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swedish*auto*lamps*for*less? on ebay

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andys240
Posts: 9
Joined: 15 December 2010
Year and Model: 245 DL 1988
Location: Indianapolis, IN

swedish*auto*lamps*for*less? on ebay

Post by andys240 »

bought a tail light housing just over 5 months ago, replaced just at 5 months ago, old one was missing a lens cover and another was cracked when i got the car, so seemed like a good investment. bought the right one, fast shipping. noticed a couple months in that the top fog lamp housing (the black plastic behind the lenses) had melted, so i figured, fog lamps are not supposed to be used that much, i like mine on more in winter to have more visibility. so i overused it and it melted it. had someone tell me my tail light was out a couple weeks ago, so i checked it, and the brake/tail light housing has also melted! enough that the metal contact strip has melted away from the part that holds the bulb and makes contact! i bent the tabs on the bulb holder and it works intermittently right now. sent a griping email, and the seller blames the wiring. i am using the same bulbs and everything as the car had when i got it, the stock one was fine except the lenses, and i had it almost 7 months before i got the new light housing. seller said he doesnt sell junk, but this definitely seems like piss poor quality. if one melted, ok, maybe, but two? i replied to the sellers reply and he hasnt replied, sent another one, asked if he would refund 20 so i can piece together one from the junkyard (new lenses from the pos one i bought, and the backing from a junkyard one with (probably) busted lenses shouldnt be too tricky to rig up with some weatherstripping adhesive) anyone else buy stuff from this seller? maybe im the exception, maybe one batch had bad plastic? i tossed the old one long ago, thinking that plopping down 45+ including shipping would fix all my tail light needs. shouldve kept it around and couldve cannibalized it.

Volvo_240_Atari_2600
Posts: 245
Joined: 11 February 2007
Year and Model: 89 245 GL
Location: Jupiter, Florida

Post by Volvo_240_Atari_2600 »

andys245...

I have purchased a set (L&R) from them (One set per year)
Does that sound like BS or what? Their tail lamps for the 245 (cand say anything for the sedan) but the tail lamp assembly for our wagons are made in china and are a poor and cheap plastic... The melting of the housing is inevitable.

Lets just say I bought 4 sets in the course of the last 5-6 years. That is BS...

There is another set of buys now on ebay in the Chicago area selling the same. however theirs are made in Europe, in Estonia to be exact. I cannot say anything about those as I still have yet to let my current tail lights go to buy these. Worth a try. I figure even if its made in Mexico or Ugoslavia or Estonia... The quality has got to be better than anything made in China.

I serriously try to avoid any part made in China... I bought rotors for my 245 from Autozone... I think they were like $30 each, well 8 months later that $60 investment forced me to by BREMBO's that were made in Mexico... Brenbo is German but mine were not manufactured there, but in Mexico and I still havbe them on my car, lets say some two years later and m aybe 45k on them.

The Chinese rotos warped in 8 months...
Just goes to show.

Shure hope our military is not equiping our fleet of hummers, tanks etc with made in China parts.
Well... I just remembered that Hummer was bought by China... We're screwed!

IVIUSTANG
Posts: 562
Joined: 14 February 2009
Year and Model: 2006 XC70
Location: Saskatchewan. Canada
Been thanked: 4 times

Post by IVIUSTANG »

I've bought a wheel bearing and one other thing from this retailer and I have been very happy so far with the results in the past two years, no sign of failure yet.

- Jesse
1998 S70 T5 SE 290,000 KM sideswiped total loss(Sweet ride!)
2007 S60 2.5T loaded 63,000 KM SOLD!
2006 XC70 350,000 KM, 2" BadSwede lift kit, steel skidplate, Hilton Stage 1 tune, big burly tires :D
2008 S80 V8 245,000 KM SOLD!
2015 V60 T5 Premier+ 98,000KM

Volvo_240_Atari_2600
Posts: 245
Joined: 11 February 2007
Year and Model: 89 245 GL
Location: Jupiter, Florida

Post by Volvo_240_Atari_2600 »

Cant say anything else (pos or neg) on their other parts.
However the tail light assembly is another story.
Its rediculous to go through that many tail lights because of melting plastic and shorts back there.
The plastic used in that mold is clearly inferior and low to no heat tollerance and its not like break lights are on constantly.
I will try the ones from the Chicago area soon that are "supposedly" made in Estonia.
Hopefully they are made with better plastic.

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