Well, we have had some discussion about the 'flood' of so called oem quality parts that are appearing.
If you ever wanted to know how much they are - and who made them - here ya go !.

ANYONE that advertises - for example - 'Febi Bilstein' or 'QH' is probably (ALMOST CERTAINLY) taking the ****.. They are apparantly ALL made in the same few factories.. you can have anything you want cast in or added, or any packaging you want.

To be honest, the parts are probably perfectly sound. There isnt much to a suspension arm etc, or a shock absorber - simple technology - I dont think you can go wrong.. but, it does make you think a bit when you are looking for a front strut and know the guy only paid a quid for it lol..

Group buy lol ??

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search...ct_en&CatId=&SearchText=fiat+panda+suspension

ben could get these in the ff shop?

They do forged 'racing' pistons for loads of engines for 15 / 20 bucks each, these are sold all over ebay at 250 - 400 quid a set . Dick Turpin !!..

They are making EVERYTHING ! -
See the details as well, contact us for OEM (yeah ! ) - made to YOUR pattern, packaged in whatever you want - stamped with whatever you want.

I think it boils down to - you either buy from Fiat, or, you buy from an actual manufacturer directly, or - you buy the cheapest on Ebay or from ANY and all the 'parts' sites for the simple reason that whatever they say in the advertising, they are all the same.... you just cannot believe what they are saying the part is.

Again, for the vast majority of stuff, why not ? a headlight, a suspension arm, shocks, springs, bushes... exhausts, - cant think of much I wouldnt be happy buying really... I do tend to think long term for items like shocks etc, of they have lasted 10 years, I would rather get another set of genuine oem.. or a well known make, Billies, Koni etc as I intend to keep it another 10 years - more hopefully.. but, if you are selling your car, or only intend to keep it a year or so, go for it,

you would seriously put safety related copy parts on your car
i thought you were an engineer

s and b said:

you would seriously put safety related copy parts on your car
i thought you were an engineer

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I have no qualms with a suspension arm or a shock etc., or indeed, a bush. The design is such that the housings are captive. I wouldnt put something on that was crap, but I would certainly fit something that was of similar standard to the original. They cannot really go wrong with the stuff they are selling. I would estimate 95 % of car parts on the general market are from places just like the ones mentioned here - no matter if it is a motor factors or not.
The vast majority of back street garages will have been fitting this stuff for years.
You included..

Cheap and craply made suspension arms can easily snap. I wouldn't be happy with them on my car.

I have seen some of the fake Chinese computer products "Genuine Dell charger" my arse. The only thing genuine about them is they make good shock generators and fire starters.

captainslarty said:

I wouldnt put something on that was crap, but I would certainly fit something that was of similar standard to the original.

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I'm struggling to see how these statements can both be true .

JD82 said:

Cheap and craply made suspension arms can easily snap. I wouldn't be happy with them on my car.

I have seen some of the fake Chinese computer products "Genuine Dell charger" my arse. The only thing genuine about them is they make good shock generators and fire starters.

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How do you work that one out ?
Why are they going to 'snap' ?
Why would a part made in China be of worse quality than the 'special tuning' items made in a shed in the UK - or by a small factory in Rossendale Lancashire ? - no one tests them.. no standards to uphold...
They are not been made to deliberately rip anyone off - they are being made bacuase people want them - the pratts who put them in a Febi box with a part number on and pay more for a nicer finish are the con men... the factories making these are just normal factories..
Unless you buy all your parts from Fiat or direct from a GENUINE large well known manufacturer, you will never know what you are getting. You have not known what you have BEEN getting, for years -! - this is not new...
All the motor factor have shelves full of this stuff, that last timing belt kit you or someone else bought - it might have said xyz on the box, but probably came from the same place. The clutch kit, the exhaust, Hell, even yer alloys and tyres for criz sake. ! - nothing is sacred. and as much as you think you will tell, on most, you wont. Even the middle men selling to the factors are in on it..
Dont go overboard, it is not going to fall off....
Most of the stuff looks far better quality than a lot of manufacturers stuff
Dont get too excited about it..... everything is subject to 'not being what you thought it was' - I would rather put one of these suspension arms on or shocks than let some paint scraper smack a panel out on a written off bent panda 100 and put it back on hte road with a few more bent parts off other bent cars .. now THAT is dangerous.... and a reflection of the tight arse money grabbing dont give a flyingh fek attitude of most ... they reap what they sow...
buy the smoother looking one in the nice box, for 100 quid more - it cost 50p to more to make for presentation and the known 'name' but it is still ying tong yip... and still fine..

jrkitching said:

I'm struggling to see how these statements can both be true .

