Ok quick question
What's your experience of fitting no genuine parts? Did they work as you'd expect or did the ECU?? decide it doesn't like it?


My problem is Crank shaft position sensor malfunction! code P0335
Sensor replaced with pattern part and fault still comes back!

Will always be a question from the main agents, they like their branded stuff. Thing is, Fiat won't make the sensor, it'll be a company like Bosche or Magnetti Marelli, just with a fiat stamp. If you've bought a cheap sensor, you get what you pay for, if you bought branded then there shouldn't be an issue with the sensor itself.

Asa James said:

Will always be a question from the main agents, they like their branded stuff. Thing is, Fiat won't make the sensor, it'll be a company like Bosche or Magnetti Marelli, just with a fiat stamp. If you've bought a cheap sensor, you get what you pay for, if you bought branded then there shouldn't be an issue with the sensor itself.

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Paid £30 for the sensor from euro parts so thought id got what I needed. The mechanic I spoke to wouldn't give me a ball park figure for the sensor
so I am at the mercy of fiat BUT if they can cure my problem then id say money well spent(ish)!

Bought a n/s/f lower suspension arm from Euro a few months ago, and it wouldn't fit - the cutout for the ball joint retaining bolt was too high up the taper, so when in place the bottom joint still acted as if it had more play than the worn one I took off. As they only had more of the same make (can't remember sadly) I bought from another factor a Delphi branded arm - perfect fit.
Had many parts for various car from Euro before with no problems, but they didn't even want to do a refund, so buy from them with caution

Just replaced the MAP sensor on out Multijet. Had choice of Genuine @ £70, OEM @ £30 or Pattern @ £10..
Went for the OEM as I was not absolutely sure the MAP sensor was the problem.
Part turned up and was same brand as the one I took off (original) and fixed the problem.
Would only have used the cheapo pattern part if no other choice, and on past experiences, I would have ended up buying a better one within months when it failed.
irc

irc said:

Just replaced the MAP sensor on out Multijet. Had choice of Genuine @ £70, OEM @ £30 or Pattern @ £10..
Went for the OEM as I was not absolutely sure the MAP sensor was the problem.
Part turned up and was same brand as the one I took off (original) and fixed the problem.
Would only have used the cheapo pattern part if no other choice, and on past experiences, I would have ended up buying a better one within months when it failed.
irc

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Im sure my sensor was a bosh part? AA man had it fitted it and ive no box!
I'll check my invoice from euro parts to confirm. seems odd that you can but a replacement part that isn't going to work!

irc said:

Just replaced the MAP sensor on out Multijet. Had choice of Genuine @ £70, OEM @ £30 or Pattern @ £10..
Went for the OEM as I was not absolutely sure the MAP sensor was the problem.
Part turned up and was same brand as the one I took off (original) and fixed the problem.
Would only have used the cheapo pattern part if no other choice, and on past experiences, I would have ended up buying a better one within months when it failed.
irc

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had a 'genuine part fitted yesterday and they said car was fine BUT just to make sure I said id leave it there overnight and see if they could get it started first thing.
Got call this morning and it did!


Past week it wouldn't start at all regardless of the 'cheapo' sensor fitted so im taking this as a good sign. Not sure my bank manager would agree with me at what cost but living in a village my car is our life line as it's also used as a mobility car. Wife being a victim of government cuts she lost her high rate mobility as it was found I could push her 20 meters! so lost money for a mobility car and having to use the panda which was/is a good substitute when she works!

Trimdoner said:

Bought a n/s/f lower suspension arm from Euro a few months ago, and it wouldn't fit - the cutout for the ball joint retaining bolt was too high up the taper, so when in place the bottom joint still acted as if it had more play than the worn one I took off. As they only had more of the same make (can't remember sadly) I bought from another factor a Delphi branded arm - perfect fit.
Had many parts for various car from Euro before with no problems, but they didn't even want to do a refund, so buy from them with caution

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which motor factors did you use?

