are two kinds - very good copies of excellent quality at a great price, and then you get absolute cr*p which is dirt cheap. Practically all parts are made in Asia nowadays due to economies of scale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted September 13, 2015 The point I was trying to make was that the "original" oil filters are not made by VW anyway either - the likes of Hengst and MANN are OEM suppliers to VW - the filters are just re-branded and put into VW boxes. Provided you get one from a reputable supplier the quality will be the same. I have a Hengst one here for the VR and it's marked "Made in Germany". You just have to make sure that the filter is made by a reputable supplier. The same goes for suspension parts, bushes, radiators, electrics etc - none of these are made by the car manufacturer themselves - they are made by someone else according to the car manufacturer's specifications. The above 2 sentences contradict one another, "the filters are the same re boxed, but bushes are built to VAG specs"........ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 13, 2015 VW design and specify the parts, or buy them off the shelf - they are then made by the likes of Boge, Sachs, Lemforder, Hella, Bosch etc. They are stamped with a VAG logo and part number and sold by the dealer network in a VW box. There is slightly higher quality control in this process because the car manufacturer will require additional checks. Exactly the same parts are then available as "OEM" from the supplier themselves. This is usually after a period of a few years and known as aftermarket or third party or spurious parts. Karmann did not make every single part for the Corrado in their factory, and neither were they all made in Wolfsburg. In fact many VR6 parts are also found in other makes that use the same or similar engines. Some forum members even found wings on their cars that had "Made in Mexico" on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted September 13, 2015 VW design and specify the parts, or buy them off the shelf - they are then made by the likes of Boge, Sachs, Lemforder, Hella, Bosch etc. They are stamped with a VAG logo and part number and sold by the dealer network in a VW box. There is slightly higher quality control in this process because the car manufacturer will require additional checks. Exactly the same parts are then available as "OEM" from the supplier themselves. This is usually after a period of a few years and known as aftermarket or third party or spurious parts. Karmann did not make every single part for the Corrado in their factory, and neither were they all made in Wolfsburg. In fact many VR6 parts are also found in other makes that use the same or similar engines. Some forum members even found wings on their cars that had "Made in Mexico" on them. Mann Sachs etc are the specialist suppliers, VW request parts and give dimensions and specs etc, the supplier then sends several differing parts for testing and trial, from there they narrow down and tweek the spec to suit before the contract is made to supply to that spec and quantity. Once after market the OE supplier can supply to a spec they see fit. Don't believe the hype of ECP and GSF with their vague "OE supplier" statements Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) All I'm saying is that just because it doesn't have VAG stamped on it doesn't necessarily mean it's not as good. I've had plenty of faulty parts straight from the dealer. Just be careful what brand you choose, and as always, you get what you pay for. Edited September 13, 2015 by fendervg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yandards 0 Posted September 14, 2015 All I'm saying is that just because it doesn't have VAG stamped on it doesn't necessarily mean it's not as good. I've had plenty of faulty parts straight from the dealer. Just be careful what brand you choose, and as always, you get what you pay for. Very true, in fact if you know who the original manufacturer that VW used then you can always get that part - recently changed the rear beam compensator, ATE made item, £70 delivered, it was only missing the VAG stamp and part number. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted September 14, 2015 All I'm saying is that just because it doesn't have VAG stamped on it doesn't necessarily mean it's not as good. QUOTE] And just because the company supply VAG it doesn't mean there own will be manufactured exactly the same as they supply VAG either, good quality - yes, exactly the same - maybe, maybe not. I've worked in manufacturing for 22 of my 48 years, when you produce items in there millions or billions every 0.1p counts, if that means 10% less filtration material or a generic friction material compound for brakes that's cheaper but creates more noise or dust then if that's what it takes to make a profit so be it. VW on the other hand need to impress its customer during the warranty period so may over spec items to suit. Manufacturers who supply car assemblers make very little money from doing so (but the prestige of being an OE supplier is a good endorsement), aftermarket is where the money is made Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alfagtman 10 Posted January 23, 2016 (edited) I got a Mann oil filter for my Corrado G60 serial No W 719/21 - says it was made in Germany. Just googled it to see has it the non return valve (it does) and see that they are available at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Mann-Filter-719-21-Spin-Filter/dp/B000CB7EK6 WOW the cool "check Fit" facility on the amazon site also confirmed its the right filter for the corrado G60. Edited January 23, 2016 by Alfagtman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