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Quite easy, something that did not appear as per original in form or construction, or action, is crap.. if it looks like a horse, rides like a horse, eats and ****s like a horse, it is probably a horse.. if it has a hump, it is probably a camel or a deformed horse.

http://www.alibaba.com/products/F0/fiat_panda.html
Just start at page 1 and work your way through..
If you look on ebay - you will probably have seen everything on ebay for a panda etc - is 99% ALL from here - everything - !
There are 5 compnaies making suspesnion arms !... everything from tyres - yes tyres ! - to fuel pumps, cylinder heads..

DVD Sat Navs, radio surrounds, keys. cam belts, cam kits, cam blet kits, clutches, gearbox parts, electronics and engine sensors , ignition, absolutely everything - and its all on ebay - AND at your local motor spares shop . motor factors / mail order / 'fiat speciaist' companies - you name it, they sell it, you can even see they have used the same images....

Sump pan, 5 bucks... nice one ! unless it 'snaps' of course

Face it guys, you have been buying this stuff for years - willingly or not ... and your alleged mechanic has been fitting it - and - charging you a fortune...
'tis a fascinating list of produce...

captainslarty said:

if it looks like a horse, rides like a horse, eats and ****s like a horse, it is probably a horse.. if it has a hump, it is probably a camel or a deformed horse.

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careful it cold be a donkey or an ass

s and b said:

http://www.aftermarketonline.net/Business/2014/29708-/Fighting-the-fakes

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yes - counterfeiting is prevalent in all markets - I think everyone knows that by now.
That does not make a part dangerous.
Pattern parts have been available as long as the motor car has been around. It is not the makers who counterfeit in most cases, it is the resellers. A genuine pattern part is branded as something by another manufacturer to make more money. Parts are ordered and imported by people who have no right to do so. Again, not the engineering factories fault.
Regardless of NGK worrying ab out loosing a few quid , that does not mean that all products are dangerous - far from it.. The reality is you also have very little choice in what you buy. The market is completely saturated with these products. Dodgy motors Ltd are the worst culprits. They knowingly rip off the customers and con them into thinking they are buying top brand parts as opposed to standard pattern parts.
Another damn good reason to use a main dealer and not some bodger under the railway arch.
Well, it would be, but the majority of the great unwashed dont give a bugger about it.. providing it passes the MOT and how much a month to the finance company.
The motor trade are their own worst enemies.. thannk god small back street bodgers are a dying trade. People are getting more savvy to their cons as more cars expire prematurely due to the intervention of these 'garages' and the damage they do. - yes, people are learning the hard way. frank buck - they will trickle back to main dealers as the scrap yard piles higher with botched repairs, blamed mostly on bad parts, by worse mechanics - and I use the term losely !! . - I would bet most of the ebay parts are bought by alleged mechanics and sold to the great unwashed as 'original' at 'original' prices - (less 10% of course 'cos 'ees a good geezer' )
- people are learning - slowly...... rip off britain dude, not rip off china..

Those prices are mind boggling!Anyone used the site ?Whats postage costs like?

ytareh said:

Those prices are mind boggling!Anyone used the site ?Whats postage costs like?

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The site is aimed at importers. Usually for a minimum of a portion of a container. However, I understand they are open to offers on a quantity of your choice. Reality is that any company will sell something directly if the price is right.. There are usually huge price breaks as well so to get the best prices you would need to order a considerable amount.
One can always try the 'request samples' route if you have a business already or at least appear to.?.