It was a local independent factor, Wards of Bishop Auckland.
http://www.dwardautomotive.com/

As pointed out, pay cheap, you get what you pay for. Personally I'd go for the well known electric/sensor parts every time. When it comes to other parts such as suspension stuff it's a case of doing your homework & go for the well proven items. Original Birth parts for instance are made in Italy & by all account tend to get the thumbs up. There are other brands that are deemed good to go, it's just a matter of doing your homework as I've said.....:chin:

jimboy said:

As pointed out, pay cheap, you get what you pay for. Personally I'd go for the well known electric/sensor parts every time. When it comes to other parts such as suspension stuff it's a case of doing your homework & go for the well proven items. Original Birth parts for instance are made in Italy & by all account tend to get the thumbs up. There are other brands that are deemed good to go, it's just a matter of doing your homework as I've said.....:chin:

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Yes I agree with you on that. Sometimes trying to save money isn't a good policy as tempting as it is! ive now paid out for the original part which strangely enough, both were the same price on the invoice! just one was then discounted to £30 whilst the original was £82!
Well ive paid the price and now have a car I really love again! Starts first time every time and that for me gives me piece of mind and a reliable car

If it's cured the fault then you should get a refund on the sensor you bought. Let them know it's not fit for purpose, and read up on sale of goods act

Cheap brake cables fine looks as good (or better) as the original
Cheap temperature sensor fine can't tell the difference from the original.
Cheap thermostat works fine but the casting is not as good as the original.

Its not unknown for new parts to be fault regardless of if they are pattern parts or OEM

If you go to any independent garage the cheap motor factors will be delivering parts to them. Seeing as they have to guarantee the work they can't be that bad.


Does annoy me that when you phone for a price they stick 25% or more onto the price. Do some internet searching first to get a ball park figure. Even EuroCarPart came down £10 on an £30 part

Body panels are different. Expect to do some work to get them to fit. OEM will just fit.

Euro Car parts are notoriously bad for parts not fitting and wrongly supplied bits. It really is a lottery, some things are fine and some are miles off. I am lucky enough to have one locally so can go back and make a fuss if needs be. Their cheap exhausts are particularly bad. Part of the problem is that they are so big they can only by their computer so if that says it's one part that's all they can do, whereas a better independent will have knowledgeable staff who know which part is needed. Sadly a lot of them have been forced out of business by Euro Carp farts.

T Bay said:

Euro Car parts are notoriously bad for parts not fitting and wrongly supplied bits. It really is a lottery, some things are fine and some are miles off. I am lucky enough to have one locally so can go back and make a fuss if needs be. Their cheap exhausts are particularly bad. Part of the problem is that they are so big they can only by their computer so if that says it's one part that's all they can do, whereas a better independent will have knowledgeable staff who know which part is needed. Sadly a lot of them have been forced out of business by Euro Carp farts.

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Cheap exhausts

Original often last 10 years unless only used for short journey

I had a Sierra diesel that did nearly 200,000 miles on the original

Some of the "cheap" ones seem to be designed to last just over it warranty.

I needed a Renault front ABS sensor. Hall effect chip, wire and connector. >£50 from Euro Car Parts. £20 delivered from eBay for a part that looked identical to OEM.

Bearings from BMW for the bike were are special. When standard sizes will fit, I generally go with a name such as SKF. They will not be the lowest cost but are generally better than OEM quality.

koalar said:

Cheap exhausts

Original often last 10 years unless only used for short journey

I had a Sierra diesel that did nearly 200,000 miles on the original

Some of the "cheap" ones seem to be designed to last just over it warranty.

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The last one we had from them was for a mates wife's 307. It was a beggar to fit to say the least and we ended up cutting and welding it to get it to line up. That weld is still ok but two on the box needed redoing after a little over a year due to rust. It was truly appalling.

As has already been said, homework is vital. I recently had rear discs and pads fitted to the 156. I specified Brembo as there were quite a few Factors advertising them for, what I thought was a reasonable price. In fact within £10 of the make you've never heard of. But from what I can gather, the likes of Pagid are quite good, in fact the last pair I had from them are still on the car after around 35,000 miles.

Some of these companies do use parts made by the companies you can buy from your local spares shop but cost more when carrying a manufacturer's logo. Going back to the late '70s or early '80s, I was using a Vauxhall Shove-it and a bloke I worked with told me he was shocked at the price the Citroen dealer wanted to replace a headlight bulb on his GS. Until a little bird told him that a Chevette bulb was identical and half the price.

Conversely, if you are a classic Rolls Royce owner you will know that if you need hydraulic suspension spheres for your Silver Shadow or Silver Spirit, don't waste your money going to a Royce dealer because the item you buy will have Citroen printed on the outside.

What you don't really want is a part that was, probably, made in China without any kind of sanction from FIAT. So I do agree that it comes down to the quality of the individual component rather than the name on the box, but everything must fit, and do the job you bought it to do. I'm pretty certain that this comes under the Sale of Goods Act, in as much as the item must be fit for the purpose for which it was intended.