[Vwdiesel] PROTHE on ebay??

[brian gochnauer]

So if you think USA products are sub-standard and Europeans are better than
USA, it must be scary for you to learn that the Chinese are advancing there
quality and engineering very quickly; in fact Cessna is currently producing
their latest aircraft, the Skycatcher, completely in China.
btw, I've been in the industry for 30 yrs and I don't think VW are any thing
exceptional in the engineering respect; especially given the problems I've
had with my '04 Jetta with the PD (BEW) engine that failed with the classic
camshaft/lifter failure at 118k miles even with stellar maintenance. I have
two late model Jettas, but will not buy another.

BrianG

On Fri, Sep 23, 2011 at 8:57 PM, Tony and Lillie <
tonyandlillie1 at earthlink.net> wrote:
I'd like to make a couple of comments here. I've been in the industry for
over 20 years, and curerntly opperate my own Audi/VW shop. I am also a huge
enthusiast, to say the least. I don't know anything of this sellers
reputation, nor his business ethics. Nor do I have experience with the
quality of his parts.

What I wish to comment on is Chinese parts in general. First of all, I have
enough experience with them to know that I avoid them like the plague! As
in, each year I have less and less experience with them, but each time I do
I'm not dissappointed. I know I'm going to get a subpar part, one which may
not even fit, and that's what I get about 90% of the time.

There are exceptions to this rule, as some things are not available anywhere
else, and some parts are so simple they can't possibly screw them up. Well,
Ok, so it's really hard to screw them up. I've been amazed at a couple.
Wheel cylinders for a 1979 Fox that had the screw holes in teh wrong place,
for instance (about two months ago). How do you mess that up?

On the subject of Made in XXXX other than China. Chinese workers generally
have a different motivation than most other countries workers. With that
said, I'll gladly buy anything made in Europe. OEM rims for Audi were mostly
made in Italy, some in Germany. Your OEM wheel bearings are Swedish. This
part of the world has a well earned reputation for quality work. Not that
everything they make is flaw free, as that would be an incorrect statement.
But, for the most part (and in my experience, as well as the older gentlemen
I've learned from) you get quality parts for your money.

Before I give my opinion, I want to say this: Keep in mind this is not a
cheaply, poorly thought out automobile we drive. This is a very well
engineered, very strong vehicle. Which is why it cost more than comparably
sized cars when it was new, and also why people are willing to pay more for
them.
Anyhow, here's what I tell my customers: "This is not a Wal-Mart car, and I
won't put Wal-Mart parts on it. If you wish to put the cheapest parts on it
you can find, I would respectfully ask you to find another mechanic to take
care of your car".

BTW, there is a Swiss gentleman that runs a European shop in town. He will
not even buy aftermarket. If your car is a BMW, he buys the parts from teh
BMW dealer. If you have a M-B, the parts come from the M-B dealer. And, yes,
he and I both stay booked up. That is because the old saying I was tought
years ago still holds true, "People will remember how well you did a job
long after they remember how quickly or inexpensively you did the job".

But, at the end of the day, it's your car, and you have the choice of buying
what you wish for it.

Anyhow, just my .02, and hope it helps someone to avoid doing a job twice,
or damage which could be worse yet.

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