Re: OEM?

["Cobram ." <cobram@juno.com>]

Shaun Folkerts <fiatlancia@earthlink.net> writes:

>Any listers out there with the inside info enough to give me the 
>correct answer as to what is going on here? I need to learn (as I'm sure
other 
>listers do as well) how to buy parts the right way.

Brand name.  Belts=Continental, Racks=ZF, Filters=Mann(a few others too),
Spark Wires=Bosch, etc.  Usually if it's from a reputable foreign parts
supplier with a good wholesale business you should have no problems.  

On the other question of the dealer parts, I recently inquired about this
at a local Audi/VW dealer.  I bought a 200TQW a few weeks ago which came
with all the receipts for work done to it since new.  One of these slips
was for an alternator, installed at the Dealer to the tune of about $500.
 While doing the timing belt this weekend, I noticed that the "band"
around the alternator was green in color, and the cooling hose and
related hardware were missing from it.  This is defintily NOT a Bosch
rebuild, nor an OEM alternator.  The next time I was at said dealer
picking up some Mickey Mouse shifter parts, I took the invoice along and
inquired about the alternator.  I was informed by the service writer that
the dealer is NOT obligated to use OEM parts on cars that are out of
warranty.  In other words, if they can squeeze those few extra drops of
blood they will, and do.  A local rebuild is much cheaper than what the
dealer probably pays for Bosch rebuilts, yet they still charged the full
OEM price, and get it.    

BCNU,
Cobram@Juno.Com
http://welcome.to/AudiV8Quattro

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